{"product_id":"louis-roederer-champagne-brut-collection-246","title":"Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Collection 246","description":"\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Vinous - \u003c\/strong\u003eThe NV Brut Collection 246 is positively stellar. It’s a terrific example of where Roederer is going with this cuvée stylistically. Brisk saline notes cut through a core of orchard fruit, mint, white pepper and slate. There are no hard angles or awkward contours. The 246 is based on 2021, an extremely tricky vintage for Champagne. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon bumped up the percentage of Chardonnay considerably and focused on Pinots from the Montagne de Reims. About 30% of the lots underwent malolactic fermentation to soften the edges. Twenty-four percent of the wines were fermented in oak, the rest in tank. The 246 is a blend of 55% base 2021 vintage wines described above, plus 30% perpetual reserve going back to 2012 (mostly from Cumières, Vertus and Verzy) in tank and 10% young-vine juice from Cristal plots aged in cask. The final blend is 54% Chardonnay (as opposed to the more typical 44%), 35% Pinot Noir and 11% Meunier. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. More importantly, the 246 is impeccably done and absolutely delicious.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e93 Wine Spectator \u003c\/strong\u003e- \u003cspan\u003eA harmonious Champagne that shows impeccable balance, with depth and focus to its flavors of white cherry, Honeycrisp apple, tangerine peel and biscuit, while retaining vibrancy and grace. A chalky underpinning comes to the fore on the creamy finish, joining delicate spice and floral accents. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Meunier. \u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e***\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eLouis Roederer Collection 246\u003c\/strong\u003e is a particularly \u003cstrong\u003ebright, Chardonnay-driven and mineral expression\u003c\/strong\u003e of Roederer’s multi-vintage Champagne. Built primarily around the difficult but high-acid \u003cstrong\u003e2021 harvest\u003c\/strong\u003e, it emphasizes finesse and tension rather than sheer richness. The blend is \u003cstrong\u003e54% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 11% Meunier\u003c\/strong\u003e, with 55% coming from 2021, 35% from Roederer’s perpetual reserve dating back to 2012, and 10% oak-aged reserve wines. Dosage is a restrained 7 g\/L. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan class=\"PDq2pG_selectionAnchor\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIn the glass, it is \u003cstrong\u003ecrisp, elegant and beautifully chiseled\u003c\/strong\u003e, opening with lemon zest, nectarine, mirabelle plum and ripe pear, followed by chalk, subtle brioche, toasted almond and a faint smoky\/oyster-shell character. The mousse is exceptionally fine and creamy, but the wine remains energetic and dry, finishing with \u003cstrong\u003esalinity, chalk and lingering citrus\u003c\/strong\u003e. Roederer itself notes that the unusually high Chardonnay component gives 246 a character reminiscent of a \u003cstrong\u003eBlanc de Blancs\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003cspan class=\"contents\"\u003e\u003cspan class=\"\"\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhat makes \u003cstrong\u003e246 especially compelling\u003c\/strong\u003e is the contrast between the youthful, cool-vintage freshness of 2021 and the depth supplied by the perpetual reserve. It has enough toast and creaminess to feel luxurious, but its dominant impression is \u003cstrong\u003eprecision, freshness and mineral drive rather than opulence\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c!----\u003e","brand":"SOUTHERN WINE","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44612162224434,"sku":"856334000090","price":57.98,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0044\/7165\/2425\/files\/LRCOLL.png?v=1788395334","url":"https:\/\/www.vintagewinemerchants.com\/products\/louis-roederer-champagne-brut-collection-246","provider":"Vintage Wine Merchants","version":"1.0","type":"link"}