Ratings & Reviews
Multi Vintage Brut
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
2018 SFC Wine Competition - January 15, 2018
Double Gold Award
Wine Enthusiast
Jim Gordon - December 31, 2017
"This is an assertive, flavorful and robust wine, with a medium to full body, a mouthfilling texture and fine-beaded bubbles. A creamy viscosity and wonderful layers of butter, apple, vanilla and ginger make for a delicious palate."
Wine & Spirits
Josh Greene - December 01, 2017
“This is a distinctly rich and complex release of Roederer Brut, its savory notes of yeast autolysis building the creamy texture even as the wine remains elegant and fresh. The wine’s inherent fruit sweetness will engage with crab.”
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - December 01, 2017
"A voluptuous and expressive sparkler, with floral red apple, brioche and cinnamon spice aromas and rich, vibrant flavors that finish on a luxurious note."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - August 31, 2017
“A voluptuous, expressive sparkler, with floral apple, brioche and cinnamon spice aromas that lead to rich, vibrant flavors and a luxurious finish.”
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - June 07, 2017
"Rich yet delicate, with soft strawberry and ginger aromas that lead to vibrant cherry and spice flavors, building tension and complexity on the finish. Drink now through 2018."
Wine Spectator
T.F. - December 21, 2016
Elegantly balances lively crispness with plush, rich fruit and notes of fresh cherry, baked apple and brioche, ending with a long, minerally finish.
Wine Spectator
Alison Napjus - January 31, 2016
“More than 30 years ago, France’s Champagne Louis Roederer established this California outpost, and today chef de cave Arnaud Weyrich produces this rich and aromatic Chardonnay dominated blend entirely from estate fruit.”
Wine Spectator
MaryAnn Worobiec - January 31, 2016
“This is my go-to bubbly, made by one of my favorite—and one of California’s most consistent—sparkling wine producers. More and more I’ve been gravitating to sparkling wine, taking full advantage of its food-friendly nature and celebratory vibe. I’ve grabbed this wine as a hostess gift, served it when friends came over for brunch, and popped it open simply to enjoy with popcorn and a movie on the couch.”
Wine Enthusiast
Jim Gordon - November 19, 2015
"The fruit flavors are apparent, fresh and lively in this medium-bodied, beautifully balanced brut. Light pear and pineapple aromas are followed by richer pear and citrus flavors, and subtle hints of baking spices, almonds and a nice earthy touch emerge."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - October 07, 2015
"Sleek and charming, with yeasty apple torte and floral cherry aromas and rich, crisp flavors of lemon curd, spicy vanilla and fresh ginger. Drink now."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - June 15, 2015
"Floral raspberry and apple pie aromas lead to crisp, focused lemon, anise and spicy raspberry flavors that finish on a fresh mineral note. Drink now."
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonné - December 05, 2014
"Arnaud Weyrich's work at Philo-based Roederer keeps getting better, with the latest wines more dialed-in than ever, doing credit to parent company Champagne Louis Roederer. A finessed, intensely mineral mix of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir offers up woodruff, pecan, croissant crust and a ripe dose of fruit - citron, cherry, pomegranate - that actually tightens up on the palate in a welcome way. Disgorged January 2014."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 01, 2014
"Roederer Estate's Brut is reliably open and delicious, this year's cuvée bursting with concentrated apple flavor. It's clean and dry with a long delicate finish enhanced by the barrel-aged reserve wines that winemaker Arnaud Weyrich blends in. Its bold flavors and vinous texture would be great with cracked crab."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - October 01, 2014
"This is both fresh and substantial, striking a delicious balance between apple-skin spice, tangy lees and a briny seashell character. A festive coastal sparkler to pour with Dungeness crab."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - June 27, 2014
"Focused and vibrant, with aromas of creamy apple, cinnamon and hazelnut leading to complex, layered flavors of lemon custard, mineral and almond. The finish lingers."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - December 15, 2013
"Focused and vibrant, with aromas of creamy apple, cinnamon and hazelnut leading to complex, layered flavors of lemon custard, mineral and almond. The finish lingers."
Wine Enthusiast
Virginie Boone - December 01, 2013
Thickly moussed, Roederer’s Brut, 60% Chardonnay blended with 40% Pinot Noir, aged two years on yeast is affordable and luxurious. A gorgeous, very dry sparkling wine with aromatics of honey, raisin, apple and pear, it is rich and soft and offers both depth and length. It’s an ideal marriage of bright acidity and ripe fruit character.
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - December 15, 2012
Smart Buy-"Sleek and impeccably focused and balanced, with floral apple, cinnamon and anise aromas and crisp yet supple lemon tart, cherry and spicy hazelnut flavors."
The New York Times
Eric Asimov - December 06, 2012
"...Roederer Estate is a gold standard for California sparkling wine..."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 2012
"This blend of 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir is one of the best sparkling wines you’ll find at this price. It’s stylishly dry and fancy, with yeasty lime, strawberry and vanilla flavors."
Sunset Magazine
July 19, 2012
2012 Sunset International Wine Competition Bronze Medal winner
Wine & Spirits
April 2012
Rated the #2 most popular sparkling wine by the Wine & Spirits restaurant poll.
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - November 30, 2011
"Rich and youthful, with delicate aromas of green apple and lime that lead to full flavors of baked pear and toasty anise, laced with cinnamon. The finish is clean and crisp, with a hint of mineral."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - October 2011
One of the 100 Best Buys of the Year -- "This estate-grown blend of chardonnay and pinot noir gains added richness from oak-aged reserve wines. The reserves broaden the texture, contributing almond tones to the clean, fresh apple and pear flavors. A festive aperitif, this delivers far beyond its price."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - December 31, 2010
"Two of my perennial favorite values also head up the pack. The Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley NV is tart, refined and refreshingly minerally, with Gala apple and lemon aromas..."
Miami Herald
Fred Tasker - December 23, 2010
"Lots of tiny bubbles; firm structure; spicy, nutty, golden apple flavors"
Sunset
December 2010
Party Pour: "Consistently the best value among California's top bubblies"
San Antonio Current
Ron Bechtol - November 24, 2010
"And Best of Bubbly goes to the Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut, at around $18, one of the least expensive in a tasting that ranged from $14 to $40 — and the $40 contender, usually very dependable, didn’t make the cut. ...McHugh thought it had 'a good quality on the nose' and rated it high on appearance, with appealing color and good bubble action."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - November 15, 2010
"Crisp and refreshingly minerally, offering tart Gala apple and lemon aromas and focused flavors of yeasty citrus and anise. A hint of cherry lingers on the finish."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - November 01, 2010
"The latest release, a blend of chardonnay (60 percent) and pinot noir, shows that depth in penetrating flavors of green apple, tart pear and raspberry—the fruit fragrant and fresh against more mature notes of yeast."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - October 31, 2010
"The current release ... is the wine's best version ever, with bold, spicy apple aromas and rich, layered flavors of baked apple, pear and crème brûlée."
