Ratings & Reviews
Brut NV
Mendocino County Fair Wine Competition
August 2008Wine & Spirits
June 2008"I've always liked this wine, and it's one of the best sparkling wines made in the US." -- Jared Heber, Osteria Mozza, Los Angeles, CA
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - February 2008
"Complex minerality runs through this sparkler, tinged with sweet vanilla and strawberry flavors, but not overtly fruity. With light richness and firm acidity, it's suited to poached prawns."
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
January 2008Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2007
"This is an absolutely first-rate bubbly, dry, smooth and rich. Has complex flavors of peaches, limes and strawberries, accented by doughy yeast and smoky flavors. Really defines the balanced elegance and pedigree you want in a great sparkler."
iVillage.com
Ray Isle - December 28, 2007
Quick, Dallas-Fort Worth
D.M.N - December 27, 2007
"Made with estate-grown grapes, this is a crisp, medium-bodied sparkler with a nice core of apple-pear flavors."
Dallas Morning News
Tina Danze - December 26, 2007
"Made with estate-grown grapes, this is a crisp, medium-bodied sparkler with a nice core of apple-pear flavors. 'It’s rich and complex without being yeasty,' Mr. Pinnell said. 'The finish is so refreshing — it leads you on to another sip or to another bite of food,' Mr. Howald said. 'This is what I hope they serve when I go to a New Year’s party,' Ms. Frances said. She added that the sparkler would make a great pairing for sole menieure meunière at a New Year’s Eve dinner party."
Tribune-Review, Pittsburgh
Dave DeSimone - December 19, 2007
"As the product of Louis Roederer Champagne's investment in Mendocino County's cool climate, this is one of California's most consistent, high-quality non-vintage sparkling wines. The wine has complex, elegant aromas leading to crisp citrus and rich pear flavors well-balanced by fine acidity through a complex, dry finish with excellent finesse. Highly Recommended."
Press Democrat, Santa Rosa
Michele Anna Jordan - December 19, 2007
"The wine is crisp, clean, austere in a good way and delicate. Although it is not overly complicated, there is a lingering complexity that engages the drinker on both a sensual and cerebral level. ...Grapes are rarely offered up as one of the flavors in wine, but they are there in every sip, alongside a suggestion of green fruit -- Asian pear, green apple and not-quite-ripe cherimoya. In the background, standing solid like a bass player -- John Entwistle, let's say -- is an appealing bedrock of toast, from which tiny bubbles meander toward the surface, where they burst like tiny sea stars."
Today Show
Ray Isle - December 13, 2007
Ray Isle, Food & Wine senior wine editor, featured Roederer Estate Brut NV as one of the wine super steals in a segment on the Today show on NBC.
MSNBC
Ray Isle - December 12, 2007
"Roederer, the French company that makes Cristal, also owns a property in California’s Anderson Valley. From it they produce this top-notch sparkling wine....[T]the Roederer team’s experience shows, and it’s a steal for the price."
Wall Street Journal
Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher - December 01, 2007
"$15 to $25. At this price range, we'd look for California bubbly: ...Roederer Estate Brut..."
Cooking Light
Karen MacNeil - December 2007
"This is one of my all-around favorites and fantastic for the price. Rich and yeasty like many French Champagnes, it's also bright and citrusy like many California wines."
Wine News
December 2007"Baked apple and toast aromas with a hint of vanilla. Very lively mouth-feel with croissant, honey and orange zest flavors. Crisp acidity reflects a tart, youthful finish."
San Francisco Chronicle, Orange County Register
Lynne Char Bennett - November 30, 2007
"Roederer is one of California's several French-owned sparkling wine producers. Jean-Claude Rouzaud, owner of Roederer's parent "house" - Louis Roederer - established his Anderson Valley vineyards in 1983. Though this is Roederer's workhorse wine, it is perfect to trot out for company. The wine's subtle nose opens with gentle mineral, brioche toast and citrus hints then moves to bigger aromas and flavors that are fresh, layered and brimming with mineral and ripe white grapefruit acidity."
