2019 Roederer Estate 'L'Ermitage' Brut Sparkling Anderson Valley

Winemaker Notes: Fine bubbles and creamy finish are the usual footprints of the L’Ermitage wine. Aromatics of hazelnut, brioche, and flint create a mysterious and layered first contact. Mouthfeel is inviting quince jelly aromas and bright acidity with a layered texture. Dosage is balanced with the acid and structure brought by the reserve wines from cask.

2019 L’Ermitage represents a milestone for the tête de cuvée as the first vintage of these wines to go through malolactic fermentation. The pH range is close to that of 2006, which was revered for its smoothness, making it a less classic, taut L’Ermitage and calling for a lower dosage, as well as an early release and drinking window. About 4.9% of the wine was fermented in oak cask, with gentle batonnage for eight weeks. The wine used for the dosage is a 2019 aged in oak cask for four years. Following disgorgement, 2019 L’Ermitage was aged an additional seven months on the cork prior to release.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM


Wine Enthusiast - "If sunshine could be bottled it would be this. Aromas of fresh succulent stone fruit, a hint of yeast, citrus blossoms and notes of quince on the nose. The mousse is creamy and light with baked red apples, blood orange zest, white grapefruit, sticky caramel and layered salinity with a mouthwatering finish. It will bring a smile to your lips. Cellar Selection"


Vinous - "A young, potent wine, the 2019 Brut L'Ermitage is shaping up to be the greatest wine ever made at Roederer Estate. The aromatics are beguiling, but the 2019 is going to need a number of years to settle down. Readers will have to be patient. The 2019 is seriously impressive, but it needs time. It is the only wine in this series that was vinified with full malolactic fermentation and has the most lots fermented in wood here. It also saw the lowest dosage ever here, at 6 grams per liter. These choices look to be a winning approach for the future. Superb. Disgorged: February 2024."


Jeb Dunnuck - "The 2019 Brut L'Ermitage blends 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir, all estate grown from one growing season, with 3.9% Chardonnay from the 2016 vintage, and a dosage of 6 grams per liter. A complete, well-integrated, medium-bodied sparkling wine with a balance of fruit and savory notes, it offers flecks of oak spice and pastry crust. Textured and creamy in style, it has a lingering brightness on the finish and should age well over the next 10-15 years."