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonné - August 29, 2010
"The Roederer nonvintage made in 2002, disgorged in 2004 after two years aging, had as much precision and focused green apple flavors as the winery's vintage 2002 L’Ermitage, with hints of toffee and almond to show its slight age. … Back we moved, to a bottle from 1989, full of floral and ripe golden apple, hazelnut and toast. Here was a fully evolved wine, as evolved as all but the most austere Champagnes of equal age, but holding great acidity and showing distinct opulence (plus a slight taste of wood from about 17 years sitting on a cork). "
National Public Radio (NPR)
June 27, 2010
"It is crisp and elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors. It's also fresh and lightly fruity, with great finesse and depth of flavor."
Wall Street Journal
Lettie Teague - May 21, 2010
"Although it's made in the Anderson Valley of Mendocino, this California sparkling wine might well be mistaken for Champagne. Roederer Estate was, in fact, founded by one of the greatest Champagne houses in France, Louis Roederer, some 30 years ago, and the style of the wines is similarly rich, almost yeasty and tremendously elegant."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - December 31, 2009
A "perennial favorite": "The Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley NV...is rich and layered, with apple, spicy cinnamon and yeast flavors."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 2009
"Fragrant fruit ripeness lends this wine penetrating flavors of raspberry essence, tart pear and green apple, a fine mesh of pinot noir and chardonnay. The texture is smooth, the bubbles bringing a touch of yeastiness and almond flavor to balance the freshness of the fruit."
Relish Magazine
December 2009
"...celebration-style elegance at affordable prices."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - November 15, 2009
"A rich version, loaded with spicy cinnamon notes. Bold apple aromas, with a whiff of yeast, lead to complex, layered pear, crème brûlée and baked apple flavors that linger."
New York Times
Eric Asimov - May 20, 2009
"One of the best champagne-style sparkling wines made outside of Champagne...Light and elegant with flavors of lemon and grapefruit."
Wine & Spirits
April 2009
Appellation America
March 04, 2009
San Francisco Chronicle
Steve Pitcher - February 08, 2009
For Roederer Estate Brut magnum: "Tasted against the standard 750 ml bottle ($22), it's a different wine. Livelier and more plentiful bubbles. Wine in the smaller bottle offered forward aromas of hazelnut cream, apricot and citrus, while this has shy aromas of lemon blossom and toasted brioche, enhanced by green apple and quince. In the mouth, very full and a bit frothy with more citrus flavors showing."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2008
"Fully ready to drink now, this dry brut shows the classy elegance of a fine Champagne. The Chardonnay contributes white peaches and apples, while Pinot adds a subtle note of cherries with spicy, yeasty nuances....it’s a notable achievement."
Los Angeles Times
Patrick Comiskey - December 24, 2008
"Take the nonvintage Brut from Roederer Estate ($22), the Anderson Valley satellite of the great Champagne house Louis Roederer, a wine with notes of pear and a feathery wisp of yeast in the aromatics that will make you think of freshly baked dinner rolls."
Press Democrat
Peg Melnik - December 24, 2008
"**** An elegant sparkling wine that is crisp and flavorful. The fruit is lively but not too ripe. Aromas and flavors of apple, melon, anise and yeast. Good complexity. Nice mousse."
New York Times
Eric Asimov - December 24, 2008
"Light, dry and Champagne-like with flavors of lemon and grapefruit."
San Jose Mercury News
Laurie Daniel - December 23, 2008
"My favorite moderately priced California sparklers are from Roederer Estate in Anderson Valley...The non-vintage Roederer Estate Brut...is citrusy, round and a little yeasty..."
Forbes.com
Richard Nalley - December 08, 2008
"This, [Roederer Estate's] cornerstone bottling, is affordable, reliable, sold everywhere and best of all, a treat to drink: fresh, lively and chockfull of juicy yellow apple and pear flavors."
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonné - December 07, 2008
"It's still hard to believe that this Mendocino offshoot of the Champagne house delivers so much for the money. This widely available bottling is fresh and leesy, with green apple and crushed rock aromas. Buoyant acidity and squeezed orange flavors mix with wild berry, an ever-present edge and a refined bead. Winemaker Arnaud Weyrich uses just a touch of malolactic fermentation, which adds a welcome bit of extra body."
San Francisco Chronicle
Lynne Char Bennett - December 05, 2008
"This Mendocino offshoot of the Champagne house delivers a remarkable wine for the money, outpacing many Champagnes. Widely available, this latest bottling is fresh and leesy, with green apple and crushed rock aromas. Buoyant acidity and squeezed orange flavors mix with wild berry. The bubbles are refined and the body is ample enough to avoid sharpness while maintaining a precise edge."
New York Times
Howard D. Goldberg - October 19, 2008
"Experts consider nonvintage Roederer Estate brut, from Anderson Valley in Mendocino County, California’s best sparkling wine. This balanced blend of chardonnay and pinot noir, a favorite among Francophiles, offers bright pear and green apple flavors."
Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition
August 2008
Wine & Spirits
June 2008
"I've always liked this wine, and it's one of the best sparkling wines made in the US." -- Jared Heber, Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles, CA
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - February 2008
"Complex minerality runs through this sparkler, tinged with sweet vanilla and strawberry flavors, but not overtly fruity. With light richness and firm acidity, it's suited to poached prawns."
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
January 2008
Wine & Spirits
2008
"Complex minerality runs through this sparkler, tinged with sweet vanilla and strawberry flavors, but not overtly fruity. With light richness and firm acidity, it’s suited to poached prawns."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2007
"This is an absolutely first-rate bubbly, dry, smooth and rich. Has complex flavors of peaches, limes and strawberries, accented by doughy yeast and smoky flavors. Really defines the balanced elegance and pedigree you want in a great sparkler."
iVillage.com
Ray Isle - December 28, 2007
Quick, Dallas-Fort Worth
D.M.N - December 27, 2007
"Made with estate-grown grapes, this is a crisp, medium-bodied sparkler with a nice core of apple-pear flavors."
Dallas Morning News
Tina Danze - December 26, 2007
"Made with estate-grown grapes, this is a crisp, medium-bodied sparkler with a nice core of apple-pear flavors. 'It’s rich and complex without being yeasty,' Mr. Pinnell said. 'The finish is so refreshing — it leads you on to another sip or to another bite of food,' Mr. Howald said. 'This is what I hope they serve when I go to a New Year’s party,' Ms. Frances said. She added that the sparkler would make a great pairing for sole menieure meunière at a New Year’s Eve dinner party."
Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh
Dave DeSimone - December 19, 2007
"As the product of Louis Roederer Champagne's investment in Mendocino County's cool climate, this is one of California's most consistent, high-quality non-vintage sparkling wines. The wine has complex, elegant aromas leading to crisp citrus and rich pear flavors well-balanced by fine acidity through a complex, dry finish with excellent finesse. Highly Recommended."
Press Democrat, Santa Rosa
Michele Anna Jordan - December 19, 2007
"The wine is crisp, clean, austere in a good way and delicate. Although it is not overly complicated, there is a lingering complexity that engages the drinker on both a sensual and cerebral level. ...Grapes are rarely offered up as one of the flavors in wine, but they are there in every sip, alongside a suggestion of green fruit -- Asian pear, green apple and not-quite-ripe cherimoya. In the background, standing solid like a bass player -- John Entwistle, let's say -- is an appealing bedrock of toast, from which tiny bubbles meander toward the surface, where they burst like tiny sea stars."