Cincinnati Enquirer
Jim Knippenberg - November 21, 2007
Kevin Keith, wine buyer for Liquor Direct's Covington and Fort Thomas locations, said Roederer Estate Brut NV was one of the best wines for a dinner party. "Roederer Brut NV is probably one of the best California sparklers under $30 with an impeccable balance of fruit and effervescence."
NY1 Magazine
November 17, 2007Recommended as a starter to the Thanksgiving meal and to go with appetizers
Sacramento Bee
M.D. - November 14, 2007
"Year after year, this is the best buy in sparkling wine for its caressing fruit, taut spine and refreshing acidity."
Daily Press, Newport News, VA
Kathy Van Mullekom - November 12, 2007
"This sparkling wine comes from the same people that make Cristal, so you know the quality is exceptional!"
Star Chefs Magazine
Jim Clarke - November 2007
"At $20, the Roederer Estate Brut is a steal; the blend is dominated by Chardonnay, which brings crisp lemon, pear, and green apple notes, but judicious use of oak-aged reserve wines add in toastiness and vanilla; brioche touches from lees-aging knit everything together."
The Plain Dealer, Cleveland
Donald Rosenberg - October 31, 2007
"A fine bead rises from this straw-colored sparkling wine, which has aromas of yeast and citrus. The citrus also dominates the flavors, which have a touch of creaminess while remaining quite dry with good acidity. Drink it as a sipper or with a meal. It's ideal for celebrating any occasion..."
Press Democrat
Tasting Room - July 25, 2007
"A sparkler with toasty, bready aromas. Notes of caramel and toffee."
Wine & Spirits
April 200718th Annual Restaurant Poll:
Third most popular sparkling wine
Orange County Fair Wine Competition
2007San Francisco Chronicle
December 01, 2006"Roederer’s wines are defined by a sharpness that comes from almost no malolactic fermentation. Unlike most of the California bruts, this is heavier on the Chardonnay--60 percent to 40 percent Pinot Noir, with a small sweet, woodsy note on the nose, like candy in a cedar forest, with sweet apple and nectarine, then a yeasty note that emerges in its middle. Balanced and biting, with a gripping ending."
Wine & Spirits
December 2006“A pale, platinum gold color and clean scent of Asian pear introduce this cool, Anderson Valley sparkler. Crisp pear flavors meld with chamomile through a mineral-tinged finish, the wine’s supple texture growing richer with air. For any roast fish, consider Chatham cod served over braised fennel.”
Sunset Magazine
December 2006"Complex, creamy, and citrusy. A great all-around sparkler."
The Press Democrat
M. Jordan - December 2006
"Our Wine of the Week, Roederer Estate Anderson Valley NV Brut, has a pleasing austerity to it, as many of the finest sparklers do. By austerity, I mean a leanness, a focus and a crispness that makes me think of a bright yet cold winter day at the sea. The delicate bubbles dance in your mouth like little bursts of sea spray against your skin, leaving behind brief impressions of green fruit, apple, kiwi and, it's true, not-quite-ripe grapes. The wine is delicate and beautifully balanced. You can enjoy it with just about anything but red meats. It is especially suited to seafood such as raw oysters and clams, petrale sole and sand dabs , and to salads with arugula, citrus fruits and fresh chevre. But given that it's Dungeness crab season, I suggest pairing it with winter's shellfish. And to show both the wine and the crab to best advantage, serve the crab chilled. For today's recipe I've chosen to pair crab with a vinaigrette I 've been making for a couple of decades. It is best when made with a whole Meyer lemon but you can make it with any lemon as long as you taste the vinaigrette and balance the acid with more olive oil and more salt if needed. I can't think of a better way to welcome in 2007."
The Wall Street Journal
December 2006One of the favorites in separate blind tastings of widely available bubblies under $30.
Wine Spectator
April 2006Distinguished as one of the "Most Popular Sparkling Wines" with a 5th place ranking.
