Louis Roederer Brut Vintage 'Late Release' 1999 - 75cl

The 1999 vintage offered Champagne an exceptional year - generous ripeness combined with sufficient acidity to ensure balance and longevity. Louis Roederer's Late Release programme reflects a deliberate strategy of extended cellaring, allowing the wine to develop that integrated maturity and tertiary complexity which distinguishes truly great aged Champagne from merely competent releases.

This vintage has evolved admirably during its time in the cellars. The nose is unmistakably mature Champagne — honey and dried stone fruit up front, toasted hazelnut behind, and a fine chalk-and-flint edge underneath. There's also a pleasant brioche note and white chocolate undertones, alongside suggestions of caramel and subtle spice - the signature of proper bottle age. The fruit itself has taken on a honeyed quality, suggesting the vintage's original ripeness has been refined into something more subtle and complex.

Upon tasting, the wine demonstrates the equilibrium for which the 1999 vintage is celebrated. The mousse is delicate yet present, and flavours develop with elegance: honey, toast, subtle dried fruits, with stone fruit notes displaying honeyed qualities. The acidity is fully integrated, providing structure without aggression, and the mid-palate exhibits the concentration characteristic of a good vintage approached from a position of maturity. The finish is long, dry, and mineral-driven, with a complexity that rewards contemplation and suggests continued potential for evolution.

How to Serve

Serve at 8-10°C in a white wine glass, and give it ten or fifteen minutes open before you pour. No decanting — aged Champagne loses its mousse if you move it around.

Where to Drink It

J Sheekey for shellfish and a wine with some years on it. Noble Rot, for a crowd that will want to talk about the disgorgement date. Dandy on Maltby Street if you want it poured without ceremony.

Food Pairings

Excellent with roasted poultry and light game. Also pairs beautifully with refined seafood preparations and cream-based sauces. The wine's maturity and complexity suit sophisticated cuisine.