Today Show
Ray Isle - December 13, 2007
Ray Isle, Food & Wine senior wine editor, featured Roederer Estate Brut NV as one of the wine super steals in a segment on the Today show on NBC.
MSNBC
Ray Isle - December 12, 2007
"Roederer, the French company that makes Cristal, also owns a property in California’s Anderson Valley. From it they produce this top-notch sparkling wine....[T]the Roederer team’s experience shows, and it’s a steal for the price."
Wall Street Journal
Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher - December 01, 2007
"$15 to $25. At this price range, we'd look for California bubbly: ...Roederer Estate Brut..."
Cooking Light
Karen MacNeil - December 2007
"This is one of my all-around favorites and fantastic for the price. Rich and yeasty like many French Champagnes, it's also bright and citrusy like many California wines."
Wine News
December 2007
"Baked apple and toast aromas with a hint of vanilla. Very lively mouth-feel with croissant, honey and orange zest flavors. Crisp acidity reflects a tart, youthful finish."
San Francisco Chronicle, Orange County Register
Lynne Char Bennett - November 30, 2007
"Roederer is one of California's several French-owned sparkling wine producers. Jean-Claude Rouzaud, owner of Roederer's parent "house" - Louis Roederer - established his Anderson Valley vineyards in 1983. Though this is Roederer's workhorse wine, it is perfect to trot out for company. The wine's subtle nose opens with gentle mineral, brioche toast and citrus hints then moves to bigger aromas and flavors that are fresh, layered and brimming with mineral and ripe white grapefruit acidity."
Cincinnati Enquirer
Jim Knippenberg - November 21, 2007
Kevin Keith, wine buyer for Liquor Direct's Covington and Fort Thomas locations, said Roederer Estate Brut NV was one of the best wines for a dinner party. "Roederer Brut NV is probably one of the best California sparklers under $30 with an impeccable balance of fruit and effervescence."
NY1 Magazine
November 17, 2007
Recommended as a starter to the Thanksgiving meal and to go with appetizers
Sacramento Bee
M.D. - November 14, 2007
"Year after year, this is the best buy in sparkling wine for its caressing fruit, taut spine and refreshing acidity."
Daily Press, Newport News, VA
Kathy Van Mullekom - November 12, 2007
"This sparkling wine comes from the same people that make Cristal, so you know the quality is exceptional!"
Star Chefs Magazine
Jim Clarke - November 2007
"At $20, the Roederer Estate Brut is a steal; the blend is dominated by Chardonnay, which brings crisp lemon, pear, and green apple notes, but judicious use of oak-aged reserve wines add in toastiness and vanilla; brioche touches from lees-aging knit everything together."
The Plain Dealer, Cleveland
Donald Rosenberg - October 31, 2007
"A fine bead rises from this straw-colored sparkling wine, which has aromas of yeast and citrus. The citrus also dominates the flavors, which have a touch of creaminess while remaining quite dry with good acidity. Drink it as a sipper or with a meal. It's ideal for celebrating any occasion..."
Press Democrat
Tasting Room - July 25, 2007
"A sparkler with toasty, bready aromas. Notes of caramel and toffee."
Wine & Spirits
April 2007
18th Annual Restaurant Poll:
Third most popular sparkling wine
Orange County Fair Wine Competition
2007
San Francisco Chronicle
December 01, 2006
"Roederer’s wines are defined by a sharpness that comes from almost no malolactic fermentation. Unlike most of the California bruts, this is heavier on the Chardonnay--60 percent to 40 percent Pinot Noir, with a small sweet, woodsy note on the nose, like candy in a cedar forest, with sweet apple and nectarine, then a yeasty note that emerges in its middle. Balanced and biting, with a gripping ending."
Wine & Spirits
December 2006
“A pale, platinum gold color and clean scent of Asian pear introduce this cool, Anderson Valley sparkler. Crisp pear flavors meld with chamomile through a mineral-tinged finish, the wine’s supple texture growing richer with air. For any roast fish, consider Chatham cod served over braised fennel.”
Sunset Magazine
December 2006
"Complex, creamy, and citrusy. A great all-around sparkler."
The Press Democrat
M. Jordan - December 2006
"Our Wine of the Week, Roederer Estate Anderson Valley NV Brut, has a pleasing austerity to it, as many of the finest sparklers do. By austerity, I mean a leanness, a focus and a crispness that makes me think of a bright yet cold winter day at the sea. The delicate bubbles dance in your mouth like little bursts of sea spray against your skin, leaving behind brief impressions of green fruit, apple, kiwi and, it's true, not-quite-ripe grapes. The wine is delicate and beautifully balanced. You can enjoy it with just about anything but red meats. It is especially suited to seafood such as raw oysters and clams, petrale sole and sand dabs , and to salads with arugula, citrus fruits and fresh chevre. But given that it's Dungeness crab season, I suggest pairing it with winter's shellfish. And to show both the wine and the crab to best advantage, serve the crab chilled. For today's recipe I've chosen to pair crab with a vinaigrette I 've been making for a couple of decades. It is best when made with a whole Meyer lemon but you can make it with any lemon as long as you taste the vinaigrette and balance the acid with more olive oil and more salt if needed. I can't think of a better way to welcome in 2007."
The Wall Street Journal
December 2006
One of the favorites in separate blind tastings of widely available bubblies under $30.
Wine Spectator
April 2006
Distinguished as one of the "Most Popular Sparkling Wines" with a 5th place ranking.
Wine, Food & Friends
Karen MacNeil - 2006
"...So as the seductive smells of the roasting turkey fill the room, I pour chilled flutes of California sparkling wine for everyone to enjoy while I'm putting the finishing touches on several dishes. I love many sparklers, but often for this dinner I'll put one of my favorites: Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut."
Wine & Spirits
P. J. C. - 2006
"It's tricky to make sparkling wine in the California heat, but it's easier if the heat's moderated by Mendocino fog. Roederer's sparklers remain among the finest in the state."
The San Francisco Chronicle
Linda Murphy - December 15, 2005
"Here's a widely available wine that's lean and racy, with a tight core of lemon, lime, Granny Smith apple and marzipan aromas and flavors, and a creamy mid-palate."
Food & Wine
October 2005
"Credit the combination of crisp, cool-climate Anderson Valley grapes and the considerable wine making experience of parent company Champagne Louis Roederer, a centuries-old French Champagne house, for making this Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend one of the most Champagne-like sparkling wines produced in California. Roederer Estate winemaker Arnaud Weyrich adds a portion of oak-aged reserve wine to give this bottling additional complexity."
New York Times
Howard G. Goldberg - February 06, 2005
"Its fine bubbles, toasty flavor and complexity have made it a leading sparkling wine since 1988. A nonvintage blend of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes grown in the Anderson Valley in cool Mendocino County, Calif., it resembles expensive champagne. Its inspiration comes from the French parent company Louis Roederer, which produces Cristal."
Wine News
January 2005
"Pale straw hue with a frothy mousse. Toasty aromas of grapefruit, apricot, biscuit and white bread. Crisp flavors of citrus, apple, hay and a Sherry nuance. Lengthy close features tart lemon drop."
