Roederer Estate "L'Ermitage" Brut 2007
(Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California) - [WE 95] [VM 94+] [WS 93 & #60 Top 100 of '15]

About the Winery:
Founded in 1982, Roederer Estate is nestled in Mendocino County’s fog-shrouded, Anderson Valley. As the California property of Champagne Louis Roederer, Roederer Estate builds upon a centuries-old tradition of fine winemaking. The premium grape growing region's proximity to the ocean gives rise to a gentle cycle of warm days and cool nights, allowing grapes to mature slowly on the vine and develop full varietal character.

L’Ermitage, Roederer Estate’s special tête de cuvée, is a sparkling wine made only in exceptional years from pre-selected, estate-grown grapes. Carrying on the tradition of Champagne Louis Roederer in France, Roederer Estate produces its sparkling wines in the French méthode traditionelle and adds special oak-aged reserve wines to each blend. L’Ermitage debuted with the 1989 vintage.

Winemaking:
Roederer Estate wines are made with juice from just the cuvée pressing; no première or deuxième taille is used. The concept of the vintage L’Ermitage is the same one that is used in Champagne: only the best of the vintage is selected. These are exceptional wines that create a “noble” blend that allows for longer aging, which produces a fine wine with elegance and finesse.

The wine for the reserve dosage added to the L’Ermitage 2007 was aged five years in a French oak cask. Following disgorgement, L’Ermitage 2007 was aged an additional five months minimum on the cork prior to release.

Technical Info:

Varietals: 52% Chardonnay, 48% Pinot Noir, 4% from vintage 2004 & 2005

Sugar: 11 g/L

Cases Produced: 3,283

Ratings & Reviews

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"Very fruity and fresh in aroma, this elegant wine has light, crisp apple and lemon flavors, fresh-baked bread accents and lively acidity. A layered texture seems to blend in accents of almond and vanilla, increasing complexity with each sip. It's one of California's blue-chip bubblies." – Jim Gordon (Dec 2015)

94+ Points - Vinous:
The 2007 Brut L'Ermitage is one of the more open-knit wines in this range. Pear, apricot, chamomile and passion fruit open with ease. Poor weather during flowering in May reduced the crop by more than 30%, leading to the lowest yield ever here. There is an exotic quality to the 2007 that is so alluring. My impression is that this still needs time to unwind. Dosage is 11.9 grams per liter. Disgorged: March 2015.

93 Points & #60 Top 100 Wines of 2015 - Wine Spectator:
"Impeccably refined and elegant, with floral aromas of fresh brioche, baked apple and roasted hazelnut. The flavors are layered and well-focused, showing notes of mineral, fresh ginger and subtle raspberry. Drink now through 2017. 3,283 cases made." – Tim Fish (Dec 2015)