Collection 246
Collection 246
"Our thought process began more than 10 years ago. The facts were undeniable: climate change had been affecting the Champagne region over the past 30 years and we saw this as an opportunity to harvest extra mature grapes at the end of earlier harvests."
Discover the origin of Collection: the freedom of Louis Roederer style!
LOOKING TO THE FUTURE
Responding to the times in which we live, along with sustainable and respectful winegrowing practices that accentuate the qualities of the terroir, have become central to our ethos and our work. Anticipating future vintages and adapting to current conditions are challenges we face every day, so we must continue to push ourselves in our quest for excellence in our blends. We must be bold and make the most of our freedom to act.
These new balances determine the evolution of our wines in terms of their distinctive character and taste characteristics, whilst widening the range of possibilities. Thus, the idea of Collection was born...
ROOTED IN THE "HEART OF THE TERROIR"
True to its roots, the Champagne House wanted to reflect its historical origins in the blend: 1/3 from our “la Rivière” Estate, 1/3 from our “la Montagne” Estate and 1/3 from our “la Côte” Estate. All the plots of vines used for the creation of Collection, both those owned by Louis Roederer and those belonging to its longstanding partners, have therefore been re-evaluated in order to retain only those that are best suited to the Collection identity, rooted in the heart of the Champagne terroir.
This quest for the Champagne region’s most “expressionist” terroirs results in a multitude of different origins, lieux-dits, exposures, lands with strong identities and predominantly limestone soils, all of which have the ability to evolve over a long period of time. This approach not only allows Louis Roederer to better respond to climate change while gaining resilience and complexity but also guarantees the freshness of its wines and the continuity of the Louis Roederer style.
2021: A HEROIC VINTAGE
Not since 1958 have we faced such a challenging and unpredictable growing season. The 2021 vintage was particularly demanding and required the full commitment of our vineyard teams, who managed to save the harvest, although yields were significantly reduced.
This 246th blend from the Louis Roederer Champagne House expresses the freshness of the year and the precision and tension it brought. The Chardonnays, present in unusually high proportions in the blend, proved remarkably resilient, producing refined, elegant and saline grapes. The Pinots, though less powerful than usual, also captured the light, fresh character of the year. Collection 246 is thus a delicate and vibrant composition, reminiscent of the character of certain Blanc de Blancs champagnes.
BESPOKE VINIFICATION
Each year, the Cellar Master composes a new symphony, inspired by the tonalities of the year, and then adds the wines from the Perpetual Reserve and the oak-aged reserve wines.
Made up of 55% of the 2021 harvest, Collection 246 is an ode to taste and drinking pleasure. The Perpetual Reserve makes up 35% of the Collection 246 blend, providing balance and freshness.
In parallel with the Perpetual Reserve, a significant proportion of wines from previous years and young plots on the Cristal estate, aged in French oak foudres, are added to the blend. These Reserve wines are Louis Roederer's signature and make up 10% of the Collection 246 blend.
THE SINGULARITY OF COLLECTION 246
Aged in our cellars for almost four years, Collection 246 is a champagne of freshness, vibrancy and ethereal finesse. Carried by the tension and balance of the vintage, the freshness of the Perpetual Reserve, and the complexity of the oak-aged reserve wines, it unfolds with grace and delicacy, revealing an accomplished fruit, evocative of mirabelle plum and candied citrus, complemented by a subtle touch of oak and charming toasted and iodised overtones.
Perfect with gastronomy and endowed with a long cellar ageing potential, it can be enjoyed now but it can also be kept back for several years during which it will further evolve to unveil another facet of its identity.