San Francisco Chronicle
Linda Murphy - May 2004
"Excellent and very attractive. Zesty, yet with creamy peach and citrus and nut aromas and flavors, with some dry mineral; fresh, lively and foamy; clean finish."
Wine & Spirits
December 2003
"Persistent effervescence carries the floral scents of apple blossom up out of the glass. This light golden wine is firm and fresh, layering the apple flavors over a redder cherry tone. A simple sparkler with a drive; a lively aperitif."
Wine Enthusiast
S.H. - December 31, 2002
"You’d almost think you were drinking fine Champagne when you sip this intricate bubbly, which, after all, is owned by a French Champagne house. It’s dry and yeasty, with suble citrus flavors and an aftertaste of almond skin. Feels fine and elegant on the palate."
Time Magazine
2002
"This is an outstanding American sparking wine, perfect for celebrating."
Multi Vintage Brut Rosé
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
SFC Wine Competition - January 15, 2018
Double Gold Award
Wine Enthusiast
Jim Gordon - December 31, 2017
"Crisp peach and red-fruit flavors combine with vibrant acidity and energizing, fine bubbles to create a balanced and rich sparkling wine. A spicy, crisp fruit character lingers long on the finish."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - August 31, 2017
“A delicate and floral pink, with rose petal and strawberry aromas and pretty, crisp apple and spiced cinnamon flavors.”
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - June 07, 2017
"A delicate and floral pink, with rose petal and strawberry aromas, and pretty, crisp apple, and spiced cinnamon flavors. Drink now."
Wine Spectator
T.F. - December 21, 2016
Expressive and festive, backed by good structure with aromas of strawberry and gingerbread leading to crisp, plush red apple and spice flavors.
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - December 31, 2015
"Vibrant and focused, with aromas of strawberry and mineral leading to crisp flavors of raspberry, nectarine and spice. Drink now."
Wine Enthusiast
Jim Gordon - November 19, 2015
"A complex and complete wine with everything in place, this tastes delicious from the first whiff to the lingering finish. It has fresh-baked bread and light peach aromas and white-cherry flavors. Well balanced, it’s layered on a subtle level and harmonious."
Wine Enthusiast
Jim Gordon - December 01, 2014
"This is a mouthfilling, plush-textured, copper colored bubbly with hints of cherry and raspberry in the ripe flavors, firm acidity to balance them and tiny bubbles to keep it all lively. Made with 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, it finishes with a slightly sweet sensation."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - August 18, 2014
"Floral aromas of raspberry and white chocolate open to crisp, festive flavors of graham cracker, spice and red apple. Drink now."
Wine Enthusiast
Virginie Boone - December 01, 2013
Gorgeous foam leads this wine, a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Golden peach in color with a dry, savory strawberry richness and smooth texture, it is buoyed by solid acidity. Estate-grown, this is a stellar California sparkler, incredibly well-priced and versatile.
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - November 15, 2013
"Sleek and rich, with floral strawberry and sugar cookie aromas and elegant, layered citrus, tart cherry and mineral flavors that linger toward a vibrant, lightly spicy finish."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 2012
"From the yeasty, strawberry-tinged aroma to the brisk, doughy mouthfeel through to the honeyed, complex finish, this is a fine wine. It feels beautiful, clean and stimulating, just as a sparkling wine should."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - December 15, 2011
"Lush and rich, with bright cherry and red apple aromas and crisp, layered flavors of raspberry and cinnamon that finish on a note of crisp minerality."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 15, 2011
"Great price for a sparkling wine this refined, and the fact that it’s a rosé makes it an even better deal. It’s rich in strawberry, orange and lime flavors, with that savory yeastiness that marks the best bubblies."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 2011
"There's lovely precision to the light strawberry notes in this wine, a clean parallel to its pale pink color. The finish is spicy and gentle, with a creamy undercurrent that lingers on fruit. Chill it for prawns."
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonné - January 02, 2011
#2 Most Memorable Wine of 2010: "Not just any Roederer Rosé, mind you, but a bottle from the 1989 vintage, disgorged around 1992. ... Filled with scents of ripe butterscotch, dried roses, wild strawberry and heather, it was just old enough to have taken on a mellow pastry-dough sweetness, yet bright enough to burst with all the energy that great bubbly should have. For all the love of vintage California fizz, there's great and unheralded talent in the nonvintage versions."
Sunset
January 01, 2011
"Fresh apple cider, delicate cherries, bright lemon, and earth."
Miami Herald
Fred Tasker - December 23, 2010
"Salmon hue, hint of oak, very crisp, black cherry flavors"
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonné - November 14, 2010
Recommended for Thanksgiving: "The regular Roederer Brut remains perhaps the best deal in California bubbles, but the Rosé is the standout [...]. Woodsy notes add to a dark-stone minerality that underlines cranberry, tangerine and pear flavors. It's got that quintessential brightness, with a bit of creamy vanilla at the end."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - November 01, 2010
"A beautiful rosé bubbly, from the copper-salmon color to the final finish. Made from Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, it's dry and refined, with complex orange, raspberry, vanilla cream, mineral and brioche flavors. Gains extra points for the smoothness of its bubbles."
Saveur
November 2010
"This smooth, nonvintage sparkling rosé is dominated by pinot noir, which adds lovely fruit to the flavor and a nice dose of blush to the finish. It includes up to 20 percent oak-aged reserve wine and is characterized by subtle herb and red raspberry accents, but with a stiff mineral backbone."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2009
"Almost as pale as a brut, with a touch of salmon color, and deeply flavored, this Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend has subtle, inviting flavors of cherries, strawberries, orange zest, vanilla and freshly baked brioche. It's very fine in the mousse, with a silky mouthfeel. Really marked by elegance and structure."
RealSimple.com
Sara Schneider - December 29, 2009
"For the Limo: Super-fizzy California bubbly Roederer Estate Brut Rose NA is full of flavors of spicy sour cherries, lemon, lime, and herbs."
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonné - December 07, 2009
"This accessible and remarkably well-crafted pink bubbly is both stony and yeasty, with robust nectarine skin and toasty pastry crust. Elegant and yet edgy, like a fresh splash of seawater spray."
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonné - November 22, 2009
"Not to cast a shadow on Roederer's regular brut but this accessible and remarkably well-crafted pink bubbly remains a major outperformer. Both stony and yeasty on a nose that hits you like seawater spray, with robust nectarine skin and toasty pastry crust."
Oregonian
Matt Kramer - November 15, 2009
"This is superb rose sparkling wine, a blend of pinot noir (60 percent) and chardonnay (40 percent) with a textbook-perfect hue of pale salmon and an indisputably pinot noir-ish scent and taste of red berries. The acidity is brisk and refreshing. ...Few sparkling roses from anywhere --and I include France's Champagne region in this assertion --are better than this bottling from California's Roederer Estate."
