Louis Roederer Brut Collection 242 750ML

Louis Roederer Brut Collection 242 750ML is a non-vintage Champagne blending Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier at 12% ABV in a 750ml bottle. Named for the house's 242nd assemblage since its 1776 founding, this cuvée earned 94 points from James Suckling and was ranked #76 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2021. It replaced the long-running Brut Premier, marking a fundamental shift in how Louis Roederer approaches its flagship non-vintage bottling.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12%  |  Origin: Champagne, France  |  Non-Vintage (Multi-Vintage Blend)  |  Producer: Louis Roederer

Production & Heritage

Louis Roederer was established in 1776 in Reims and farms roughly 450 acres across Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne — an unusually high proportion of estate-owned vineyards for a major Champagne house. Collection 242 is built around a perpetual reserve system inspired by the solera method: a stainless-steel reserve containing equal parts of the five previous vintages (2012–2016) has been maintained since 2012, contributing depth and complexity beyond what a single reserve vintage could provide. The final blend comprises 42% Chardonnay, 36% Pinot Noir, and 22% Pinot Meunier, dosed at 8 grams per liter and aged four years on the lees before disgorgement — significantly longer than the legal minimum. The result is a wine that reads as a multi-vintage creation rather than a traditional non-vintage assemblage, and the numbered naming convention signals a distinct identity for each annual release.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The nose opens with baked apple and white peach, followed by patissière and frangipane tart aromas. Underneath, chalky soil tones and fresh almond lend a mineral backbone that keeps the fruit restrained and focused.

Taste: On entry, the palate delivers crunchy pineapple and white cherry with a fine, persistent mousse. The mid-palate broadens into ginger, lime zest, and subtle oak spice, while the full body carries ripe orchard fruit without heaviness. A thread of beeswax ties the fruit and mineral elements together at the peak.

Finish: The finish is long and textured, with lingering notes of sloe, gingerbread, and green almond. A pleasing twist of bitterness on the close adds grip and invites the next sip.

How to Drink Collection 242

Serve chilled to around 46–50°F in a tulip-shaped glass to capture the aromatic complexity; the wine's depth rewards patient sipping on its own, and a few minutes of warming in the glass reveals additional layers. For cocktails, Collection 242's structured body and low dosage make it a strong candidate for a French 75, where the chalky minerality balances gin and lemon cleanly. It also shines in a Champagne Cocktail — the bitters and sugar cube play against its natural gingerbread and almond notes. A Kir Royale with a measured pour of high-quality crème de cassis complements the orchard fruit without overwhelming the wine's precision.

Best For

• Hosting a multi-course dinner where a single Champagne needs to carry appetizer through main course
• Gifting a wine enthusiast who already knows mainstream non-vintage labels and is ready for something more complex
• Celebrating a milestone — the numbered collection concept makes each release feel like a limited edition
• Building a personal cellar with Champagnes that reward additional bottle age

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Collection 242 taste like? Collection 242 leads with baked apple, white cherry, and pineapple, layered over ginger, frangipane, and chalky minerality. The finish is long, with gingerbread, green almond, and a subtle bitter edge that adds complexity.

How does Collection 242 compare to Bollinger Special Cuvée? Both are full-bodied, Pinot-influenced non-vintage Champagnes, but Collection 242 leans more heavily on Chardonnay (42% versus Bollinger's Pinot Noir dominance) and uses a perpetual reserve system rather than traditional reserve wines. The result is a leaner, more mineral-driven profile compared to Bollinger's broader, brioche-rich style.

Is Collection 242 good for sipping neat? Absolutely — the four years of lees aging and perpetual reserve depth give it enough complexity to stand on its own without food, though it pairs beautifully at the table as well.

Where is Collection 242 made? Collection 242 is produced by Maison Louis Roederer in Reims, in the Champagne region of northern France. The estate sources fruit from its own 450 acres spanning Montagne de Reims, Côte des Blancs, and Vallée de la Marne.

What foods pair well with Collection 242? Raw oysters benefit from the wine's chalky minerality. Grilled langoustines echo its orchard-fruit richness. Aged Comté cheese mirrors the nutty, beeswax undertones. Sushi and sashimi pair well with the crisp acidity, and roasted chicken with tarragon complements the ginger and almond notes.

What sizes does Collection 242 come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle. Louis Roederer also produces magnums (1.5L) and half-bottles (375ml) for select releases in the Collection series.

Is Collection 242 worth the price? Collection 242 positions in the upper tier of premium non-vintage Champagne, above most entry-level cuvées but below prestige bottlings like Cristal. The perpetual reserve system, four years of lees aging, and consistently high critical scores — 94 points from James Suckling, 93+ from Wine Advocate — place it among the most serious non-vintage Champagnes available at its price tier.

Why Collection 242?

The perpetual reserve system is the defining innovation here. By maintaining a continuously evolving blend of vintages in stainless steel since 2012, Roederer achieves a layered complexity that most non-vintage Champagnes attempt through simpler reserve wine additions. That approach earned Collection 242 recognition from every major wine publication — 94 points from James Suckling, 93+ from William Kelley at Wine Advocate, 93+ from Falstaff, and a place on Wine Spectator's Top 100. The decision to retire the Brut Premier name and number each release individually signals that Roederer views this not as a house blend but as a distinct annual creation, and the wine delivers on that ambition with a depth and specificity that sets it apart in a crowded non-vintage category.