Louis Roederer Starck Brut Nature 2012 (750ML)

94 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous: "The 2012 Brut Nature is rich, powerful and incredibly expressive. It is also the most complete Brut Nature Roederer has made, as it has less of the austerity of previous releases and more creaminess. Powerful and yet gracious, the 2012 has so much to offer. Dried flowers, chamomile, dried pear and mint are all laced throughout this sublime, wonderfully nuanced Champagne. The Brut Nature is a field bend of 50% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier taken from three parcels in Cumières and vinified together." 12/19

93 Points, John Gilman, View From the Cellar: "This is now the third release of the Brut Nature Millésime from Louis Roederer, following the 2006 and 2009 vintages. As I have noted in the past, it is only produced in riper vintages, so as to ensure that there is good, ripe acids to work with, as there is no buffering dosage in the wine. The cépages of the 2012 is a bit different than the previous two releases (which were essentially one-third each of the three varieties), with the blend composed of fiftyfive percent pinot noir, twenty five percent pinot meunier and twenty percent chardonnay this year, and has been the case in the past, the vins clairs do not undergo malolactic fermentation. The 2012 offers up a fine, young nose of pear, apple, lemon zest, chalky minerality and a lovely topnote of spring flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, complex and racy in personality, with a fine core, lovely mineral drive, refined mousse and a long, beautifully balanced and extremely promising finish. For Brut Nature purists, this is already drinking very well, but for those of us weaned on a bit of dosage, I would give it two or three more years in the cellar to really let it open up from behind its girdle of acidity and drink with a touch more generosity. It will be a very long lived Brut Nature vintage from Louis Roederer. 2022-2050." 12/19 Issue #84

93 Points, Jeb Dunnuck, JebDunnuck.com: "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." 07/20