Appellation America
March 04, 2009
San Francisco Chronicle
Steve Pitcher - February 08, 2009
For Roederer Estate Brut Rosé NV magnum: "A blend of 60 percent Pinot Noir and 40 percent Chardonnay, with the lovely salmon hue coming from the addition of a small amount of still Pinot Noir. Full and round in the mouth with lively, tiny bubbles and a remarkable balancing act of elegance and austerity contributed by the Chardonnay."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2008
"Full-bodied and rich, this slightly orange-colored bubbly offers forward flavors of cherry vanilla and Chardonnay with mashed ripe strawberries. It’s very good, an addictively drinkable bubbly that finishes clean, dry and yeasty."
San Jose Mercury News
Laurie Daniel - December 23, 2008
"My favorite moderately priced California sparklers are from Roederer Estate in Anderson Valley...the non-vintage Brut Rosé...offers plenty of bright fruit, some toasty and yeasty accents and a fine texture."
San Francisco Chronicle
Lynne Char Bennett - December 05, 2008
"The beautiful pale pink-orange in color is from 5 percent Pinot Noir. This wine has a fresh nose of white flowers, rhubarb and loamy musk. Orange and wild raspberry flavors with a chalky undertone; soft, evocative mousse. 60 percent Pinot Noir, 40 percent Chardonnay, of which 10 to 20 percent is reserve wine."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - November 15, 2008
Recommended recent release from Mendocino -- "Crisp with appealing cherry and graham cracker aromas that lead to lively strawberry, vanilla and spice flavors."
Gourmet
Gerald Asher - November 2008
"My favorite California sparkling rosé is Roederer Estate's Brut Rosé. The color is light--almost amber rather than pink--but the wine has a fine and persistent effervescence and an enticing aroma and flavor. The blend includes a little oak-aged reserve wine that gives the depth and complexity that make every sip a surprise."
Sunset
September 2008
A good value wine
Seattle Times
Paul Gregutt - June 04, 2008
"For the wedding guests, you can ramp down your costs, while still keeping the quality pretty high. Look to Champagne-style bubbly from California ... Roederer Estate Brut Rosé."
Food & Wine
Lettie Teague - June 2008
"This sparkling-wine producer, based in Anderson Valley, is the California branch of French Champagne house Louis Roederer. This rosé is every bit as refined and well-balanced as its French counterparts."
Washington Post
Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg - February 13, 2008
"From among our three California sparkling rosé recommendations, Karen netted her pick of the week: The N.V. Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine...is the effort of an offshoot of Champagne's Louis Roederer, maker of famed Cristal Champagne. The nose is strawberry cheesecake: ripe, round strawberries with hints of cream cheese, vanilla and graham cracker crust. With its lush body, constant stream of tiny bubbles and long, creamy finish, this is a sparkler with impressive finesse. We found it all the more impressive that it paired so well with food, especially sauteed salmon, which perfectly echoed its color."
San Jose Mercury News
Charles E. Olken - February 13, 2008
"A Roederer Rose, whether made in France or in the winery's Anderson Valley property, is likely to be austere in style and crackling with fresh acidity."
San Francisco Chronicle
Lynne Char Bennett - February 01, 2008
"This wine - included in our 2007 Top 100 wines - continues to impress for the price. There's complexity to both nose and palate, which has toast, Meyer lemon, raspberry and touch of herb. One panelist even detected butterscotch. The focused palate has a richer texture with a touch of marmalade and orange zest flavors and a long, slightly minerally finish."
Wine Spectator
J.L. - December 31, 2007
"Crisp and festive, with appealing cherry and graham cracker aromas and lively strawberry, vanilla and spice flavors that take on richness and length on the finish."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2007
"From the pretty, pale amber color to the long, distinguished finish, this is a great rosé sparkler. To begin with, it's dry, a point in its favor, while the flavors are subtle and complex. They suggest pink grapefruits, tangerine zest, a squeeze of white peach, vanilla, and the smoke and dough of oak and lees. With its low alcohol and very low pH, it's a balanced wine of great structural integrity."
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonné - December 02, 2007
"Roederer's nonvintage Brut is very good, but its Rosé is a hidden strength. Made predominantly of Pinot Noir, with about 40 percent Chardonnay, it harnesses still Pinot for color and up to 20 percent oak-aged reserve wine for depth. The result surpasses many Rosé Champagnes: subtle herbal, raspberry and cherry scents, with slight mushroom and mineral, and a grip to the finish."
Wine News
December 2007
"Light copper hue. Aromas of carved pumpkin and vanilla. Very creamy on entry with a meld of cherry and tart strawberry with great integration of citrus-laced acidity. Tangy grapefruit and cherry juice flavors in the cleansing finish."
Sunset
Sara Schneider - October 2007
"Tiny, creamy bubbles carry wild strawberry, bright cherry, and refreshing lemon-lime flavors."
Food Arts
Jeffery Lindenmuth - June 2007
Nadine Brown, of Charlie Palmer Steak, Washington, D.C., recommended the Roederer Estate Brut Rosé NV as her sparkling wine pick.
Sunset Magazine
February 2007
5 Indulgent Sparkling Rosés
"Practically an albino as rosés go, Roederer's mainstream version (its 1999 L'Ermitage is for slightly deeper pockets) is a fantastic value--wonderfully yeasty and minerally, with the liveliest bubbles."
San Diego International Wine Competition
2007
Forbes
Nick Passmore - December 29, 2006
"The Anderson Valley, north of Sonoma, is gaining a reputation for elegant, cool climate wines, and this fresh, lively and fun fizz is a fine example. It is a gold rather than a true pink color, and it's vibrant with the flavors of freshly sliced strawberries."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 2006
"Floral scents of strawberries and deeper raspberry tones fill this wine with ripe fruit. Its sweetness melds into the tense acidity and fine mousse as the wine develops in the glass, elegant in a fruity, California style."
Wine & Spirits
Barbara Haimes - November 2006
"You can't go wrong with a dry sparkling rosé from the Anderson Valley. Roederer Estate Brut Rosé has five percent still pinot noir added. It is big and tilts towards smoke and cloves, making it particularly good with potstickers and Beijing spareribs."
Wine News
January 2006
"Champagne-like aromas of baked apple, lemon curd and dough are beautifully integrated. Very refreshing flavors of raspberry, apple, minerals and flint are bracing without being painfully so. Clean minerally close."
Cooking Light
Karen MacNeil - January 2006
"The luxurious pink-tinged color of this sumptuous sparkler exudes Valentine flair, but its aromas and flavors are the real gift: crème brulée, custard, whipped cream, and toasted brioche come through with each sip."
Wine Enthusiast
J.M. - December 01, 2003
"Top 100 wine of 2003. A richly textured, plush bubbly that serves up mounds of toast, cherry, peach, pear and floral flavors. With just enough tangy acidity to balance its body, the wine finishes long and fresh."
2011 L'Ermitage
Wine Enthusiast
Jim Gordon - March 01, 2018
"Dry and nicely mature, this complex wine is always among California's best bubblies. It combines great balance, tiny bubbles and some very interesting flavors that make it as appealing as a well-cellared white Burgundy at its peak. Hints of toast, butter and almond fill the aroma, and lemon, crisp apple and baking spices fill the palate. It has lively acidity that's softened by a good sense of body."
