Some vintages become legends. 1996 in Champagne is firmly in that category. Here, Louis Roederer has done something rather special: allowing this vintage to rest quietly in their cellars for decades before release. The result is a champagne that has traded youthful brightness for something deeper, richer and wonderfully complex. In the glass you’ll find layers of toasted brioche, candied citrus peel and roasted nuts, with flashes of honey, dried orchard fruit and that distinctive chalky minerality that great Champagne never quite lets go of. The mousse is gentle now, the texture almost creamy, the finish long and contemplative. And in magnum, the whole experience feels even more composed, larger format ageing slowly and gracefully over time.