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Best inexpensive bubbly
- Good value
- Wide availability
- Comparable to more expensive wines
- Non-vintage
- Not a true Champagne
The domestic Roederer Estate Brut NV from the Anderson Valley of California offers good value for a sparkling wine, reviewers say. This bubbly is not a true Champagne, because it is not grown and bottled in the Champagne region of France. It is, however, bottled in the tradition of the acclaimed French Champagne-maker Louis Roederer, and the Estate Brut NV is the maker's first foray into U.S. winemaking. Along with its centuries-old tradition, this brut offers quality that outstrips much of the competition at this price, according to reviewers. It is a nonvintage wine, meaning the maker combines grapes from different years to ensure consistent quality. While some connoisseurs look down on nonvintage wines, it is an effective way to ensure consistency, for which Roederer Estate is praised.
We found three blind taste tests for this wine with an average score of about 90 out of 100. These reviews come from Wine Spectator, Wine & Spirits and Connoisseurs' Guide. Each publication uses its own testing methods, from relying on expert editors for each type to large panels. All the reviews note the complexity of the wine's tasting notes, including aromas of apple and a creamy feel. The Wine & Spirits review, as well as user-generated reviews from Wine.com, remark on this wine's exceptional value and consistency. Epicurious.com and the blog Hello Vino also comment on its affordability, though they do not contribute additional criticism. Roederer Estate Brut NV is a 60 percent Chardonnay and 40 percent Pinot Noir grape blend aged at least 2 years.
Our Sources
1. Wine Spectator
Wine Spectator awards the Roederer Estate Brut NV an 89 on a 100-point scale (down from previous years). While this site (and most other wine reviews) keeps details of their reviews under wraps, the Roederer Estate links to a PDF of the full paste-up. Wine Spectator refers to the tasting notes as: "Rich and youthful, with delicate aromas of green apple and lime that lead to full flavors of baked pear and toasty anise." According to its website, Wine Spectator reviews wines in blind taste tests. The editors have final say in each wine's score, but they may be assisted by additional experts.
Review: Roederer Estate Brut NV, Tim Fish, Nov. 30, 2011
2. Wine & Spirits
Like other tasting magazines, Wine & Spirits hides its full analysis behind a paywall. However, the score and some of the analysis are available from Wine.com and through the Roederer Estate's website. Wine & Spirits' reviewer Joshua Greene gives Roederer Estate Brut NV a 91 and notes, "A festive aperitif, this delivers far beyond its price." Wine & Spirits conducts blind taste tests with a large panel of reviewers. A score of 91 denotes a wine that is an exceptional example of its type and very highly recommended.
Review: Roederer Estate Brut NV, Dec. 2011
3. Connoisseurs' Guide
Connoisseurs' Guide reviewers note that the Roederer Estate Brut NV is their first pick among nonvintage bruts and give it a score of 91. "It is impeccably balanced, quite creamy in feel and is enlivened by an endless stream of tiny, pinpoint bubbles," they note. Reviewers also praise this wine's availability. Connoisseurs' Guide explains that it reviews all wines in blind tests and purchases the wines to prevent any influence from winemakers.
Review: Roederer Estate Brut NV, Editors of Connoisseurs' Guide
4. Gayot
Gayot.com awards Roederer Estate Brut NV 13.5 out of 20 points, making it a good wine, by their standards. Gayot.com also names the wine one of the 10 best American bubblies in this annual update of the list. Editors mention its pear and spice flavors, though they do not detail how it was selected. The wine is listed among far more expensive options, and Gayot.com states that it does not consider price in its ratings.
Review: Top 10 American Sparkling Wines, Gayot.com editors, Nov. 29, 2011
5. Hello Vino
The blog Hello Vino offers a selection of inexpensive sparkling wines that cost less than a 30-pack of beer. While other wines selected are compared to specific types of beer, Roederer Estate Brut NV is selected as the general crowd pleaser that suits most tastes. A majority of the review is based on other tasters' ratings (and includes scores from several trade publications), though the blog does note that Roederer Estate is "known for its body, finesse and depth of flavor."
Review: Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget, June 24, 2011
Although it has inexpensive sparkling wine selections from around the world, Roederer Estate does not make the top five list. It is however included in a list of "others to consider" at the end of the article. The authors don't offer additional details on the wines not selected for the top five.
Review: Top 5 Affordable Sparkling Wines, Linda Murphy and James Oliver Cury
Roederer Estate's website offers details about the wine's history, tasting notes, and technical specifications. It is described as "elegant with complex pear, spice and hazelnut flavors," and it is the first California wine made by Louis Roederer in the winemaker's French Champagne tradition. It is a 60 percent Chardonnay and 40 percent Pinot Noir grape blend, aged at least 2 years.
Review: Brut NV, Editors of RoedererEstate.com