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
SFC Wine Competition - January 15, 2018
Silver Award
2009 L'Ermitage
Sunset Magazine
International Wine Competition - October 01, 2017
"This nearly 50-50 blend of Pinot and Chardonnay offers toasty brioche character and a creamy mousse, thanks to extended time in bottle on the lees. Subtle spiced-pear and apricot flavors over a rich and creamy but focused texture, baked-bread depth, and a long finish."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - December 21, 2016
"A luxurious sparkler, with toasty brioche, mineral and lemon brûlée aromas and rich, complex flavors of crisp apple and raspberry, showing accents of fresh ginger and spice."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 01, 2016
"The 2009 vintage grew lush pinot noir and chardonnay on the northern California coast, and that vintage character defines Roederer Estate's tete de cuvee: It's broad and rich, its ripe apple flavor threaded with the toastiness of barrel-aged reserve lots, while a bright line of acidity gives it a healthy persistence."
2007 L'Ermitage
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - December 31, 2015
"Instead of Napa or Sonoma, Champagne house Louis Roederer established its sparkling wine outpost in Mendocino’s quiet Anderson Valley in 1982. Roederer Estate L’Ermitage 2007, the current release of the winery’s tête de cuvée, proves the location was a smart choice. The 2007 season was long and moderate, with plentiful fog. Winemaker Arnaud Weyrich used the estate’s best lots, blending roughly equal parts Chardonnay and Pinot Noir."
Wine Enthusiast
Jim Gordon - November 19, 2015
"Very fruity and fresh in aroma, this elegant wine has light, crisp apple and lemon flavors, fresh-baked bread accents and lively acidity. A layered texture seems to blend in accents of almond and vanilla, increasing complexity with each sip. It’s one of California’s bluechip bubblies."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - October 07, 2015
"Impeccably refined and elegant, with floral aromas of fresh brioche, baked apple and roasted hazelnut. The flavors are layered and well-focused, showing notes of mineral, fresh ginger and subtle raspberry. Drink now through 2017."
2006 L'Ermitage
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - June 15, 2015
"This shows a sense of grace and balance that belies its complexity and sophistication. Delicate brioche and apple aromas lead to long and sleek flavors of spicy hazelnut, lemon and ginger that finish with an impeccably crisp mineral note. Drink now through 2016."
Wine Enthusiast
Jim Gordon - December 01, 2014
"All the benefits of maturity come through in this deliciously complex flagship sparkling wine of the French-owned estate. It shows very minute, slow-rising bubbles and a beautiful bouquet of ginger, cinnamon, cherry and fresh croissants. The flavors are layered, intricate, subtle but somehow rich. A lush and seemingly soft texture is supported by fresh acidity that encourages a long and delicate finish. Mature, but not old, it should be great through 2020 or longer."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 01, 2014
"Composed of a near-even balance of chardonnay and pinot noir, this gains richness from barrel-aged wines from the 2003 and 2006 vintages. It lasts on a creamy, fruit-driven impression of spicy pear skin and juicy pear flesh, its texture generous yet airy - a sophisticated sparkling wine to to a sushi bar for an omakase dinner."
Wine Enthusiast
Jim Gordon - November 01, 2014
"This shows minute, slow-rising bubbles, and a bouquet of ginger, cinnamon, cherry and croissants. The flavors are layered and intricate, subtle but rich. A lush texture is supported by fresh acidity and a long and delicate finish. Mature, but not old, it should be great through 2020 or longer."
2005 L'Ermitage
Wine Enthusiast
Jim Gordon - August 2015
"This impressive bubbly has apple, caramel and toffee aromas, melt-in-the-mouth Bosc pear and spice rack flavors, a rich but firm texture, and long finish. It possesses amazing liveliness, body and depth, and seems to reveal more nuances and freshness with each sip. While terrific to drink now, it can be cellared through at least 2020."
Wine & Spirits
Luke Sykora - June 01, 2015
"Winemaker Arnaud Weyrich composed this racy vintage of Roederer Estate’s tête de cuvée from a near-even blend of pinot noir and chardonnay, along with some oak-aged reserve wine from the 2003 vintage. It tightens from a ripe, sunny, apple skin aroma toward a lime-green streak of acidity, scents of kelp and autumn leaves bringing savory dimension to its focused structure. It’s clean and bright enough for shellfish right now, but should be more delicate and versatile with another year or two in bottle."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - March 18, 2015
"A lovely combination of rich opulence and crisp, refined fruit. Aromas of sweet apple, brioche, fresh ginger and stony mineral lead to layered flavors of lemon, cinnamon and subtle caramel. Drink now through 2016."
2004 L'Ermitage
Wine Enthusiast
Virginie Boone - December 01, 2013
"This is an exquisite sparkling wine made from 52% Chardonnay and 48% Pinot Noir, concocted into a special blend and aged for almost six years in oak cask. After disgorgement it was given another five months to sit in bottle before release. It has such freshness on the palate, such enviable acidity, that it’s hard to believe the grapes were picked so long ago. Crisp apple dominates, with just a trace of yeastiness on the nose and palate. This is a delicious wine."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 01, 2013
"Blended from a selection of grapes from Roederer's estate vineyards, this includes four percent of barrel-aged reserve wine from the 2000 harvest. While chardonnay outweighs pinot noir (52 percent to 48), the flavors are more in the red fruit realm, with the fragrance of fresh raspberries. The wine's yeast maturity measures that fruit into an enticing aroma, while the citrus underpinning of chardonnay lengthens the flavor, keeping the structure tight and fine. A light, crisp vintage of l'Ermitage, this would be delicious with poached salmon for brunch."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - November 06, 2013
"Impeccably focused and elegant, with layers of complexity that open slowly. Floral aromas of red apple and lemon tart lead to vibrant and delicately opulent flavors of mineral, raspberry and fresh ginger. A hint of hazelnut chimes in on the finish. Drink now through 2015."
2003 L'Ermitage
Sunset Magazine
July 19, 2012
2012 Sunset International Wine Competition Silver Medal winner
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 15, 2011
Editors' Choice -- "2003 was a great vintage for Roederer Estate. This, their top vintage wine, is very great, and the price is an absolute steal for this world class sparkler. It’s enormously rich in the strawberries from Pinot Noir and the limes from Chardonnay, while the toast and rich lees combine for a perfect Champagne-style smokiness. And so smooth, it’s like a kiss of silk. At the age of eight years, this wonderful wine is just getting started."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 2011
"This wine captures the cool tones of Anderson Valley fruit in a sophisticated sparkler, the marriage of pinot noir and chardonnay flavors transformed into lemon curd, white raspberry, bright apple and lasting spice. The tight balance keeps it fresh, while reserve wines add to its richness (the blend includes four percent of reserves from 1999). There's nerve underneath the luscious texture, extending the sense of richness into finesse."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - November 30, 2011
"Elegant and sleek, yet complex, with cinnamon and green apple aromas that lead to rich flavors of pear and lemon custard layered with brioche and mineral."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - November 2011
White Wine of the Month - "This wine captures the cool tones of Anderson Valley fruit in a sophisticated sparkler, the marriage of pinot noir and chardonnay flavors transformed into lemon curd, white raspberry, bright apple and lasting spice. The tight balance keeps it fresh, while reserve wines add to its richness (the blend includes four percent of reserves from 1999). There's nerve underneath the luscious texture, extending the sense of richness into finesse."
