Louis Roederer Brut Collection 242
Louis Roederer Brut Collection 242 is a 12% ABV multi-vintage Champagne — the house's 242nd blend since its 1776 founding, and the wine that replaced the long-running Brut Premier. Built on a solera-like perpetual reserve (equal parts of the 2012–2016 vintages, maintained since 2012) plus oak-aged reserve wines and 56% of the 2017 harvest, it blends 42% Chardonnay, 36% Pinot Noir, and 22% Pinot Meunier, dosed at 8 g/L and aged four years on the lees. James Suckling scored it 94 points; Wine Spectator ranked it #76 in its 2021 Top 100. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 12%
- Size: 750mL
- Style: multi-vintage Brut Champagne (replaced Brut Premier)
- Blend: 42% Chardonnay, 36% Pinot Noir, 22% Pinot Meunier; 34% perpetual reserve (2012–2016), 10% oak-aged reserve wines (2009–2016), 56% 2017 vintage
- Production: 4 years on lees; dosage 8 g/L; 34% malolactic; estate vineyards in La Rivière, La Montagne, and La Côte; founded 1776, Reims
The Numbered Revolution at Roederer
For decades, Brut Premier was the face of Louis Roederer; Collection 242 retired it and changed the philosophy underneath. Instead of blending for consistency year to year, each Collection is numbered like Krug's Grande Cuvée — a distinct multi-vintage identity, anchored by the perpetual reserve the house started building in 2012. Chef de cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon calls it more complex and spicier than Brut Premier, yet fresher: ample fruit, ready-to-drink charm, still unmistakably Roederer. Explore the house further with the Louis Roederer range and our Champagne collection.
Tasting Notes
Nose: baked apple, white peach, patisserie and frangipane tart, chalky mineral, fresh almond. Palate: rich and creamy, ripe sweet fruit with subtle oak, bracing acidity, lemon brightness. Finish: long, fresh, finely textured.
How to Enjoy
Serve well-chilled (8–10°C) in a white-wine glass rather than a flute to let the reserve-wine depth open. A natural aperitif Champagne; its richness also carries through to roast chicken, creamy cheeses, and sushi.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Collection 242" mean?
It is Louis Roederer's 242nd blend since the house's founding in 1776 — each annual Collection gets its own number and identity.
What is a perpetual reserve?
A solera-like system: a stainless-steel reserve of equal parts of five vintages (2012–2016 here), refreshed with each new harvest, adding depth no single reserve vintage could.
How long was Collection 242 aged?
A minimum of four years on the lees — well beyond the legal minimum for non-vintage Champagne.
The new face of a 250-year-old house — order Louis Roederer Collection 242 online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.