Louis Roederer Champagne Collection 245 NV (France)

Description

Dry, Peach, Pear

Lovely golden yellow hue. Steady lively bubbles. Bouquet of yellow fruits (nectarine) and ripe, concentrated citrus (lemon) complemented by sweet notes of petals, pollen, sugared almonds and wheat. We find an impressively ripe, complex and intense fruit which elevates the pure and intense bouquet interwoven with smoky overtones. The palate is velvety, unctuous, rich and juicy. The bubbles have an almost saline character to them and coat the palate with a broad and concentrated texture. The wine reveals an exceptional balance between structure and a crisp, powdery, saline chalky freshness. Smoky and slightly oaky notes linger on a deliciously well-honed finish.

The year 2020 followed a similar trajectory to that of 2019 with a mild and rainy winter followed by a dry summer with several heatwaves which, although less extreme than in 2019, still had an impact on the vine. Fortunately, the weather was rather dull and a bit wet in June which gave us a welcome humid interlude between two dry spells. Despite our impressions of relentless heat and sunshine, the temperatures and sunshine levels over the 2020 harvest period were actually relatively normal. These continental conditions, but with “normal” annual averages, enabled the production of mature and wellbalanced wines! The harvests took place between 22 August and 11 September 2020.