2002 L'Ermitage
The Week
December 17, 2010
"This 'elegant' sparkler is the result of heavy investments in California vineyards by the top Champagne houses."
Washington Post
Dave McIntyre - November 19, 2010
A recommended splurge
Bon Appetit
Heather John - November 2010
A "Hot Bottle" -- Notes of vanilla, brioche, and spice blend with baked apple and apricot."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - October 31, 2010
"L'Ermitage 2002 ... is sleek and creamy, with pinpoint focus and long, complex apple and spicy, yeasty flavors."
Quarterly Review of Wines
June 01, 2010
"Elegant, rich, complex, powerful, well-focused."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 2009
Buying Guide 2010 -- "This wine combines remarkable freshness with elegant richness, so that even after it's been open for several days, the flavors are still evolving, the fruit still brisk as an autumn breeze. It needs that time for the blunt chalkiness of the structure to mellow, for the cool apple and pear flavors to develop and lengthen. Built to age, this is an exceptional vintage of L'Ermitage."
2000 L'Ermitage
Quarterly Review of Wines
November 24, 2008
Among the Top 18 California Wines
Sunset
Sara Schneider - May 2008
"For Celebrating: Soft peach, zesty lime and elegant bubbles."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2007
"Always one of the top sparklers in California, L'Ermitage defines the rigorous selection that marks the best vintage-dated, ageworthy wines. The 2000 is...very rich and flavorful in yeast, smoke, strawberry, citrus and vanilla flavors, but it's also a very young wine, tight and minerally. It wants bottle age."
San Francisco Chronicle
December 28, 2007
"Roederer's vintage-dated reserve remains, consistently, the most impressive sparkling wine in America. This latest, with 53 percent Chardonnay and 47 percent Pinot Noir, opens with a musky snap and aggressively yeasty nose. Subtle berry and forest notes are followed by explosive flavors of dough, citrus and a whole spectrum of red fruit, plus brandy and pie crust. It's all kept in harmony by sharp acidity, which makes for a mouthwatering finish."
Wine Review Online
Linda Murphy - December 11, 2007
"The Roederer has a nutty, spicy nose with a gentle yeastiness and a palate that explodes with energetic citrus and red-berry fruit. It's long and rewarding."
Wall Street Journal
Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher - December 01, 2007
"$30 to $60. At this price, you can try some of the high-end domestic bubblies...Look for ...Roederer Estate L'Ermitage."
Epicurious.com
Nick Passmore - December 2007
"Widely considered to be the best American sparkler (from California), and with good reason, this one has a big, satisfying mouthfeel along with notes of hazelnuts and hot buttered toast, followed by a long, lingering tart finish."
Wine News
Jeff Cox - December 2007
"This cool-climate tête de cuvée...was aged for six years on the yeast, which imbued the wine with a lush roundness and long, creamy finish. Aromas of apple and peach underpinned by a bread crust note. Baked apple flavors flattered by subtle hints of toasted notes. A simply outstanding California sparkler."
San Francisco Chronicle
Lynne Char Bennett - November 30, 2007
"The first vintage of Roederer L'Ermitage was released in 1993 - this is another great wine from a consistently stellar producer. The 2000 vintage has a multitude of explosive flavors: bread dough, ripe lemon, fresh apple and stone fruit, which follow enticing yeasty musk, mineral, berry and forest-like aromas. A harmonious finish of the ripe, rich palate lingers with echoed flavors and minerally acidity."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - June 2007
"An elegant vintage of L'Ermitage, it has taken some time for this 2000 to evolve. But it was worth the wait: Its austere flavors of peach and nectarine meld with incipient minerality to create depth and complexity without reliance on superripe fruit. Long lees aging has given it a creamy softness to balance that complexity. Cellar this for another year or two; it will only get better."
Quarterly Review of Wines
QRW Tasting Staff - June 2007
"Outstanding: Wines of such remarkable character and quality as to be in a class by themselves." "Big, rich, nutty, bread dough, pear and almond flavors; deep, long, steely finish."
Quarterly Review of Wines
QRW Tasting Staff - March 2007
"Outstanding: Wines of such remarkable character and quality as to be in a class by themselves
Big, rich, nutty, bread dough, pear and almond flavors; deep, long, steely finish."
Wine Literary Award
2007
Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition
2007
Orange County Fair Wine Competition
2007
Sunset Magazine
S.N. - December 2006
"Luscious, rich, complex, opulent. It's pricey but worth it."
1999 L'Ermitage
Press Democrat
Tasting Room - July 25, 2007
"A rich bubbly, yeasty, toasty and nutty. This sparkler has a great mouth-feel and a lively mousse. Medium-bodied."
Quarterly Review of Wines
March 2007
"Outstanding: Wines of such remarkable character and quality as to be in a class by themselves
Big, rich, ripe, brioche and pear flavors buoyed by excellent acidity; long, authoritative finish."
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
January 2007
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonne - December 08, 2006
"Roederer's top-level American wine, with 55 percent Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, more than holds its own with its French cousins. Scents of gray flint dominate amid the dough and yeasty fruit. Its has sharp oxidative notes (the dosage wine was aged 9 years in oak casks) and it's vibrantly, almost alarmingly, tangy. The sharpness lingers, with a compelling mix of red fruit, mushrooms and sherry."
USA Today
Jerry Shriver - December 01, 2006
Wine News
January 2006
"Mature, lively aromas of citrus and red apple with a pleasing oxidized note. Creamy texture and softer acidity than many of its California brethren frame flavors of baked apple and flint."
The San Francisco Chronicle
Linda Murphy - December 15, 2005
"From its tiny bubbles to its creamy mousse to a finish that goes on forever, this is a tremendous wine, rich and full, yet with the finesse and complexity of Champagne. Aromas of brioche, hazelnut and marzipan lead to a citrus, tropical fruit and nectarine palate."
Wine Enthusiast
S.H. - December 2005
"Extraordinarily fine for its smoothness and finesse, and the way the wine glides over the plate with a yeasty creaminess that turns smoky and spicy on the finish. The dosage stands out, yet this bubbly is also very acidic now. It should age well for at least 10 years."
Quarterly Review of Wines
June 2005
1998 L'Ermitage
Wine News
January 2005
"Light gold hues with lnies of pinpoint bubbles and an ample mousse. Very perfumed scents of apple, blossom and an exotic ylang-ylang nuance. Rich flavors of citrus peel, beer, straw, toast and a gunpowder note. Crisp, beery finish."
Wine Enthusiast
S.H. - December 31, 2004
"Among the top sparklers in California, the wine this year is even more smooth and polished. It’s positively French in its classic structure and elegance. Feels ultra-refined in the mouth, with subtle flavors of dough, smoke and fruit."
Wine Spectator
N.F. - September 11, 2003
"A very classy effort, with a sleek core of ripe, spicy ginger and pear-scented flavors, turning into smooth and elegant, with hints of hazelnut and citrus carrying a long refreshing aftertaste. Drink now through 2007."
2009 L'Ermitage Rosé
Wine & Spirits
Josh Greene - February 01, 2018
"This wine's clean raspberry freshness is underlined by a salty tang and the yeasty scent of rising bread. Mouthfilling with a gentle, persistent mousse, it feels complete and integrated, a rose to pour with Dungeness crab."
