Each week, I highlight a wine that truly captivates me—whether for its distinct character, fascinating story, or sheer pleasure in the glass. This week, the 2012 Roederer Estate L’Ermitage Brut Rosé takes the spotlight.

This wine delivers the unique experience of drinking mature sparkling wine, where time has added complexity, revealing savory notes, a softer mousse, and integrated acidity. It’s a sophisticated journey beyond initial sparkle, inviting deep appreciation.

About Roederer Estate

Founded in 1982, Roederer Estate is the only Champagne house to establish its California outpost in Anderson Valley, setting itself apart from others that favor Napa or Sonoma. The valley’s coastal influence offers warm days and cool nights, enabling grapes to ripen slowly, fully expressing the estate’s terroir. Roederer Estate combines this unique terroir with its French heritage, drawing on centuries-old traditions to produce wines that reflect both Anderson Valley’s character and Roederer’s legacy of excellence.

One of the few California sparkling houses to source solely estate-grown fruit, Roederer Estate brings meticulous attention to its farming and winemaking. The process begins with an intimate understanding of the estate’s soils, and extends to organic and biodynamic vineyard practices. With detailed tracking of grape maturity, Roederer ensures a perfect balance at harvest—an approach that emphasizes quality and sustainability in every aspect of production.

L’Ermitage Legacy

L’Ermitage, Roederer Estate’s exceptional tête de cuvée, is crafted only in standout years from pre-selected, estate-grown grapes. Upholding the tradition of Champagne Louis Roederer, this sparkling wine is made in the méthode traditionnelle, with oak-aged reserve wines added to each blend for depth and character. Since its debut with the 1989 vintage, L’Ermitage has been a perennial standout among California sparkling wines, consistently ranked among the best for its elegance, complexity, and faithful expression of Champagne-style finesse.

2012 Roederer Estate L’Ermitage Brut Rosé

The rosé owes its color to a touch of Pinot Noir, added through a careful Burgundian maceration process that deepens its complexity. Following disgorgement, it ages on the cork for extra depth, offering a finely layered sparkling rosé with unique depth.The reserve wine for the L’Ermitage Rosé 2012’s dosage aged five years in French oak casks, lending complexity. After disgorgement, the wine rested an additional five months on the cork

Tasting Note:

Pale salmon color with strawberry turnover, strawberry, raspberry, Key lime zest, ginger, petrichor, spice and a hint of floral aromas. On the palate, it’s medium-bodied and very energetic with a delicate creamy mousse and fine bubbles. It shows strawberry, raspberry, Key lime zest, ginger and subtle spice flavors with a very appealing minerality with a long savory and satisfying finish. Blend of 50.3% Chardonnay, 49.7% Pinot Noir – 3.9% aged reserve wine, vintage 2007. 12.5% abv|92pts

This elegant and layered sparkling rosé offers an experience not just in taste but in history—a glass of California bubbles that beautifully captures the spirit of Roederer Estate.

We savored it with friends during a cozy “Come Over October” dinner, the perfect occasion to embrace the season. In those warm autumn moments, each sip and bite became a celebration of love and life, transforming the evening into a tapestry woven with laughter, thoughtful conversation, delightful flavors, and the joy of togetherness.