Champagne Louis Roederer

Champagne house in Reims, Montagne de Reims.

Village

Reims

Region

Montagne de Reims

Founded

1776

Cuvées in the guide

75

Louis​‌​ Roederer is one of the oldest and most prestigious champagne houses, based in Reims, France, and is known as one of the few large houses that is still entirely family-owned and independent.

History

The house was founded in 1776 under the name Dubois Père & Fils. In 1833 Louis Roederer inherited the business and named it after himself, visionarily deciding to acquire vineyards of his own to guarantee quality. The house achieved international fame as supplier to the Russian tsars, with the creation of Cristal in 1876, the first "Cuvée de Prestige" in the world. Since 1975 the house has been run by the Rouzaud family, with Frédéric Rouzaud at the head since 2006.

Vineyards

The holdings comprise approximately 240-250 hectares of vineyards, divided over more than 400 plots in the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs regions. These plots are classified exclusively as Grand Cru or Premier Cru, a unique level in Champagne. The house is self-sufficient in approximately 66-70% of its grape needs and applies a strict sustainability policy, with 135-140 hectares certified organic and 100 hectares biodynamic, making it the largest biodynamic estate in Champagne.

Winemaking

Louis Roederer is distinguished by traditional and innovative methods:

• Vinification: A considerable portion of the wine ages in oak barrels (up to 32% for Cristal) to increase complexity.
• Malolactic fermentation: Unlike many neighbours, the house prevents this fermentation by cooling in order to keep the wine "livelier", although it does take place for some cuvées.
• Harvest: The grapes are harvested by hand and pressed directly nearby to preserve integrity.
• Blending: The cellar master, Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, blends plot by plot to preserve the terroir characteristics, drawing on an enormous reserve wine stock in large oak casks.

Champagnes

The house produces approximately 3-4.5 million bottles a year, with the following core products:

• Cristal: The iconic prestige cuvée, made from 100% own grapes (Pinot Noir and Chardonnay), with bottle ageing of at least 7 years.
• Brut Premier: The house style, a blend of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, responsible for the largest part of production.
• Blanc de Blancs: Made from 100% Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards.
• Cuvée Spéciale: A vintage champagne that ages in oak barrels for extra structure.
• Rosé Cristal: A prestigious rosé, coloured through maceration with Pinot Noir skins.

Cuvées by Louis Roederer

Importers

Louis Roederer is imported by: Best of Wines, Boonstra Wijnen, De Larense Wijnkoperij, Gall & Gall, HANOS, HermanWines, Petit Clos.

Where it is sold

Shops and wholesalers carrying Louis Roederer: Best of Wines, Boonstra Wijnen, Bottle Hero, Bovino, Cavissima, Christian Winecellars, De Coninck Wine Merchant, De Larense Wijnkoperij, Gall & Gall, Goedkoop Drank Slijterij, HANOS, HermanWines, L'Atelier du Champagne, Petit Clos, Qualivin, Slijterij & Wijnhandel Madison, Slijterij Henk Peter, Ton Overmars, Wijnhandel Peeters.

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