Wine, Food & Friends
Karen MacNeil - 2006
"...So as the seductive smells of the roasting turkey fill the room, I pour chilled flutes of California sparkling wine for everyone to enjoy while I'm putting the finishing touches on several dishes. I love many sparklers, but often for this dinner I'll put one of my favorites: Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut."
Wine & Spirits
P. J. C. - 2006
"It's tricky to make sparkling wine in the California heat, but it's easier if the heat's moderated by Mendocino fog. Roederer's sparklers remain among the finest in the state."
The San Francisco Chronicle
Linda Murphy - December 15, 2005
"Here's a widely available wine that's lean and racy, with a tight core of lemon, lime, Granny Smith apple and marzipan aromas and flavors, and a creamy mid-palate."
Food & Wine
October 2005"Credit the combination of crisp, cool-climate Anderson Valley grapes and the considerable wine making experience of parent company Champagne Louis Roederer, a centuries-old French Champagne house, for making this Chardonnay and Pinot Noir blend one of the most Champagne-like sparkling wines produced in California. Roederer Estate winemaker Arnaud Weyrich adds a portion of oak-aged reserve wine to give this bottling additional complexity."
New York Times
Howard G. Goldberg - February 06, 2005
"Its fine bubbles, toasty flavor and complexity have made it a leading sparkling wine since 1988. A nonvintage blend of chardonnay and pinot noir grapes grown in the Anderson Valley in cool Mendocino County, Calif., it resembles expensive champagne. Its inspiration comes from the French parent company Louis Roederer, which produces Cristal."
Wine News
January 2005"Pale straw hue with a frothy mousse. Toasty aromas of grapefruit, apricot, biscuit and white bread. Crisp flavors of citrus, apple, hay and a Sherry nuance. Lengthy close features tart lemon drop."
San Francisco Chronicle
Linda Murphy - May 2004
"Excellent and very attractive. Zesty, yet with creamy peach and citrus and nut aromas and flavors, with some dry mineral; fresh, lively and foamy; clean finish."
Wine and Spirits
December 2003"Persistent effervescence carries the floral scents of apple blossom up out of the glass. This light golden wine is firm and fresh, layering the apple flavors over a redder cherry tone. A simple sparkler with a drive; a lively aperitif."
Wine Enthusiast
S.H. - December 31, 2002
"You’d almost think you were drinking fine Champagne when you sip this intricate bubbly, which, after all, is owned by a French Champagne house. It’s dry and yeasty, with suble citrus flavors and an aftertaste of almond skin. Feels fine and elegant on the palate."
Time Magazine
2002"This is an outstanding American sparking wine, perfect for celebrating."
Brut Rosé NV
Seattle Times
Paul Gregutt - June 04, 2008
"For the wedding guests, you can ramp down your costs, while still keeping the quality pretty high. Look to Champagne-style bubbly from California ... Roederer Estate Brut Rosé."
Food & Wine
Lettie Teague - June 2008
"This sparkling-wine producer, based in Anderson Valley, is the California branch of French Champagne house Louis Roederer. This rosé is every bit as refined and well-balanced as its French counterparts."
Washington Post
Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg - February 13, 2008
"From among our three California sparkling rosé recommendations, Karen netted her pick of the week: The N.V. Roederer Estate Anderson Valley Brut Rosé Sparkling Wine...is the effort of an offshoot of Champagne's Louis Roederer, maker of famed Cristal Champagne. The nose is strawberry cheesecake: ripe, round strawberries with hints of cream cheese, vanilla and graham cracker crust. With its lush body, constant stream of tiny bubbles and long, creamy finish, this is a sparkler with impressive finesse. We found it all the more impressive that it paired so well with food, especially sauteed salmon, which perfectly echoed its color."
San Jose Mercury News
Charles E. Olken - February 13, 2008
"A Roederer Rose, whether made in France or in the winery's Anderson Valley property, is likely to be austere in style and crackling with fresh acidity."