2006 L'Ermitage Rosé
Wine Enthusiast
Jim Gordon - December 01, 2014
"Bubbly doesn't get much better than this elegant, grand and sumptuous rosé. The color is pale salmon, while aromas showcase an exotic blend of spices and flowers. The flavor is vivid and enticing but not as simple as just saying cherries and ginger. Though this is dry, it's so mature and rich that it almost tastes sweet. A wonderful, ginger-cookie flavor lingers a long time on the finish. This will improve in a cool cellar through at least 2020."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 01, 2014
"Roederer Estate winemaker Arnaud Weyrich recalls the lead-up to the 2006 vintage well: Torrential winter rains caused mudslides and floods, and, for a few days, Anderson Valley was virtually cut off the rest of the civilization. That abundant soil moisture led to a bumper crop of plump, healthy berries. L'Ermitage Rosé draws on many of the vintage's choice lots of pinot noir and chardonnay, supported by barrel-aged reserve chardonnay from the 2003 vintage. This leads with leafy scent of barely pinot noir, autumnal and quiet, supported by a delicate toasty impression from seven years on its lees in bottle. With air, it blooms from cherry tomato skin and herbs into more lifted territory, suggesting red raspberries and rose petals, the fruit gaining plumpness and depth without losing its firm, vinous structure. It's a savory sparkling wine to decant or age, and it would provide a perfect partner for gently smoked salmon."
2004 L'Ermitage Rosé
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - December 31, 2012
"A pink bubbly that's both serious and a lot of fun. Lovely aromas of rose petal and strawberry lead to layered and succulent, but impeccably dry, flavors of cherry, citrus and cinnamon that finish on a crisp, minerally note."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 2012
"The winery’s top rosé is a Chardonnay-Pinot Noir blend. It shows equal parts limes, pears, strawberries and raspberries, reflecting its parentage. What lifts it to greatness is the structure, so refined and creamy, rich in acidity, with a yeasty bitterness. It has that hard to define quality of finesse that makes it gorgeous to drink now with the finest foods."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 2012
"The result is a rosé that has flavor depth without tasting fruity. It achieves the stylistic goals of Roederer’s wines from Champagne: freshness and finesse. This wine is delicate, with hints of caramel, subtle earthy complexity and fruit depth to balance it. Fine bubbles carry the flavors on a clean line. Classical, if such a thing can be said of a California sparkling wine."
2003 L'Ermitage Rosé
San Francisco Chronicle
December 05, 2010
Top 100 Wines of 2010: "While Roederer's nonvintage Rosé is impressive, this is only the second release of a limited top pink version (1999 was the previous). After nearly a year, it has finally softened into an opulent, deep thing: full of strawberry skin, peach, stoic white mineral, and hints of deeper red fruit and sweet dough. Subtle, precise flavors that outpace many far more expensive Champagnes."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - November 01, 2010
"...racy, as well as delicate, layered, savory and gently sweet. ...This is a breakthrough wine for California...Don't miss it."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - November 01, 2010
"[...] it is delicate and precise as a fine Champagne, but rather than being grounded in Kimmeridgean limestone, it’s marked by the coastal, forested hills of Mendocino. This is also one of our 100 Best Wines of the Year—for its own refreshing reasons."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - October 31, 2010
"L'Ermitage Rosé 2003 ... has delicate floral aromas of strawberry and peach, but also deep, opulent raspberry, toasty vanilla and mineral flavors."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2009
"This is as fine a rosé sparkling wine as has ever been produced in California. Almost 50-50 Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, it has rich flavors of cherries, raspberries, vanilla, toast and creamy lees, in the style of Champagne, and is completely dry and very crisp in acidity."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - December 31, 2009
"The top rosé-and one of the best sparkling wines of the year overall-is the Roederer Estate Brut Rosé Anderson Valley L'Ermitage 2003...The 2003 is a prime example of what makes rosé so appealing. It's rich yet delicate, with graceful aromas of strawberry, peach and yeast and flavors that build complexity, finishing with an opulent texture and toasty vanilla and mineral notes."
WSJ. Magazine
Owen Phillips - December 2009
"I'm really into California sparkling wines. I love when you pour the glass and sniff the bubbles coming off carrying that yeast smell. Roederer is the one I go for when I splurge." -- Bill Niman
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonné - November 22, 2009
"...it's layered with ripe strawberry and white stone aromas, deeper red fruit and apricot skin flavors, edged with a bit of sweet shortbread dough. Will keep improving."
Wine Spectator
Tim Fish - November 15, 2009
"Rich yet delicate in style, with a soft salmon color and graceful aromas of strawberry, peach and yeast. Flavors take on complexity, balancing crisp acidity with mature yet opulent raspberry, toasty vanilla and mineral flavors."
1999 L'Ermitage Rosé
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonne - December 08, 2006
"Floral hints, with fresh strawberry and caramel. A hint of sweetness in the mix, but it's lively, with precision and a fruity ending."
Wine Enthusiast
August 2005
"The first ever blush vintage bubbly from this winery, this could be the greatest brut rosé ever made in California. With 46% Pinot Noir, the wine is full-bodied and rich in vanilla-tinged strawberry flavors, with yeasty, pastry-dough finish. High acidity. Toast with this beauty now or in 10 years; it has a long life ahead."
San Francisco Chronicle
February 10, 2005
"Medium amber-copper color; soft bead. Tutti-frutti, tropical fruit, red apple and caramel nose; flavors of ruby red grapefruit, tangerine, vanilla, mango and pineapple; round body."
Winery
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonne - March 22, 2009
Highlighted as a top tasting room in Northern California: "This remote outpost of a top Champagne house is friendly but focused on wines; they serve their brut from magnum so you can compare the effect of larger bottles. * Good for connoisseurs * Fee for tasting * Tour available"
San Francisco Chronicle
Stacy Finz - December 07, 2007
"Although Roederer Estate's nonvintage sparkling wine has long been regarded as one of the best in the country, in the last few years, when Weyrich took over, the bubbly has become even more impressive in its balance and finesse."
Wall Street Journal
Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher - November 16, 2007
A producer of "very good sparkling wine at excellent prices"
Wine & Spirits
November 2007
Fish Friendly Farming Environmental Certification and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
August 2007
Excellence in Water Quality Improvement and Protection
California State Assembly
August 2007
Recognizing Dedication to Environmental Stewardship and Improvement
Arthur Fromner's Budget Travel
Jaime Gross - April 2007
Johnny Schmitt, owner and chef at the Boonville Hotel in Anderson Valley, recommended visiting Roederer Estate.
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
February 2007
The New York Times
Eric Asimov - December 20, 2006
“The first barrage in the invasion of California by French Champagne producers also took place in the 1970s, and eventually included such famous names as Moët & Chandon, Piper-Heidsieck, Mumm, Deutz and Roederer. Despite all their expertise, only Roederer Estate, in the Anderson Valley, has consistently produced great sparkling wines.”
Ed McCarthy - December 2006
"Recommended - fine California sparkling wine producer."
Wine & Spirits
October 2005