he Roederer collection is outstanding, and we have the new rendition of this incredible Cuvee, the 243, which marks the 243 blends that Roederer has created. Roederer's debut of their serial numbered series was a massive success, with 242 being one of our top-selling Champagnes, loved by all. 243 is the second vintage of the "numbered Cuvee" in 750ml to be released and is a solera style Champagne that replaced their regular non-vintage brut. Roederer decided to revitalize some of the Cuvees, starting with the non-vintage, and push them into modern times to keep up with the sustainable practices and quality sparked by the grower Champagne movement. As a result, Louis Roederer has converted or is only using sustainable plots now, whether it is part of their estate or with a grower contract. They have also chosen to only source from plots or areas of Champagne with a strong identity, featuring many lieu dits, exposures, and soils which they call the Coeur de Terroir or Heart of the Terroir. This focus on a higher quality product, all the way down to the soil, and ensuring the best fruit possible is inspiring to see and is already yielding fantastic results. Another key to this Cuvee is the solera used, which was started in the 2012 vintage. Every year more juice is added, usually stored in tank, but Roederer has also significantly increased the amount of reserve wine aged in oak.
The 243 is the next generation of this outstanding new Cuvee and shows great promise. The base vintage used this time is 2018, accounting for 59% of the blend (the rest is solera wine), which is already being considered a legendary vintage. It saw a partial malolactic fermentation with a grape blend of 42% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 18% Pinot Meunier finished, and a respectable eight-gram dosage.
The 243 is a finely tuned bottle of Champagne and one of the most masterfully crafted bottles you can get your hands on in the price range. It is the perfect opener for a meal or gathering. It is the ideal fit for those gearing up for some holiday celebrations and is a bottle we cannot recommend enough.
Antonio Galloni 93 points! "The NV Collection 243 is bright, punchy and wonderfully effusive, the 243 really shows the more vibrant style Roederer is going for with their new entry-level NV bottling. Citrus peel white, flowers, mint, slate and a host of saline notes build nicely. This is impressive, to say the least. Dosage is 8 grams per liter."
JebDunnuck.com (Audrey Frick) 93 points! "The NV Champagne Collection 243 Brut is the third release and is based on the 2018 vintage, with the addition of 30% of the perpetual reserve started in 2012 and 10% reserve wine that has been aged in oak. It is ripe and balanced, with yellow flowers, honeycomb, and plum, and it has elegant concentration and underlying tension, precise mousse, and rich salinity, with lingering notes of croissant and delicate smoke. This will be an exciting wine in the range to follow. Drink 2022-2037."
Wine Advocate (William Kelley) 92 points! "Based on the 2018 vintage and complemented by reserve wines from a solera established in 2012, as well as younger foudre-aged reserve wines, Roederer's newly released NV Brut Collection 243 is a pillowy, enveloping Champagne evocative of crisp stone fruits, honeycomb, white flowers and buttery pastry. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and generous, with an ample core of fruit, bright acids and a saline finish, it will offer demonstrative drinking on release."
Wine Spectator 92 points! "A vibrant Champagne that's fine and creamy on the palate, almost plush, but bright and well-balanced throughout. Reveals a chalky base note that underscores layers of ripe pear and nectarine fruit, mandarin orange peel, oyster shell and chamomile. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Drink now. 40,000 cases imported."
N.V. Louis Roederer Champagne Collection 243 1.5L
N.V. Louis Roederer Champagne Collection 243 1.5L
he Roederer collection is outstanding, and we have the new rendition of this incredible Cuvee, the 243, which marks the 243 blends that Roederer has created. Roederer's debut of their serial numbered series was a massive success, with 242 being one of our top-selling Champagnes, loved by all. 243 is the second vintage of the "numbered Cuvee" in 750ml to be released and is a solera style Champagne that replaced their regular non-vintage brut. Roederer decided to revitalize some of the Cuvees, starting with the non-vintage, and push them into modern times to keep up with the sustainable practices and quality sparked by the grower Champagne movement. As a result, Louis Roederer has converted or is only using sustainable plots now, whether it is part of their estate or with a grower contract. They have also chosen to only source from plots or areas of Champagne with a strong identity, featuring many lieu dits, exposures, and soils which they call the Coeur de Terroir or Heart of the Terroir. This focus on a higher quality product, all the way down to the soil, and ensuring the best fruit possible is inspiring to see and is already yielding fantastic results. Another key to this Cuvee is the solera used, which was started in the 2012 vintage. Every year more juice is added, usually stored in tank, but Roederer has also significantly increased the amount of reserve wine aged in oak.
The 243 is the next generation of this outstanding new Cuvee and shows great promise. The base vintage used this time is 2018, accounting for 59% of the blend (the rest is solera wine), which is already being considered a legendary vintage. It saw a partial malolactic fermentation with a grape blend of 42% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, 18% Pinot Meunier finished, and a respectable eight-gram dosage.
The 243 is a finely tuned bottle of Champagne and one of the most masterfully crafted bottles you can get your hands on in the price range. It is the perfect opener for a meal or gathering. It is the ideal fit for those gearing up for some holiday celebrations and is a bottle we cannot recommend enough.
Antonio Galloni 93 points! "The NV Collection 243 is bright, punchy and wonderfully effusive, the 243 really shows the more vibrant style Roederer is going for with their new entry-level NV bottling. Citrus peel white, flowers, mint, slate and a host of saline notes build nicely. This is impressive, to say the least. Dosage is 8 grams per liter."
JebDunnuck.com (Audrey Frick) 93 points! "The NV Champagne Collection 243 Brut is the third release and is based on the 2018 vintage, with the addition of 30% of the perpetual reserve started in 2012 and 10% reserve wine that has been aged in oak. It is ripe and balanced, with yellow flowers, honeycomb, and plum, and it has elegant concentration and underlying tension, precise mousse, and rich salinity, with lingering notes of croissant and delicate smoke. This will be an exciting wine in the range to follow. Drink 2022-2037."
Wine Advocate (William Kelley) 92 points! "Based on the 2018 vintage and complemented by reserve wines from a solera established in 2012, as well as younger foudre-aged reserve wines, Roederer's newly released NV Brut Collection 243 is a pillowy, enveloping Champagne evocative of crisp stone fruits, honeycomb, white flowers and buttery pastry. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and generous, with an ample core of fruit, bright acids and a saline finish, it will offer demonstrative drinking on release."
Wine Spectator 92 points! "A vibrant Champagne that's fine and creamy on the palate, almost plush, but bright and well-balanced throughout. Reveals a chalky base note that underscores layers of ripe pear and nectarine fruit, mandarin orange peel, oyster shell and chamomile. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. Drink now. 40,000 cases imported."