San Francisco Chronicle
Lynne Char Bennett - February 01, 2008
"This wine - included in our 2007 Top 100 wines - continues to impress for the price. There's complexity to both nose and palate, which has toast, Meyer lemon, raspberry and touch of herb. One panelist even detected butterscotch. The focused palate has a richer texture with a touch of marmalade and orange zest flavors and a long, slightly minerally finish."
Wine Spectator
J.L. - December 31, 2007
"Crisp and festive, with appealing cherry and graham cracker aromas and lively strawberry, vanilla and spice flavors that take on richness and length on the finish."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2007
"From the pretty, pale amber color to the long, distinguished finish, this is a great rosé sparkler. To begin with, it's dry, a point in its favor, while the flavors are subtle and complex. They suggest pink grapefruits, tangerine zest, a squeeze of white peach, vanilla, and the smoke and dough of oak and lees. With its low alcohol and very low pH, it's a balanced wine of great structural integrity."
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonné - December 02, 2007
"Roederer's nonvintage Brut is very good, but its Rosé is a hidden strength. Made predominantly of Pinot Noir, with about 40 percent Chardonnay, it harnesses still Pinot for color and up to 20 percent oak-aged reserve wine for depth. The result surpasses many Rosé Champagnes: subtle herbal, raspberry and cherry scents, with slight mushroom and mineral, and a grip to the finish."
Wine News
December 2007"Light copper hue. Aromas of carved pumpkin and vanilla. Very creamy on entry with a meld of cherry and tart strawberry with great integration of citrus-laced acidity. Tangy grapefruit and cherry juice flavors in the cleansing finish."
Sunset
Sara Schneider - October 2007
"Tiny, creamy bubbles carry wild strawberry, bright cherry, and refreshing lemon-lime flavors."
Food Arts
Jeffery Lindenmuth - June 2007
Nadine Brown, of Charlie Palmer Steak, Washington, D.C., recommended the Roederer Estate Brut Rosé NV as her sparkling wine pick.
Sunset Magazine
February 20075 Indulgent Sparkling Rosés
"Practically an albino as rosés go, Roederer's mainstream version (its 1999 L'Ermitage is for slightly deeper pockets) is a fantastic value--wonderfully yeasty and minerally, with the liveliest bubbles."
San Diego International Wine Competition
2007Forbes
Nick Passmore - December 29, 2006
"The Anderson Valley, north of Sonoma, is gaining a reputation for elegant, cool climate wines, and this fresh, lively and fun fizz is a fine example. It is a gold rather than a true pink color, and it's vibrant with the flavors of freshly sliced strawberries."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - December 2006
"Floral scents of strawberries and deeper raspberry tones fill this wine with ripe fruit. Its sweetness melds into the tense acidity and fine mousse as the wine develops in the glass, elegant in a fruity, California style."
Wine & Spirits
Barbara Haimes - November 2006
"You can't go wrong with a dry sparkling rosé from the Anderson Valley. Roederer Estate Brut Rosé has five percent still pinot noir added. It is big and tilts towards smoke and cloves, making it particularly good with potstickers and Beijing spareribs."
Wine News
January 2006"Champagne-like aromas of baked apple, lemon curd and dough are beautifully integrated. Very refreshing flavors of raspberry, apple, minerals and flint are bracing without being painfully so. Clean minerally close."
Cooking Light
Karen MacNeil - January 2006
"The luxurious pink-tinged color of this sumptuous sparkler exudes Valentine flair, but its aromas and flavors are the real gift: crème brulée, custard, whipped cream, and toasted brioche come through with each sip."
Wine Enthusiast
J.M. - December 01, 2003
"Top 100 wine of 2003. A richly textured, plush bubbly that serves up mounds of toast, cherry, peach, pear and floral flavors. With just enough tangy acidity to balance its body, the wine finishes long and fresh."
2000 L'Ermitage
Sunset
Sara Schneider - May 2008
"For Celebrating: Soft peach, zesty lime and elegant bubbles."
