Roederer Estate Brut NV, Anderson Valley

Selected #27 Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines for 2018!!

Roederer Estate's winemaking style is based on two elements: ownership of its own vineyards and the addition of oak-aged reserve wines to each year's blend or cuvée. All the grapes for the Anderson Valley wines are grown on the Estate. Oak-aged wines from the Estate's reserve cellars are added to the blend, creating a multi-vintage cuvée in the traditional Louis Roederer style. Only the cuvée (first pressing of 120 gallons/ton) is used.

The fermentation takes place in high-grade stainless steel tanks at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Zero to minimal malolactic fermentation is used in order to ensure the wines age well and retain the fresh, precise and well-defined style that is one of the characteristics of Roederer Estate wines.

James Suckling scored this 94 points saying "Extremely fresh and floral with sliced apples, stones and some white peach. Bread dough, too. Fine bead. Medium to full body with crisp acidity and a steely finish. Hints of phenolics provide a fine texture. Vibrant acidity. About 15% reserve wine (mostly chardonnay) in this, from five vintages. 2.5 years on the lees. 60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir. Drink or hold."

The Wine Advocate scored this 93 points saying "The current release of the NV Estate Brut is made up mainly of fruit from the 2015 vintage. It is a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir and was made with about ten grams per liter dosage. Disgorged in October of 2018, it has a fresh, open nose with pure fruit expression: crushed apples, pears and lemon peel mingle with touches of stone, flowers and toast. The medium-bodied palate offers a lovely dichotomy of toasty fruits with uplifted citrusy, minerally accents with a finely beaded mousse, and it finishes long and ultra fresh."

Decanter Magazine scored this 93 points saying "The iconic Quarted blend of Chardonnay (60%) and Pinot Noir (40%) with two years in contact with the lees. From fog-shrouded Anderson Valley this shows supreme elegance, balance and poise. Pale straw colour. Attractive notes of citrus fruits, fresh dough, cashew nuts, star fruit, Mirabelle plum and fresh biscuits on the nose. The palate dry with a lovely creamy texture, amazing finesse and sophistication, followed by an assertive and refreshing finish."

Wine Spectator scored it 93 points saying "Seamless and silky, showing an almost effortless sense of complexity, with notes of lemon and pear paired with toasty brioche, fresh ginger and hazelnut details. Drink now."