Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 'Late Release' 1995 - 150cl

The 1995 vintage holds a special place in Champagne's modern history: a year of classical balance, where neither excessive heat nor autumnal chill distorted the essential nobility of the region's great vineyards. Louis Roederer's Late Release represents a deliberate choice to hold this vintage in the cellars for additional ageing, allowing the wine to achieve that tertiary complexity and integrated maturity that defines truly excellent vintage Champagne.

This magnum format has benefited from extended cellaring under optimal conditions. On the nose, you'll discover the mature aromatics characteristic of fine aged Champagne: dried fruits - apricot, fig, candied lemon - alongside toast, honeycomb, and subtle spice. There's also a compelling minerality, now resolved into a complex array of earthy undertones that suggest bottle age and proper development. The fruit itself has taken on honeyed qualities, with hints of white chocolate and almond alongside the characteristic brioche notes.

On the palate it is at its peak, and it knows it. The mousse, whilst still present, has become delicate and sophisticated - the sign of a wine properly aged. Flavours develop with remarkable complexity: honey, toast, subtle dried fruits, and that compelling mineral undertone. The mid-palate is nicely weighted, with acidity fully integrated, providing structure and drive without aggression. The finish is long, complex, and profoundly dry - the signature of a great vintage Champagne approached from a position of maturity and sophistication.

How to Serve

Serve at 8-10°C in a white wine glass — a flute hides everything a wine this mature has to say. Open it gently and don't decant; the mousse is delicate now and will not survive the handling.

Where to Drink It

Wiltons on Jermyn Street — a mature magnum wants a dining room with patience. Scott's in Mayfair for the occasion. J Sheekey, if the table is small and the afternoon is long.

Food Pairings

Ideal with roasted poultry, light game, and refined seafood preparations. The wine's complexity also suits dishes with subtle cream sauces or delicate spicing.