Description
Roederer Estate · Brut NV · Anderson Valley · California
Roederer Estate is the California outpost of Louis Roederer — the legendary Champagne house behind Cristal — and it has long been not only one of California’s biggest sparkling wine producers, but one of its very best. Planted in the cool, fog-influenced Anderson Valley of Mendocino County, the estate grows Chardonnay and Pinot Noir in terroir that produces wines of genuine freshness and elegance. The Brut NV is a blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir, built on a base of 2019 wines, aged two years on the lees, with a significant portion of oak-aged reserve wine adding richness and complexity. Dosage: 7.5 g/L. Rated 94 points by Decanter, 93 by Wine Spectator, and named 2 Wine Spectator Top Ten Value of 2024.
The Estate Brut opens with aromas of baked apple, pie crust, toasted cashews, almonds, and biscuit with flinty touches. On the palate, it is medium to full-bodied — rounded and creamy with bright lemony character, seashell minerality, and a long, mineral-driven finish. More herbal and textural than Champagne, with a good Champagne’s freshness and elegance. As the New York Times put it: “It doesn’t taste like Champagne. It’s more herbal, less mineral, but it’s got a good Champagne’s freshness and elegance.”
Expert Reviews
“First overall in the sparkling category. Louis Roederer’s outpost in California’s cool Anderson Valley is a stylistic chip off the old block. Rich, weighty mouthful of creamy bubbles. Lots of baked apple and toasted cashews here.”
— Michaela Morris, Decanter · 94 Points
“Aromas of pie crust with hints of nuts and cooked apple. Some butter cookie. Medium to full body with notes of seashell, cooked apple and lemon rind. A blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. Two years on the lees.”
— James Suckling · 93 Points
“Scented of sour lemon, almonds and biscuits with flinty touches. The medium-bodied palate is rounded and creamy with bright, lemony character and a long, mineral-driven finish.”
— Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate · 92 Points
- Producer: Roederer Estate (Louis Roederer), Anderson Valley, California
- Style: Brut NV Sparkling
- Appellation: Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California
- Blend: 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir
- Base Vintage: 2019 | Lees Aging: 2 years
- Dosage: 7.5 g/L
- Accolades: 2 Wine Spectator Top Ten Value of 2024
- Size: 750ml
- Tasting Notes: Baked apple, pie crust, toasted cashews, almonds, lemon, seashell minerality, creamy mousse
- Pairings: Oysters, sushi, fried chicken, soft cheeses, charcuterie, seafood pasta, aperitivo
D:94 · JS:93 · WA:92 · 2 WS Top Ten Value 2024 — Anderson Valley sparkling from the house of Cristal. Creamy, mineral, and built to over-deliver.
