Louis Roederer 2012 Brut Nature Champagne 1.5L Magnum "Louis Roederer & Philippe Starck"

Louis Roederer 2012 Brut Nature Champagne “Louis Roederer & Philippe Starck” 1.5L Magnum is a strikingly pure, terroir-driven Champagne that embodies the philosophy of minimal intervention and maximum expression. Produced without dosage and crafted in collaboration with legendary designer Philippe Starck, the wine is precise, mineral-driven, and intensely expressive. In the magnum format, it gains even greater depth and aging potential, delivering a Champagne that is both intellectually fascinating and sensually elegant.

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Origins & Craftsmanship
This cuvée represents a unique collaboration between Champagne Louis Roederer and renowned French designer Philippe Starck, who worked directly with cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon to create a Champagne that expresses the essence of the Roederer vineyards with absolute purity. The partnership began with the 2006 vintage and continued through the 2009 and 2012 releases.

The 2012 Brut Nature is a non-dosé Champagne, meaning no sugar is added after disgorgement. This approach emphasizes the raw expression of the grapes and terroir. The wine is produced primarily from estate vineyards around Cumières, where clay-rich soils help maintain balance even in warm vintages.

The blend consists of approximately:

• 55% Pinot Noir

• 25% Pinot Meunier

• 20% Chardonnay

The wine spends around six years aging on the lees, developing complexity, nutty depth, and a refined mousse before disgorgement.

The 1.5L magnum format is particularly prized by collectors because the larger bottle allows the Champagne to mature more slowly and evenly, enhancing both texture and longevity.

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Critics Reviews

The 2012 vintage has been widely praised by professional critics:

• Wine Enthusiast – 94 Points
  Wine Enthusiast notes that six years on the lees has created a Champagne with softened dryness and developing nutty complexity.

• Vinous – 94 Points
  Vinous describes the wine as “rich, powerful and incredibly expressive,” highlighting dried flowers, chamomile, pear and mint notes with remarkable balance.

• Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate – 93 Points
  Wine Advocate praises aromas of lemon oil, green apple, toast and hazelnut with concentrated fruit and a saline mineral finish.

• Jeb Dunnuck – 93 Points
  Dunnuck highlights its bright acidity, chalky minerality and balanced structure capable of aging 10–15 years.

• Wine Spectator – 92 Points
  Wine Spectator describes a finely knit Champagne with pear, white cherry and honeycomb flavors wrapped in a creamy mousse and mineral finish.

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Tasting Profile

Nose:
Complex and aromatic with lemon oil, green apple, white flowers, hazelnut, and crushed chalk, layered with hints of toasted brioche and subtle herbal notes.

Palate:
Rich yet focused, revealing pear, white cherry, citrus zest, grilled nuts, and honeycomb, supported by vibrant acidity and a finely textured mousse.

Finish:
Long, mineral, and saline with lingering citrus, chalk, and delicate nuttiness, delivering precision and remarkable persistence.

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Quick Overview

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Cocktail Recipes

This Champagne is best enjoyed on its own, but it can elevate refined sparkling cocktails.

Brut Nature Royale

• 3 oz Louis Roederer Brut Nature

• ½ oz elderflower liqueur

• Lemon twist

Build gently in a flute and garnish with lemon peel.

Champagne Aperitif

• 4 oz Louis Roederer Brut Nature

• ½ oz dry vermouth

Serve chilled in a coupe for a delicate aperitif.

"Six years on the lees before disgorgement has produced a Champagne that is just approaching perfect maturity. It is dry but that dryness has now softened with the developing nuttiness. This wine, developed as a collaboration with designer Philippe Starck, is now ready to drink. " Wine Enthusiast 94 Points

"The 2012 Brut Nature is showing beautifully, bursting from the glass with an expressive bouquet of lemon oil, crisp green apple, wheat toast, hazelnuts and wet stones. On the palate, it's full-bodied, ample and fleshy, with its generous core of concentrated and delicately sun-kissed fruit girdled by brisk acids and undeniable mineral grip and complemented by a delicate pinpoint mousse. Concluding with a saline finish, this lovely wine is a blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay, reflecting its origins in Cumières." Robert Parker 93 Points

"First made in 2006, the 2012 Starck Brut Nature offers a ripe, sexy bouquet of green apples, green almonds, white flowers, and chalky minerality. It has bright acidity, medium to full body, terrific balance, and a clean, lengthy finish. A blend of 55% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier, and the rest Chardonnay, it’s going to evolve gracefully for 10-15 years." Jeb Dunnuck 93 Points

"This finely knit Champagne crackles with mouthwatering acidity, while the satiny mousse swathes the palate, carrying flavors of crunchy pear, rich grilled nut, white cherry and a touch of honeycomb. Long and creamy on the minerally, saline-laced finish." Wine Spectator 92 Points