Wine Enthusiast
Steve Heimoff - December 31, 2007
"Always one of the top sparklers in California, L'Ermitage defines the rigorous selection that marks the best vintage-dated, ageworthy wines. The 2000 is...very rich and flavorful in yeast, smoke, strawberry, citrus and vanilla flavors, but it's also a very young wine, tight and minerally. It wants bottle age."
San Francisco Chronicle
December 28, 2007"Roederer's vintage-dated reserve remains, consistently, the most impressive sparkling wine in America. This latest, with 53 percent Chardonnay and 47 percent Pinot Noir, opens with a musky snap and aggressively yeasty nose. Subtle berry and forest notes are followed by explosive flavors of dough, citrus and a whole spectrum of red fruit, plus brandy and pie crust. It's all kept in harmony by sharp acidity, which makes for a mouthwatering finish."
Wine Review Online
Linda Murphy - December 11, 2007
"The Roederer has a nutty, spicy nose with a gentle yeastiness and a palate that explodes with energetic citrus and red-berry fruit. It's long and rewarding."
Wall Street Journal
Dorothy J. Gaiter and John Brecher - December 01, 2007
"$30 to $60. At this price, you can try some of the high-end domestic bubblies...Look for ...Roederer Estate L'Ermitage."
Epicurious.com
Nick Passmore - December 2007
"Widely considered to be the best American sparkler (from California), and with good reason, this one has a big, satisfying mouthfeel along with notes of hazelnuts and hot buttered toast, followed by a long, lingering tart finish."
Wine News
Jeff Cox - December 2007
"This cool-climate tête de cuvée...was aged for six years on the yeast, which imbued the wine with a lush roundness and long, creamy finish. Aromas of apple and peach underpinned by a bread crust note. Baked apple flavors flattered by subtle hints of toasted notes. A simply outstanding California sparkler."
San Francisco Chronicle
Lynne Char Bennett - November 30, 2007
"The first vintage of Roederer L'Ermitage was released in 1993 - this is another great wine from a consistently stellar producer. The 2000 vintage has a multitude of explosive flavors: bread dough, ripe lemon, fresh apple and stone fruit, which follow enticing yeasty musk, mineral, berry and forest-like aromas. A harmonious finish of the ripe, rich palate lingers with echoed flavors and minerally acidity."
Wine & Spirits
Joshua Greene - June 2007
"An elegant vintage of L'Ermitage, it has taken some time for this 2000 to evolve. But it was worth the wait: Its austere flavors of peach and nectarine meld with incipient minerality to create depth and complexity without reliance on superripe fruit. Long lees aging has given it a creamy softness to balance that complexity. Cellar this for another year or two; it will only get better."
Quarterly Review of Wines
QRW Tasting Staff - June 2007
"Outstanding: Wines of such remarkable character and quality as to be in a class by themselves." "Big, rich, nutty, bread dough, pear and almond flavors; deep, long, steely finish."
Quarterly Review of Wines
QRW Tasting Staff - March 2007
"Outstanding: Wines of such remarkable character and quality as to be in a class by themselves
Big, rich, nutty, bread dough, pear and almond flavors; deep, long, steely finish."
Wine Literary Award
2007Los Angeles International Wine & Spirits Competition
2007Orange County Fair Wine Competition
2007Sunset Magazine
S.N. - December 2006
"Luscious, rich, complex, opulent. It's pricey but worth it."
1999 L'Ermitage
Press Democrat
Tasting Room - July 25, 2007
"A rich bubbly, yeasty, toasty and nutty. This sparkler has a great mouth-feel and a lively mousse. Medium-bodied."
Quarterly Review of Wines
March 2007"Outstanding: Wines of such remarkable character and quality as to be in a class by themselves
Big, rich, ripe, brioche and pear flavors buoyed by excellent acidity; long, authoritative finish."
