2013 Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs

Roederer’s 2013 Blanc de Blancs is fabulous. A blend taken from the extreme north and south portions of Avize, the 2013 races out of the glass with stunning Chardonnay purity and finesse. Light on its feet, brilliant and full of energy, the 2013 is off the charts gorgeous. Lemon confit, mint and white flowers are some of the nuances that caress the palate. The Blanc de Blancs is bottled with 4 atmospheres of pressure (as opposed to the more common 5-6), which gives softer contours and an extra degree of suppleness. The Blanc de Blancs is one again the under the radar jewel in the Roederer range. Dosage is 8 grams per liter.

Very delicate style,overall, with softness and elegance. Yellow-citrus and yuzu fruit character. Very chalky palate with silky texture and a super pure fruit core. The full, vinous potential of the chardonnay here is stunning. Really ripe in a cool year means concentration. Very silky with paraffin-like texture.

To be launched July or August 2019. 100% Avize and no malo. Lécaillon’s new style: pushing to almost 12% potential alcohol and only 4 bars of pressure. No sulphites at harvest to allow oxidation,'to get rid of varietal aromas and concentrate on chalk’, says Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. 'I’m not afraid of no sulphur on Chardonnay because it’s naturally reductive. What you call bitterness, I call chalkiness. I even remove leaves from Chardonnay to push the expression of Chardonnay. I wanted to go light on Blanc de Blancs to keep the best Chardonnay for Cristal. The Mesnil fruit now goes to Cristal and Chouilly for Blanc de Blancs.’ Great tension. Big, bold and concentrated. You can see these grapes got pretty ripe. Electric impact. (JR)