Most Champagne houses strive for perfect consistency in their non-vintage (or multi-vintage) house-signature cuvees. Family-owned Louis Roederer decided to take a different route. Enter the Collection Series.
The idea behind the Collection Series is to let a single vintage take the lead. Meanwhile, reserve wines are blended in to preserve the Roederer house style while also adding depth and complexity. Because each release is shaped by a different vintage, every new Collection has its own distinct character.
Currently, Louis Roederer is on its 246th chapter (this was Roederer's 246th harvest) and Collection 246 is absolutely delicious! The blend starts with 55% wine from the 2021 vintage, then gains extra depth from 35% of Roederer's Perpetual Reserve, built from vintages stretching back to 2012, plus 10% older reserve wines aged in oak. Chardonnay leads the blend at 54%, joined by 35% Pinot Noir and 11% Meunier, giving the wine a mix of freshness, richness, and structure. A portion was fermented in oak, while the restrained 7 grams-per-liter dosage keeps everything polished without burying the wine's energy.
Visually, Collection 246 is a gorgeous gold with a delicate stream of bubbles. Beautiful aromas of pear blossom, orange and yellow fruits, and citrus pop out of the glass. However, on closer inspection, notes of vanilla toast, chalk, and spiced stone fruit reveal themselves all in perfect harmony with the fruit and flowers. Medium bodied and silky on the palate, it is able to maintain a fresh vibrancy with a lingering acidity that makes it difficult to put the glass down.
It is drinking exceptionally well now, but in a few years expect an umami-like experience with toastier and nuttier notes showcasing themselves in the glass. Extremely pleasing on its own, Collection 246 also shines alongside a variety of cheeses, grilled lemon chicken, creamy shellfish pastas, and especially pork katsu.
JANCIS ROBINSON 17.5/20 POINTS - "A beautifully weighted and pure NV Champagne from Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. Hits all the right spots. Plenty of weight and creamy texture, balanced by precise, focused fruit flavours, a super-fine mousse and freshening, lingering acidity on the finish. The Collection project goes from strength to strength." -Andy Howard MW
VINOUS 93 POINTS - "The 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 impeccably done and absolutely delicious."
JAMES SUCKLING 93 POINTS - "This has pretty and elegant aromas of pears, apple blossoms, grapefruit and chalk. It’s silky, fresh and beautifully balanced on the palate, with very soft bubbles. Based on 2021, with reserve wine from a perpetual reserve created in 2012, plus reserve wines kept in oak from 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Drink now."
WINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "A 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. Drink now through 2030."
DECANTER 92 POINTS - "Roederer’s multi-vintage, multi-regional blend is named for its 246th harvest and that experience is notable here. Subtly complex, this elegant Champagne combines delicately balanced notes of apple blossom, spiced pear, citrus peel and brioche with a lightly chalky mouthfeel.
The idea behind the Collection Series is to let a single vintage take the lead. Meanwhile, reserve wines are blended in to preserve the Roederer house style while also adding depth and complexity. Because each release is shaped by a different vintage, every new Collection has its own distinct character.
Currently, Louis Roederer is on its 246th chapter (this was Roederer's 246th harvest) and Collection 246 is absolutely delicious! The blend starts with 55% wine from the 2021 vintage, then gains extra depth from 35% of Roederer's Perpetual Reserve, built from vintages stretching back to 2012, plus 10% older reserve wines aged in oak. Chardonnay leads the blend at 54%, joined by 35% Pinot Noir and 11% Meunier, giving the wine a mix of freshness, richness, and structure. A portion was fermented in oak, while the restrained 7 grams-per-liter dosage keeps everything polished without burying the wine's energy.
Visually, Collection 246 is a gorgeous gold with a delicate stream of bubbles. Beautiful aromas of pear blossom, orange and yellow fruits, and citrus pop out of the glass. However, on closer inspection, notes of vanilla toast, chalk, and spiced stone fruit reveal themselves all in perfect harmony with the fruit and flowers. Medium bodied and silky on the palate, it is able to maintain a fresh vibrancy with a lingering acidity that makes it difficult to put the glass down.
It is drinking exceptionally well now, but in a few years expect an umami-like experience with toastier and nuttier notes showcasing themselves in the glass. Extremely pleasing on its own, Collection 246 also shines alongside a variety of cheeses, grilled lemon chicken, creamy shellfish pastas, and especially pork katsu.
JANCIS ROBINSON 17.5/20 POINTS - "A beautifully weighted and pure NV Champagne from Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. Hits all the right spots. Plenty of weight and creamy texture, balanced by precise, focused fruit flavours, a super-fine mousse and freshening, lingering acidity on the finish. The Collection project goes from strength to strength." -Andy Howard MW
VINOUS 93 POINTS - "The 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 impeccably done and absolutely delicious."
JAMES SUCKLING 93 POINTS - "This has pretty and elegant aromas of pears, apple blossoms, grapefruit and chalk. It’s silky, fresh and beautifully balanced on the palate, with very soft bubbles. Based on 2021, with reserve wine from a perpetual reserve created in 2012, plus reserve wines kept in oak from 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017. Drink now."
WINE SPECTATOR 93 POINTS - "A 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. Drink now through 2030."
DECANTER 92 POINTS - "Roederer’s multi-vintage, multi-regional blend is named for its 246th harvest and that experience is notable here. Subtly complex, this elegant Champagne combines delicately balanced notes of apple blossom, spiced pear, citrus peel and brioche with a lightly chalky mouthfeel.
