"Adaptation, learning, adjustment. These are some of the attributes that separate the elite from the merely outstanding. These releases from Champagne Louis Roederer showcase the house’s ability to react to the challenges posed by recent growing seasons. As much as I was impressed with the wines I tasted, I was even more impressed by Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon’s drive to constantly reinvent the wines in his obsessive pursuit of quality." - Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Never once resting on their well-deserved laurels as an elite Champagne producer for seven generations now, it is in the image of figures like Camille Olry-Roederer that Louis Roederer continue to find their stride in the crowded and tumultuous modern age. This was a woman who, after the death of her husband Léon in 1932, led the house through the chaos of the Second World War and the subsequent social and economic upheavals, refusing to compromise on quality or vision even as much of the region raced toward heightened industrial scale and production, holding firm to those reigns all the way through until 1975. Frédéric Rouzand (current CEO and a descendant of Louis Roederer) and the house's long-serving cellarmaster Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon now continue to honour Camille's astounding 43 year legacy, always looking to echo her tendency for innovation and an unwavering optimism for the future.
No more is that true than with Roederer's Collection series, first introduced by the house in 2021 - in Lécaillon's words, it is a way for him to ensure the best possible wine from each harvest, even those that were hindered by less than favourable conditions. After a period leading up to its inception where he felt they were constantly fighting to maintain a sense of ripeness, the brilliant chef de caves knew they had to work with, not against, the ever-changing climate. Redefining in their own minds what each of their plots and accompanying soils brought to a blend, each Collection release is to highlight its own particular base harvest (with reserve wines added in for further complexity), instead of facing a constant battle to create a similar tasting NV every year.
Its base hailing from the warm and dry 2020 harvest (55% of the blend), the Collection 245 has long run out of its regular 750ml formats, but we're excited to report the estate have now released a limited run of magnums for this harmonious mineral-woven beauty. With the remainder of the blend made up with both perpetual reserve and oak-aged wines from 2012 through to 2019, these were disgorged mid-2025 and released from their cellars in January of this year, holding a decidedly more textural and broad mouthfeel now in larger format than it did in its regular bottles early last year. Hints of smokiness and oaky notes linger, complemented by sweeter notes of rose petal, sugared almonds, concentrated lemon and ripe nectarine. These will be only available for a relatively short time due to more confined production; we hope those who love their bubbles out of a larger vessel take advantage this week while they stay down on Champagne Monday special!
The legendary Camille Olry-Roederer -
A stalwart if ever there was one for Champagne Louis Roederer, leading the estate through the economic and social uncertainty of the Second World War, giving energy and direction to a house that could've otherwise lost its footing in the mad commercial rush of the modern age.
Louis Roederer Collection 245
MAGNUM 1500ml (w/ Gift Box)
$259 on special this week ($289 RRP)
- Limited availability -
// 41% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir and 24% Pinot Meunier
Base vintage 2020 (55%), with 35% perpetual reserve wines (2012 through to 2019) and 10% oak-aged wines
Disgorged in June 2025 and released from Roederer's cellars in January 2026
7g/L dosage
"Louis Roederer's 245th blend takes advantage of a particularly remarkable 2020 harvest: a dry, continental year of perfect maturity that produced juicy, well-structured, aromatic grapes, resulting in dense, full-bodied wines with a perfect balance of substance and freshness. Collection 245 therefore offers us a complex symphony in a wine of remarkably generous and flavourful intensity. Bouquet of yellow fruits (nectarine) and ripe, concentrated citrus (lemon) complemented by sweet notes of petals, pollen, sugared almonds and wheat. We find an impressively ripe, complex and intense fruit which elevates the pure and intense bouquet interwoven with smoky overtones. The palate is velvety, unctuous, rich and juicy. The bubbles have an almost saline character to them and coat the palate with a broad and concentrated texture. The wine reveals an exceptional balance between structure and a crisp, powdery, saline chalky freshness. Smoky and slightly oaky notes linger on a deliciously well-honed finish." - Notes from the House
"Collection 245 is a finely woven, mineral-laced beauty. Notes of citron blossom, lemon tart, and lime leaves slowly emerge from the glass, leading to hints of raising bread dough, fresh ginger, and sea spray, with a touch of coriander seed. The light-bodied, very dry, beautifully poised palate is elegantly crafted with intense citrus and mineral layers and a lively yet well-knit backbone, finishing long and chalky. I love the restraint here—unmistakably Roederer." - 94 Points, Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent
"Mid-light straw colour, shaved almond, bread-crust, icing sugar and parsnip aromas, palate light and lively, with lovely balance and softness, the acidity mild compared to the 2016 vintage while the finish is balanced, very approachable and harmonious. The aftertaste is cleansingly dry and gentle." - 93 Points, Huon Hooke, The Real Review
If you wish to purchase this champagne, please use the link above
Otherwise, if you have any questions, please contact us on (07)32521117 or email sales@thewineemporium.com.au
// Special price valid until Monday the 1st of June