2017 Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs, Champagne

Produced from selected parcels in Avize on the Côte des Blancs, this Champagne shows minerality and tension. While it has aged well, it still has vibrant freshness, from the lemon and brioche aroma and the tangy, citrus and spice flavors. The wine is textured and sure to age further. Drink from 2026

96 points wineenthusiast.com

The 2017 Brut Blanc de Blancs, derived from four plots in the mid-slopes of Avize and vinified tw-thirds in stainless steel with the remainder in oak, is a considerable effort in the comparatively challenging year. “Unlike the red grapes, Chardonnay did not have issues with rot,” recalls Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. Disgorged with seven grams per liter dosage, it soars from the glass with aromas of grapefruit zest, pear and toasted almonds. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, ample and textural, with a low-pressure mousse, vibrant acidity and a long, chalky finish. It’s derived from their estate, which has been farmed organically since 2017 (and certified as such in 2020). For its richness, 2017 reminds one of the 2010 vintage with less exoticism.

92 points robertparker.com

Croissants, sliced pears, apples, white flowers and almonds on the nose of this creamy and elegant blanc de blancs. Very silky on the palate, with almost imperceptible bubbles and delicate pastry notes. Soft and beautifully balanced. Chardonnay from the Grand Cru village of Avize. Drink now or hold.

95 points jamessuckling.com

The 2017 Louis Roederer Blanc de Blancs is a luminous, finely sculpted Champagne that showcases the elegance of Chardonnay grown on the estate’s prized chalk soils of Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger in the Côte des Blancs. Louis Roederer, based in Reims and founded in 1776, remains one of Champagne’s great family-owned houses. Under Frédéric Rouzaud and the visionary cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, the focus has been firmly on sustainable viticulture, with many of the estate’s vineyards now farmed organically or biodynamically. The Blanc de Blancs cuvée reflects this philosophy perfectly, translating vineyard purity and meticulous craftsmanship into crystalline, expressive Champagne.

The 2017 vintage in Champagne was shaped by a cool spring and a warm, dry summer, producing fruit with excellent balance and bright natural acidity. Roederer’s Chardonnay parcels in the Côte des Blancs ripened evenly, yielding grapes with intense flavour concentration and a fine mineral edge. The musts were fermented partly in oak and partly in stainless steel to build texture and preserve freshness. The wine was aged sur lie for around five years before disgorgement, with a dosage of approximately 7 g/L to maintain precision and tension.

In the glass, the 2017 Blanc de Blancs gleams a pale, silvery gold with a persistent, fine mousse. The nose is pure and expressive, layered with aromas of white flowers, lemon zest, green pear, chalk dust and toasted hazelnut. Subtle notes of brioche, fresh almond and crushed stone emerge as it opens. The palate is refined and focused, combining the energy of young Chardonnay with creamy mid-palate richness from extended lees ageing. Flavours of citrus, white peach and pastry cream glide across the tongue before a long, saline finish that captures the Côte des Blancs’ hallmark chalky precision.

This Champagne is a beautiful aperitif on its own, but it truly shines with food. Its brightness complements oysters, scallop carpaccio, or grilled king prawns with lemon butter. It also pairs elegantly with roast chicken, Dover sole meunière, or sushi. While already dazzling in its youth, it will continue to develop gracefully for at least a decade, gaining more depth, toasted complexity and honeyed nuances.