Roederer Estate/The Jewel Of Anderson Valley

As we enjoy our last couple of days in the Anderson valley I was lucky enough to catch Arnaud Weyrich.I enjoy tasting wines with this gentleman as he has volumes of knowledge on the art of making Sparkling wines.With a strong background in both viticulture and enology, Arnaud put his education to work during his internship. This experience was the start of a great relationship with the House of Roederer as Arnaud Weyrich later returned to the company and today holds the title of Winemaker and V.P. Production. After completing his internship, Arnaud moved back to France to be with his fiancée. This move also included a position with the large multinational retail company “Groupe Promodes” where he managed all quality control issues for the beverages under the company’s private label mainly focusing on fruit juices, Champagnes, Port wines and spirits. With his passion for the wine industry and an interest in moving back to a smaller company, Arnaud happily returned to Roederer Estate in the millennium year with his wife and two children. As Assistant Winemaker, he supervised all winemaking operations while respecting the 200-year old traditional winemaking techniques so important to the house style of Champagne Louis Roederer. Roederer Estate's winemaking style is based on two elements: ownership of its own vineyards and the addition of oak-aged reserve wines to each year's blend or cuvée. All the grapes for the Anderson Valley wines are grown on the Estate. Oak-aged wines from the Estate's reserve cellars are added to the blend, creating a multi-vintage cuvée in the traditional Louis Roederer style. Only the cuvée (first pressing of 120 gallons/ton) is used; no premiere or deuxieme taille. The fermentation takes place in high-grade stainless steel tanks at 65 degrees Fahrenheit. Zero to minimal malolactic fermentation is used in order to ensure the wines age well and retain the fresh, precise and well-defined style that is one of the characteristics of Roederer Estate wines.The Roederer Estate Brut is crisp and elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. It is fresh and lightly fruity with great finesse and depth of flavor.As with all Roederer Estate wines, the Brut Rosé is comprised of 100 percent estate-grown grapes. Oak-aged wines from the Estate's reserve cellars are added to the blend, creating a multi-vintage cuvée in the traditional Roederer style. Only the cuvée (first pressing of 120 gallons/ton) is used-no premiere or deuxieme taille. The wine is then fermented at 65 degrees Fahrenheit in high-grade stainless-steel tanks. Five percent Pinot Noir is added for color prior to secondary fermentation; no malolactic fermentation is used. Oak-aged reserve wines from the Estate's cellars make up 10 percent to 20 percent of the Rosé cuvée. Tasting Notes The Roederer Estate Brut Rosé is full and round with smooth flavors and fine persistent bubbles. The extra measure of Chardonnay contributes elegance and austerity, which balance nicely with the delicate fruitiness of the Pinot Noir.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 traditional French methode and adds special oak-aged reserve wines to each blend. L'Ermitage debuted with the 1989 vintage.Fine tiny bubbles and a long lasting mousse are the usual footprints of the L'Ermitage cuvée. This cuvée is showing great notes of toasted bread crust and quince. The mouthfeel is smooth, velvety, creamy with a well enveloped acidity and long finish.L'Ermitage Rosé brings complexity and smoothness to a higher level. The delicate salmon colors enhance the tiny bubbles and creamy mouthfeel. Notes of bread crust, baked apples and fruit candy create an elegant and complex wine. The wine is crisp with great acid on notes of quince jelly and light vanilla.Which one do we start with?You make that call...Cheers!Click here and join us as we enjoy the sparkling wines from Roederer Estate. Click here as we saved you a seat,and a glass.