The clarity of chalk and white almond is striking. Gentle perfume with some light cherry fruits, peach, grapefruit and lemon citrus. The palate has a piercing burst of lemon and grapefruit flavor on the front and builds into gently biscuity and more savory flavors through the middle. Holds on to bright zesty acidity into the finish. Smooth, resolved and balanced. Really detailed. Drink now to 2020+.

This is the second release of the collaboration between Roederer and Philippe Starck, a blend of pinot noir, pinot meunier and chardonnay grown in the deep clay soils of Cumières, harvested and fermented together. It’s a wine that requires a sunny vintage, as it’s captured without malolactic and without dosage. And it’s not a wine for the timid; one of our tasters described it as “sadistic,” while others were captivated by its energy, by the details embedded but not yet shared, by the naked, spherical intensity of the wine. The flavors stick to the lips, extending their lasting complexity. Give this time to rest in your cellar before opening, and perhaps decanting, a bottle.