Louis Roederer : Collection 242

The champagne succeeding Brut Premier

The estate

Founded in Reims in 1776, the Louis Roederer Champagne House has remained family-owned and independent. The Louis Roederer House has been in the hands of the same family for over 200 years. Today, it is run by Frédéric Rouzaud, who represents the seventh generation of the lineage. Louis Roederer embodies the excellence of Champagne wines worldwide thanks to cuvées that are produced like works of art.

The vineyard

With nearly 241 hectares of vines, the Louis Roederer house derives its strength from its extraordinary vineyard, which is solely made up of Grand and Premier Crus in the Marne Valley, the Reims Mountain and the Côte des Blancs. The vineyard at the Louis Roederer House is a real mosaic of terroirs, with 410 plot that reflect all of the diversity of Champagne soils.

The wine

In order to heighten the quality of the House’s multi-vintage blends, as well as to bring more transparency to the blends, Louis Roederer has embarked on a new approach with the creation of its Collection. Produced from grapes which come from, in equal amounts, the "La Rivière", "La Montagne" and "La Côte" vineyards, Collection consists of a base vintage, reserve wines aged in wood (sous bois) and wine from the "perpetual reserve", which has taken on the principles of the solera system since 2012. Each edition of the Collection is thus unique, yet each is always representative of the Roederer identity and know-how.

Base and reserve vintages

242, for the 242th blend. Collection 242 by Louis Roederer was produced from the 2017 vintage, to which 10% of reserve wines aged in wood (2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) and 34% of perpetual reserve (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016) have been added.

Winemaking and ageing

34% of the blend went through a malolactic fermentation. Collection 242 was aged for more than three years in a cellar. Its dosage is 8g/litre.

Blend

Collection 242 by Louis Roederer is the product of a blend of 42% Chardonnay, 36% Pinot Noir and 22% Pinot Meunier.

Tasting

Nose

Notes of ripe white fruits, white flowers such as acacia, citrus zests and a touch of grilled hazelnut.

Palate

The palate is ripe and generous at the same time, with a wonderfully pure and elongated structure. Collection 242 by Louis Roederer has a freshness, precision and finesse that are revealed at a level that can only be achieved by craftsman possessing the utmost level of mastery.