2016 Louis Roederer Champagne Vintage Brut

The 2016 Louis Roederer Champagne Vintage Brut is one of the strongest editions of this cuvée to date, and, stylistically, it is not far behind Cristal. The vintage brut is meant to showcase the Pinot Noir from their La Montage estate, focusing on some of the original vines purchased by Roederer, which are now biodynamically grown. As a result, this is built mostly on Pinot Noir with a nice dose of Chardonnay from some top holdings in Verzy and Chouilly. About one-third of the base wines were raised in oak; only a small portion underwent malolactic fermentation, and the wine spent roughly 4 years on the lees before a restrained Brut dosage. In the glass, expect ripe red and orchard fruits, citrus zest, delicate pastry, and a clear chalky line, finishing long and saline. It's an incredible buy for vintage Champagne from a top House like Roederer, and at about a third of the price of Cristal, it's not that far off in quality. This is drinking great now and will easily age another 10 yea