Hommage à Camille
Camille Olry-Roederer was a level-headed woman with a generous spirit. She was also playful and inventive. She brought Maison Louis Roederer into the modern world and secured her place in its history.
CAMILLE, A BOLD SPIRIT
This resourceful widow was at the helm of Louis Roederer from 1932 to 1975, during which time she successfully steered the company through all the major events of the time. Camille, the widow of Léon Olry-Roederer, gave new energy and direction to the Champagne House and was its most brilliant ambassador. Exuberant and eccentric, yet invariably elegant and refined, she created a circle of wine lovers dedicated to Louis Roederer champagnes.
With wines from the finest Champagne terroirs, a collection of crus that her husband Léon had shrewdly acquired after the phylloxera crisis, Camille had many strong cards up her sleeve. These exceptional plots in Aÿ, Avize, Cramant, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Dizy and Cumières are the treasure troves and foundation of Louis Roederer’s unique style.
It was also thanks to Camille’s bravery and vision that Louis Roederer was able to reclaim the prestige it still enjoys today. Camille fought tirelessly for the Champagne House, showing courage and remarkable determination. She formed around her a close-knit circle of people who were ready to follow in her visionary footsteps.
WINES OF TRIBUTE
Frédéric Rouzaud, CEO and seventh-generation family member at the helm of the Champagne House, wanted to pay homage to the great-grandmother whose bold character he had so admired. He therefore decided to dedicate this collection of single-vineyard still wines to Camille, thereby perpetuating the Champagne House’s inventive spirit. These still wines are produced exclusively from organically grown grapes and – in keeping with the spirit of great Champagne vintages - only in years when the fruit reaches perfect maturity.
Innovation, vision and progress are Roederer's core values. These values have always been at the heart of the Champagne House’s ethos and have been handed down from generation to generation. It was this vision and approach that guided Camille Olry-Roederer, which is why we wish to pay tribute to her and celebrate her hard work and commitment through these wines.
A VIRTUOUS EXPERIMENTAL PATH
This new collection is the result of a twofold motion: a glance backwards, to the past, in homage to our ancestor Camille and a gesture to the future, to that which Nature offers us and which we receive in order to render it even more beautiful.
By working closely with the vines, using solar viticulture and bespoke vinification, we are able to uncover a new dimension hidden in our Champagne terroirs. We also wanted to surprise and innovate, to consider the terroir in its entirety, isolating each site in turn to observe it from every angle.
LIEUX-DITS
Milnon
A new interpretation of one of our Champagne climats, this single-vineyard red wine is part of a collection of cuvées paying tribute to Camille, a remarkable woman whose bold spirit continues to guide the innovative vision of the Louis Roederer Champagne House in its quest for authenticity.
This limited-edition wine originates from vines planted in 2009, using specific massal selections from our estate, and is produced from organically grown grapes. It tells the story of our pursuit for taste, shaped by dedication, sustainable winegrowing, bespoke vinification and the magic of time.
Les Volibarts
Our white coteau wine from the Les Volibarts vineyard in Mesnil-sur-Oger is a natural continuation of Camille’s legacy. In 2017, one of the last remaining bottles from Camille’s time - a 1961 vintage from this vineyard - was tasted. Its exceptional quality convinced us that we should take another look at this 0.55-hectare, southeast-facing plot of vines with a gentle and unhurried growth.
BESPOKE AGEING
Ageing on the gross and fine lees, without racking and in different receptacles (sandstone, stainless-steel and oak) enables the juices to reveal their true potential. 12 months later, the wines from the three receptacles are blended together, in varying proportions each year, to create the finest possible balance.
