roederer estate l' ermitage rosé 2013 750ml

Founded in 1982, Roederer Estate is nestled in Mendocino County's fog-shrouded, Anderson Valley. As the California property of Champagne Louis Roederer, Roederer Estate builds upon a centuries-old tradition of fine winemaking. The premium grape growing region's proximity to the ocean gives rise to a gentle cycle of warm days and cool nights, allowing grapes to mature slowly on the vine and develop full varietal character.

L'Ermitage, Roederer Estate's special tete de cuvee since 1989, is a sparkling wine made only in exceptional years from pre-selected, estate-grown grapes. Roederer Estate produces its sparkling wines in the French methode traditionelle and adds special oak-aged reserve wines to each blend.

WINEMAKING

The concept of the vintage L'Ermitage is the same one that is used in Champagne: only the best of the vintage is selected. These are exceptional wines that create a "noble" blend that allows for longer aging, which produces a fine wine with elegance and finesse.

The rose blend is crafted using a small fraction of red wine, from pinot noir grown on the estate, especially made for this purpose using Burgundian maceration technique that allows skin contact to extract color and aromas. This red wine brings delicate berry flavors and a nice color to further extend the L'Ermitage smoothness and subtleties, allowing for a unique tasting experience. About 3.5% of red wine of pinot noir was used in the blend.

The wine for the dosage used in the L'Ermitage Rosé was the 2013 wine liquor, aged for 7 years in a French oak cask. Following disgorgement, L'Ermitage was aged an additional 6 months (minimum) on the cork prior to release.

TASTING NOTES
L'Ermitage Rose brings complexity and smoothness to a higher level. The delicate salmon colors enhance the tiny bubbles and creamy mouthfeel. Aromas of candied cherries, candied quince, evolving to caramelized apple. There is creamy texture with a sense of richness. The texture is present but well integrated with the wrapped acidity.

HARVEST NOTES
The 2013 vintage was the first one of a series of drier than usual springs. There was little rain in spring but frost season was quite mild with harvest starting third week of August. It was a warmer year, closer to 2009 for reference, and yield in the vineyard was just above average. Maturities were good and acid levels somewhat lower than usual.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM

WW95, Wilfred Wong of Wine.com

"COMPOSITION: There is no doubt to my palate that L'Ermitage by Roederer Estate is one of the top sparkling wines in the world. I have tasted these wines since their beginning vintage in 1989, and I always find myself reaching for them on many occasions. The 2013 vintage continues this wine's magic carpet ride. TASTING NOTES: This wine exhibits active and refined beads. Its precise aromas and flavors of tart apples, mineral notes, and light yeast autolysis make it a superb choice with lime-accented, seared sea scallops. (Tasted: August 13, 2020, San Francisco, CA)"

WE95, Wine Enthusiast

"A panoply of subtle aromas and delicate flavors wrapped in a silky, slightly crisp texture give this medium-bodied wine a great sense of elegance. Fresh ginger, biscuits, toasted almonds and mild cherry nuances fill the palate. Enjoy this traditional-method sparkler through 2025."

SJ95, The Somm Journal

"Following aromas of toasty vanilla and lemon scone, the palate opens with a squeeze of bright lemon, bubbles bouncing off the tongue. A touch of salinity, yellow-floral tones, and a hint of chiffon creaminess emerge along with guava and red cherry enhanced by honeyed tangerine. With a perfect beginning, middle, and end, the blend consists of 52% Chardonnay (including 4% reserve wine from the 2011 vintage) with 48% Pinot Noir"

RP93, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

"The 2013 L'Ermitage Brut is the current release of L'Ermitage and was disgorged in June of 2019. 2013 was the beginning of a long period of drought, and winemaker Arnaud Weyrich feels that it brings this vintage "concentration, phenolics and texture—this wine has body." The nose is open and inviting, golden apples mingling with toast, mushrooms, honey and crushed stone. The medium-bodied palate, with eight grams per liter dosage, has pure fruits tactfully accented by earthy, toasty notes. It's energetic but rounded, supported by a finely beaded mousse, and it finishes long and layered."

750ml Bottle