Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/859549
{ SOMMjournal.com } 101 Guy Stout, MS, Director of Wine Education, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits Texas Champagne Louis Roederer 2009 Brut 70% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay; 30% of the wine is vinified in oak casks; 9g/l dosage The wine is yellow in color with a slight onion peel, copper edge. Rich yeasty aromas, with light toasty bri - oche notes, and hinting of light oak character. There is a pronounced lemon zest and stone fruit of plum and pear. Dry palate with a round creamy texture that evolves into a rich hint of roasted nuts and finishes with yeasty bread dough. The wine exhibits red fruits of cranberry and cherry in the background and has a hint of ginger snap. PHOTO: FELIX SANCHEZ PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROEDERER Serafin Alvarado, MS, Director of Wine Education, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits of Illinois Champagne Louis Roederer 2011 Brut Rosé 62% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay; 22% of the wine is vinified in oak casks; 9g/l dosage Louis Roederer has always been one of my Champagne favorites and the 2011 Rosé exemplifies their core philosophy of the pur- suit of excellence. This is a remarkable Rosé Champagne from a challenging vintage, in which labor-intensive viticultural approaches, such as lower yields and strict canopy management, paid off big dividends. One of the stand-out aspects of this wine is its quality of mouthfeel. There is this outstand - ing smoothness, roundness and silkiness that is enticing to the palate and is perhaps attributed, in part, by the 22 percent that was vinified in oak casks. The saignée method helps showcase tremendous aromatic elements that are intoxi - cating, reminiscent of ripe tangerines, strawber- ries and yellow peach, along with rose petals, perfume , almond butter and an underlying chalky minerality. Despite the fruit ripeness, the wine displays the perfect acidity. With only 13 percent of the wine going through malolactic fermentation, the higher malic acid levels help to counterbalance its rich - ness; this produces a beautifully balanced and fresh wine. I envision this rosé paired beautifully with braised short ribs. The Pinot Noir, sourced from their top fruit in the Cumières village in the eastern portion of the Marne valley, provides depth, and the Chardonnay from the Côte des Blancs adds freshness and vibrancy. Serafin Alvarado, MS, Director of Wine Education, Southern Glazer's Wine & Spirits of Illinois. PHOTO: REBECCA PEPLINSKI PHOTO: COURTESY OF ROEDERER