As the largest independent family-managed Champagne producer, Louis Roederer rank amongst the region's absolute finest. Established in 1776, the House today is managed by seventh generation family member Frédéric Rouzaud alongside long-time Chef de Cave and Champagne legend Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. They own an astounding 242 hectares of vineyards many in chalk rich Grand Cru villages covering two-thirds of their grape requirements. Roederer have become pioneers in biodynamic farming & by 2012 all 78 hectares the “Cristal Estates” are farmed using biodynamic methods. By 2021 Roederer have 115 hectares certified organic. All the grapes in Cristal & other vintage cuvee’s come from their own vineyards. The estate is made up of 410 plots which are fermented separately in one of the 450 stainless steel tanks in their Reims cellars. In 2020 Roederer replaced Brut Premier with “Collection” allowing each years non-vintage blend to be identified and “re-engineering” the non-vintage cuvee to maintain freshness in the light of global warming on the Champagne region. Today Cristal is, widely recognised as the world's most awarded prestige cuvée champagne.

In the heart of the Côte des Blancs, where Chardonnay expresses itself with such incredible finesse on the famous limestone soils, Louis Roederer selected four plots from their vineyards in Avize Grand Crus for their Blanc de Blancs 2011. These plots in Avize have distinct characteristics and in the difficult vintage only grapes from the south facing slopes attained the required level of ripeness. This pure-Chardonnay champagne quickly became the favourite wine of the Roederer family for major events and is 100% estate-bottled from the grapes of their historic vineyards. Drawn at low pressure for a fuller flow of bubbles, 10% of the wines have been aged in wood casks and the final blend is matured for an average of five years in the cellars and left to rest for six months after disgorgement.

Weather: The 2011 vintage was a continental, sunny year with a real winter that was very cold and dry followed by a glorious sun-filled summer and almost no rain in August and September. The harvest was incomparable in terms of quality and produced consistent, fresh and crunchy grapes.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Avize
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Ageing: 5 years on the lees
Dosage: 9 g/l
Drink: Now to 2026

Tasting Note: A golden yellow colour with hints of green and a fine stream of bubbles. Initially on the nose there is an intense bouquet of plums and mango with notes of citrus fruits. On the palate a more rounded apple flavour combines with balanced acidity of lemon and vanilla.