Vintage Champagnes are always fun, and the 2015 Louis Roederer Brut Rosé “La Rivière” is among the top reasons we love them. Why?
You might have learned from one of our “bubbly” stories, that Millésime, as the French call it, is only produced in exceptional years, unlike typical NV (non-vintage) that always blends a few vintages. So when that special year happens, Champagne region vintners might set some wine aside to produce a small number of a single vintage. Hence, the year on the label.
What does it mean for us Champagne fans? We get to try something unique and something that reflects the deliciousness of a single vintage of the Champagne region. A perfect reason to set aside your affinities for a particular style or brand of Champagne and try it the way nature intended it.
Louis Roederer Brut Rosé “La Rivière” 2015
In the Bottle
A snapshot of a year, this Rosé comes from 35 small staggered plots on the warm terroirs of Roederer’s “La Rivière” estate planted with Pinot Noir and the cooler limestone soils where the Chardonnay thrives.
The 2015 vintage is 62% Pinot Noir and 38% Chardonnay, mainly from the vines grown around Cumières commune.
The growing season followed the continental trend of that decade: a mild, wet winter and a hot, dry summer. The summer was hot and sunny, with record-breaking temperatures and water stress. The second half of August brought some welcome rain, giving the vines much-needed relief. The vines produced juicy, ripe, concentrated grapes thanks to this fresh finish.
All in all, 2015 is considered an extraordinary vintage for the region. Coincidentally, it was also the year in which the Champagne region was recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site!
In the Glass
The colored Copper pink “La Rivière” with the teeny tiny bubbles and the rich mousse was as beautiful inside as outside.
Baked apple intertwined with fresh brioche, tempered chalky minerality, and flinty notes were underscored by raspberry leaf aroma.
Those tiny bubbles turned into a fine mousse on the palate. We tasted red apples, Meyer lemon, quince, red currant, and pluot. And while an apple played the main tune, it was an orchestra of flavors.
Aftertaste and Résumé
Champagnes often tend to lean towards more appley or mineral styles, and it’s more apparent in millesime bottles. At least, it’s been the case for us.
Of all the vintage Champagnes we tasted in 2022, the 2015 Roederer Brut Rosé was probably the best one. It had an exquisitely balanced nose with a perfectly balanced bouquet. There was just enough of each element to make us smile and savor every sip.
Find out more about Louis Roederer here.