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News
The Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - December 23, 2010
91 Points "The 2004 Brut Blanc de Blancs offers up gorgeous varietal fruit in a fairly rich style for a 2004 Blanc de Blancs. Textural finesse, brilliance and a total sense of harmony are the hallmarks of this suave, finessed Champagne. The small bubbles caress the palate from start to finish."
Wine Spectator - Alison Napjus - December 15, 2010
90 Points "A firm Champagne, displaying a floral quality to the biscuit, pear and light spice notes. This shows fine balance and good drive to the acidity, straight through to the delicate finish."
Wine & Spirits - December 01, 2010
95 Points "This is pure, essential Champagne, limestone rock captured in liquid form. Its pale, fragrant citrus flavors are sleek and generous, etched into a stony structure that supports them completely without any overt acidity or tannin. All that’s perceptible is the wine. Age this to let the flavor detail develop, or enjoy it now for the beauty of its youth."
Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar - Josh Raynolds - November 2010
92 Points "Juicy citrus flavors show a silky quality, with spice and floral notes adding complexity. Gains flesh and sweetness with air and finishes with excellent clarity, cut and chalky persistence. This is balanced to age."
Wine Description
The Story
From 1830 onwards, the House of Louis Roederer acquired extensive knowledge of the terroirs and plot-by-plot vinification, and mastered the effervescence. In the heart of the Côte des Blancs, where the Chardonnay grapes attain optimal maturity on the calcareous soils, Louis Roederer has selected two exceptional grands crus: Mesnil-sur-Oger and Avize, whose unique characteristics and complementarity enable the House to produce taut, highly aromatic wines that have finesse.
100% Chardonnay, the Blanc de Blancs Vintage cuvée is generally matured on lees for five years and left for a minimum of 6 months after dégorgement (disgorging) to attain perfect maturity.
In the mouth, the attack is typically Chardonnay—it is smooth and delicate, and markedly sweet. Slightly sweetened floral notes and white fruit and dried fruit notes are combined with the almost chalky minerality of the Côte des Blancs. The texture has notes of sugared almond, a sensation that is strengthened by a soft effervescence that envelops the mouth. This is followed by an impression of finesse, elegance, and freshness, strengthened by suggestions of fresh mint and basil.
Wine Information
Blanc de Blancs 2004/ HARVESTING:
A classic, generous year, offering both quantity and quality! Whilst not achieving the
perfection of the ideal 2002 vintage, 2004 can be characterised as having the same type
of climate: globally cool temperatures without any extremes throughout the season;
a significant lack of rain (roughly 30% down) during the vegetative cycle in spite of a
particularly cool, wet August; fortunately, this was followed by a dry, sunny September,
perfecting the ripening of the grapes in a fairly spectacular way. At Louis Roederer, thanks to very hard work in our vineyards, on September 20 the grapes had reached a very good
“vintage” balance, combining freshness and ripeness in spite of slightly high yields at times.
STYLE:
Assertive, always harmonious, silky, winey and subtle.
ELABORATION:
100% Chardonnay - 15 - 20% wines aged in oak barrels with weekly batonnage - No
malolactic fermentation. The Blanc de Blancs cuvée is drawn at low pressure for a rounder,
fuller sparkle. It is matured for an average of 5 years in cellars and also left for 6 months after disgorging to perfect its maturity. The dosage is fine-tuned for each vintage to between
8 and 10 g/l.
Vintage 2004
A great example of how large yields do not necessarily mean poor quality in Champagne. As a reaction to the previous year's low yields, the vines produced one of the largest crops on record. The growing season proceeded without major difficulties but the bumper crop called for bud thinning. August brought about cooler weather and some rains, increasing the risk of rot. The massive crop, averaging 13,990 kg/ha, was picked from September 18th onwards. The quality was a pleasant surprise; vibrant wines with appropriate intensity, refined charm and refreshing lightness. This vintage impresses me more and more, and I feel tempted to give it the full five stars. It comes with a rare balance of freshness, lightness, yet fine aromatic intensity. Post-release, this vintage has proven to be slow to age, and elegant wines are likely to keep on ageing gracefully. Dom Pérignon and Louis Roederer Cristal both excelled.