Louis Roederer - champagne, which for the second century has been a symbol of luxury and sophisticated aristocracy. Few people know that Russian emperors had a hand in promoting the products of this wine house from Champagne. Five generations of the royal dynasty enjoyed the exquisite taste of the Louis Röderrer drink. And especially for Alexander the Second, the original brand Prestige Crystal was created at home.
Champagne was bottled in crystal glass. But other products of this wine house are distinguished by sophistication and excellent taste, despite the fact that it is produced in ordinary glass. In this article we will give full information about the Louis Röderrer champagne. Read about the history of the wine house, the terroir, the composition of the drink, the manufacturing technology, the taste characteristics and the cost of products on the Russian market below.
The history of the wine house
As you know, only sparkling wines grown in the Champagne (France) region have every right to be called by the proud name “champagne”. But in this region there are many manufacturers who produce, thanks to the terroir, excellent drinks. Take the Widow Clicquot or the House of Perignon for example.
But Louis Roederer is exceptional champagne. The campaign that produces it was formed in 1776. At first, nothing signaled success. The wine house called Dubois Pére et Sons did not stand out from a number of other champagne producers.
In the thirties of the nineteenth century, the enterprise was inherited by the nephew of the previous owner. He bore another surname, which he gave the company instead of Dubois Pere.
Louis Roederer may not have been a born winemaker, but the talent to promote his products was given to him by God. He sent a batch of champagne as a gift to the Russian emperor. Nicholas II liked the drink so much that he made Louis Roederer the official supplier of the royal court. And for Alexander the Second in 1876, the legendary cuvé “Prestige Crystal” was created.
Modern manufacturer
Champagne Louis Roederer since that time did not leave the top places in the popularity of consumers. Despite the fact that after the October Revolution of the seventeenth year, crystal bottles with a double-headed eagle engraved on them left the past, and the deliveries to Russia themselves stopped, the campaign continued to flourish.
The skillful management of the heirs of Louis Roederer allowed to maintain their previous positions. After all, the wine house produced not only vintage drinks from the “crystal cuvée” (only the best yields were delivered there, which happens once or twice in a decade), but also quite democratic champagne. The “dry law” in the United States of America served as a great test for the company, but it survived this period with dignity.
Now the campaign is managed by Frederic Ruzo, who is Roederer on the maternal side - the seventh representative of the genus. The champagne company is located in Reims. The current sales volume is three million bottles per year.
Terroir
To say that sparkling wine was born in Champagne is not all. After all, this province is big. There are entire departments where grapes are not grown at all. But in order to make his Louis Roederer (champagne), Louis Roederer acquired fifteen hectares of land in Verzen. This small area is considered among Grand Cru winemakers.
The growing popularity of champagne in this house allowed the company to expand its “production capacity”. Now the plant owns two hundred and forty hectares of the best vineyards on the shores of the Marne, Côte de Blanc and Montagne de Reims - Premier and Grand Cru.
These are lands with a northern climate. Therefore, the grapes grown there do not gain sugar, and the drink from it turns out to be extremely thin and elegant. Despite the vast territory of the company, the crop covers only eighty percent of the needs. The rest of the raw materials are purchased from other contractors - but reliable, time-tested, whose vineyards are located in the best places in Champagne.
Composition
Louis Roederer - champagne, the creation of which involves only three varieties of vines. This grape is historically characteristic of Champagne. Chardonnay is appreciated for its elegance, subtlety and “minerality”. The second grade is Pinot noir. Its natural strength is ideal for assembly and predisposes wines to aging. Third grade - Pinot less. Unpretentious, adaptable to northern conditions, the vine gives a rich harvest. A gentle, unobtrusive taste of berries gives softness and allows you to achieve harmony for some cuvée.
The company also produces monomillesic types of champagne. A vivid example is the "Vintage", created from Pinot Noir, which was grown in Montagnes de Reims. And lovers of light champagne can recommend the “Blank de Blanc”. This is one hundred percent Chardonnay, who saw the light on Grand Cru in Aviz and Menil-sur-Auger. But usually three grape varieties are assembled in such proportions: forty percent Pinot noir and Chardonnay and 20% Pinot less.
Technology
Harvesting is done manually and very carefully so that the skin of the berry does not stain the juice. Squeezing is carried out right away to ensure light color and transparency of future champagne. Then in oak barrels there is a vinification of the drink. This process takes about three years.
When the wine is bottled, it goes through the remuage stage. Daily, the container is rotated only a few degrees to ensure that all sediment collects on the cork. Then, after three months, a follow-up operation follows. The precipitate is completely removed, and champagne pleases us with amazing crystal purity and transparency.
After degorging, the drink is left alone for another six months. And only then they are sent for sale. Not surprisingly, Louis Roederer Brut champagne reaches this value. The price for a bottle with a capacity of 0.7 liters is six thousand rubles. And vintage varieties of especially valuable crops (for example, the seventh and twelfth years of this century) are estimated by wine boutiques at fifty thousand rubles.
Champagne Crystal Louis Roederer
The assembly of this drink was developed in 1876 to satisfy the taste of Alexander the Second. Pinot noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%) participate in the creation of champagne. The drink is distinguished by an amazing balance and long aftertaste. The silky texture hides the aroma of ripe fruits, they are shaded by a strong mineral component, where notes of citrus and white flowers are heard. “Crystal” can be stored for up to twenty years, and at the same time does not lose its freshness and its recognizable character.
Champagne Louis Roederer Brut Premier
This sparkling wine was developed after the First World War. It is created from three millesim. The guardian of the company’s cellars, Jean-Baptiste Lécione, spoke about this brand of champagne: the brutality of Brut Premier’s cheerfulness, freshness and subtlety lead to a festive mood. The base of the wine has a distinct structure, and the taste is rich in nuances, longitude and strength. This champagne is full-bodied, complex and with a strong character, but at the same time it fully complies with the classical canons. You can’t say better.
All this leads to increased demand for Louis Roederer Brut Premier champagne. The price for it is relatively democratic - five and a half thousand rubles per 0.7 liter bottle.