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
January 2007San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonne - December 08, 2006
"Roederer's top-level American wine, with 55 percent Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Noir, more than holds its own with its French cousins. Scents of gray flint dominate amid the dough and yeasty fruit. Its has sharp oxidative notes (the dosage wine was aged 9 years in oak casks) and it's vibrantly, almost alarmingly, tangy. The sharpness lingers, with a compelling mix of red fruit, mushrooms and sherry."
USA Today
Jerry Shriver - December 01, 2006
Wine News
January 2006"Mature, lively aromas of citrus and red apple with a pleasing oxidized note. Creamy texture and softer acidity than many of its California brethren frame flavors of baked apple and flint."
The San Francisco Chronicle
Linda Murphy - December 15, 2005
"From its tiny bubbles to its creamy mousse to a finish that goes on forever, this is a tremendous wine, rich and full, yet with the finesse and complexity of Champagne. Aromas of brioche, hazelnut and marzipan lead to a citrus, tropical fruit and nectarine palate."
Wine Enthusiast
S.H. - December 2005
"Extraordinarily fine for its smoothness and finesse, and the way the wine glides over the plate with a yeasty creaminess that turns smoky and spicy on the finish. The dosage stands out, yet this bubbly is also very acidic now. It should age well for at least 10 years."
Quarterly Review of Wines
June 20051998 L'Ermitage
Wine News
January 2005"Light gold hues with lnies of pinpoint bubbles and an ample mousse. Very perfumed scents of apple, blossom and an exotic ylang-ylang nuance. Rich flavors of citrus peel, beer, straw, toast and a gunpowder note. Crisp, beery finish."
Wine Enthusiast
S.H. - December 31, 2004
"Among the top sparklers in California, the wine this year is even more smooth and polished. It’s positively French in its classic structure and elegance. Feels ultra-refined in the mouth, with subtle flavors of dough, smoke and fruit."
Wine Spectator
N.F. - September 11, 2003
"A very classy effort, with a sleek core of ripe, spicy ginger and pear-scented flavors, turning into smooth and elegant, with hints of hazelnut and citrus carrying a long refreshing aftertaste. Drink now through 2007."
1999 L'Ermitage Rosé
San Francisco Chronicle
Jon Bonne - December 08, 2006
"Floral hints, with fresh strawberry and caramel. A hint of sweetness in the mix, but it's lively, with precision and a fruity ending."
Wine Enthusiast
August 2005"The first ever blush vintage bubbly from this winery, this could be the greatest brut rosé ever made in California. With 46% Pinot Noir, the wine is full-bodied and rich in vanilla-tinged strawberry flavors, with yeasty, pastry-dough finish. High acidity. Toast with this beauty now or in 10 years; it has a long life ahead."
San Francisco Chronicle
February 10, 2005"Medium amber-copper color; soft bead. Tutti-frutti, tropical fruit, red apple and caramel nose; flavors of ruby red grapefruit, tangerine, vanilla, mango and pineapple; round body."
Winery
San Francisco Chronicle
Stacy Finz - December 07, 2007
"Although Roederer Estate's nonvintage sparkling wine has long been regarded as one of the best in the country, in the last few years, when Weyrich took over, the bubbly has become even more impressive in its balance and finesse."
Wine & Spirits
November 2007Fish Friendly Farming Environmental Certification and California Sportfishing Protection Alliance
August 2007Excellence in Water Quality Improvement and Protection
California State Assembly
August 2007Recognizing Dedication to Environmental Stewardship and Improvement
Arthur Fromner's Budget Travel
Jaime Gross - April 2007
Johnny Schmitt, owner and chef at the Boonville Hotel in Anderson Valley, recommended visiting Roederer Estate.
San Francisco Chronicle Wine Competition
February 2007The New York Times
Eric Asimov - December 20, 2006
“The first barrage in the invasion of California by French Champagne producers also took place in the 1970s, and eventually included such famous names as Moët & Chandon, Piper-Heidsieck, Mumm, Deutz and Roederer. Despite all their expertise, only Roederer Estate, in the Anderson Valley, has consistently produced great sparkling wines.”
Ed McCarthy - December 2006
"Recommended - fine California sparkling wine producer."