Louis Roederer
I've tasted 5 Champagnes from Louis Roederer — enough to get a solid impression. A house from Champagne that works with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and shows a clear signature throughout its range.
For me, Louis Roederer is the large house that comes closest to the grower mentality. While most Champagne corporations focus on volume and consistency, Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon — the Chef de Cave since 1999 — has consistently steered the house toward terroir and biodynamic viticulture. Around 75% of their grape needs come from their own vineyards, an unusually high percentage in Champagne. This gives Roederer a quality control that few large houses have.
The Cristal story is legendary, of course: created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II, filled in a clear glass bottle so the Tsar could see there was no bomb inside. Today Cristal is much more than a historical anecdote — it's one of the great prestige Champagnes that regularly holds its own with the world's best Blanc de Blancs in blind tastings, even though it's a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.
What makes Roederer special: The Collection series (formerly Brut Premier) works with a Reserve Perpetuelle — a Solera-like system where reserve wines age for years in large oak barrels and give the base wine depth and complexity. That's exceptionally elaborate for a non-vintage Champagne from a large house.
The Range
Louis Roederer offers 4 different Cuvées that I was able to try. In the program: vintage Champagnes. A focused range that puts quality over quantity.
The Cuvées in Detail
Collection 244
Tasted 2x. Elegant, clear and precise with fresh fruit, fine spice and taut minerality. A Champagne with structure, but also with finesse. Highlights: fresh fruit, fine spice, taut minerality, Réserve Perpétuelle. Aromas of ripe pears, citrus fruits and a touch of toasted notes. Versatile Champagne that suits any mood and occasion. Highlights: ripe pears, citrus fruits, toasted notes, versatile.
The Collection 244 is the best proof that a large house can produce a non-vintage Champagne at grower level. The Reserve Perpetuelle gives the wine a depth you won't find at other large houses at this price point. On the second tasting it convinced me even more — a Champagne that opens up with air and gains complexity.
Type: Brut | Vintage: 2019 | Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Weihnachten bedeutet für mich, besondere Momente mit außergewöhnlichem Genuss zu füllen – und heute, am 2. Weihnachtsfeiertag, haben wir das…
Cristal 2015
Extensively mineral and deep with citrus notes, saline energy and fine spices. Silky length with elegance, power and precision in perfect balance. Highlights: mineral, citrus, saline energy, silky.
Cristal 2015 was one of those moments when you understand why some Champagnes are worth their price. The saline energy that runs through the entire palate, the silky texture, the length — this is Champagne at a level you don't often experience. Compared to Dom Pérignon I find Cristal more precise and mineral, less broad and opulent. Compared to Comtes de Champagne it lacks the pure Chardonnay elegance, but the Pinot Noir brings a depth and power that's impressive.
My tip: Cristal needs time in the glass. Don't drink it immediately, but let it breathe for at least 30 minutes. The saline minerality only really unfolds when the wine opens up.
Type: Prestige Cuvée | Vintage: 2015 | Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Vier Monaten lang lag er im Kühler. Immer wieder hab ich überlegt: Ein Geburtstag? Ein Hochzeitstag? Ein besonderer Erfolg? Aber irgendwie war…
Collection 245
A Champagne with calm and depth that convinces with white flowers, lemon zest, pear and salted almond. Fine ripeness and clear character define the glass. Highlights: white flowers, lemon zest, pear, salted almond.
The 245 shows the vintage character of 2020 compared to the 244 — a bit warmer, a bit riper, but with the same mineral foundation. The salted almond on the finish is a Roederer signature that runs through all Cuvées.
Type: Millésimé | Vintage: 2020 | Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier
Vintage 2016
A profound and structured Champagne with ripe yellow fruits, toasted almonds and honey. Creamy texture with elegant perlage and a long, precise finish with saline minerality. Highlights: ripe yellow fruits, toasted almonds, saline minerality, creamy texture.
The Vintage 2016 positions itself between Collection and Cristal — and shows that Roederer makes no compromises even in the middle of the range. The creamy texture and toasted almonds suggest partial aging in oak that gives the Champagne an additional dimension.
Type: Prestige Cuvée | Vintage: 2016 | Grape Varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
More Posts
Nachdem ich bisher von @louisroederer_ nur die Collection 242 und 243 probiert hatte war es an der Zeit, tiefer in Roederers Stil einzutauchen – mit…
My Tastings
Warum eine Magnum? Geburtstag? Hochzeitstag? Großes Fest? Nein – einfach nur Lust auf einen @louisroederer_ . Und im Keller stand halt nur noch…
Vier Monaten lang lag er im Kühler. Immer wieder hab ich überlegt: Ein Geburtstag? Ein Hochzeitstag? Ein besonderer Erfolg? Aber irgendwie war…
Am späten Sonntagvormittag eine Flasche @louisroederer_ – Collection 245 geöffnet – draußen in der Sonne, ganz entspannt, einfach so. Getrunken aus…
Nachdem ich bisher von @louisroederer_ nur die Collection 242 und 243 probiert hatte war es an der Zeit, tiefer in Roederers Stil einzutauchen – mit…
Weihnachten bedeutet für mich, besondere Momente mit außergewöhnlichem Genuss zu füllen – und heute, am 2. Weihnachtsfeiertag, haben wir das…
Conclusion
Louis Roederer is for me the best large house in Champagne. The biodynamic approach, the Reserve Perpetuelle, the high estate ownership — everything points to people at work who understand Champagne as a terroir product and not as an industrial product. When someone asks which large house I recommend, I say Roederer. And when someone wants to know if prestige Cuvées are worth their price, I say: Try the Cristal.
| Region | Champagne |
| Grape Varieties | Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier |
| Styles | Vintage Champagnes |
| Vintages | 2015, 2016, 2019, 2020 |
| Tasted Champagnes | 17 |