Ratings & Tasting Notes:

94 points Decanter

The rise and evolution of this iconic cuvée over the past decades has showed no sign of slowing, standing out as a grand pinnacle and dependable bargain in the non-vintage category. Composed of 42% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, and 18% Pinot Meunier, the execution is a tribute to a fanatical regime of experimenting, tweaking, and refining every detail. It remains an absolute favorite that delivers “a grand pinnacle and dependable bargain in the non-vintage Champagne stakes.” Tyson Stelzer, May 2020

93 points James Suckling

A very composed and convincing presentation, this release runs effortlessly through beautiful aromas of lemon and peach to fresh hazelnut, toasted brioche, and gently flinty notes. The palate delivers piercing, vibrant flavors of grapefruit, Meyer lemon, and crisp pink berries, supported beautifully by a seamless, layered textural build. It finishes with an impressive sense of clarity, offering “piercing flavors of grapefruit, lemon, peach and pink berries.” James Suckling, December 2020

92 points Wine Advocate

Opening beautifully in the glass with expressive aromas of crisp yellow orchard fruit, Anjou pear, white peach, pastry cream, and subtle hints of freshly baked bread, this bottling shows a magnificent level of poise. Medium- to full-bodied, seamless, and complete, it drives forward with a delicate pinpoint mousse, ripe but racy acids, and exquisite balance. It stands out as a beautiful expression that “is among the finest examples in its category and comes warmly recommended.” William Kelley, April 2020

92 points Wine Spectator

Racy acidity drives this sleek, beautifully structured Champagne, which comes entirely swathed in a lovely, pillowy, and creamy mousse. The mouthfeel carries a finely meshed range of poached pear, star fruit, pickled ginger, and bright Meyer lemon zest. Lithe and graceful from start to finish, it concludes with an incredibly persistent, mineral-laced finish, showing “a finely meshed range of poached pear and star fruit, pickled ginger and Meyer lemon zest.” Alison Napjus, December 2020

Cult Wines International Notes:

Champagne Louis Roederer stands as one of the ultimate, globally revered jewels of the sparkling wine world, originally founded in Reims in 1776. Uniquely independent and remaining fiercely family-owned across seven generations, the house commands an elite reputation built on its extraordinary 241-hectare estate vineyard, which supplies the vast majority of its fruit entirely from Grand and Premier Cru plots. For over three decades, “Brut Premier” served as the magnificent, universally loved standard-bearer for the house. Originally created in the wake of World War I by Léon Olry Roederer to guarantee absolute stylistic consistency through turbulent times, the cuvée officially debuted under the Brut Premier name in 1986. Revered for its deep, vinous complexity, this legendary multi-vintage blend traditionally unified 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay, and 20% Pinot Meunier, utilizing a 10% addition of oak-aged reserve wines and a minimum of three years of lees aging to achieve a flawless harmony of freshness and rich, cellared maturity.

In a monumental strategic milestone that rocked the wine collection world, Louis Roederer officially discontinued the historic Brut Premier label in 2021, entirely phasing it out to launch their innovative, numbered “Collection” series (beginning with Collection 242). Engineered by visionary Cellar Master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon to combat the realities of climate change and secure structural freshness, the new Collection concept focuses on celebrating the uniqueness of each base year rather than forcing a uniform taste profile. Because Brut Premier has been permanently retired, surviving original bottles are now highly sought-after archival time capsules. Over its extended post-disgorgement period, the primary citrus and orchard fruit flavors have transformed beautifully into deep, tertiary dimensions of honeyed apricot, salted hazelnut, vanilla bean, and toasted brioche. It remains an incredibly successful historic triumph, marrying Roederer’s signature soft, mouth-coating mousse with a crisp, chalky minerality that guarantees a luxurious tasting experience.