2017 Roederer Estate l'Ermitage Brut

The 2017 Brut L'Ermitage is soft, open-knit and engaging. Lemon confit, marzipan, mint, spice and chamomile all meld together. Bright acids extend the finish. The 2017 is rather reticent and closed in on itself at this stage. I would give it a year or two to see if it opens. Higher acids are very much present, and this feels a bit compact today, perhaps because phenolics are amplified by drought. Some of the lots were fermented in oak, a stylistic departure for Roederer Estate that has started to pay off significantly. Dosage is 7.5 grams per liter. Disgorged: February 2024.