Highlights: Roederer + Starck brut nature Champagnes

This is the third vintage of the collaboration between designer Philippe Starck and the Champagne house Roederer. There are a pair of wines, from Roederer’s 10 hectares of biodynamically farmed vines in Cumières.

Louis Roederer et Philippe Starck Brut Nature 2012 Champagne, France 
12% alcohol. 55% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay, from the Coteaux de Cumières. Very fine on the nose with some toasty, bready richness. The palate has brightness and freshness, with some creamy, toasty notes as well as keen lemony notes, as well as some apricot and cherry. Very refined and expressive, with amazing autolytic depth: lots of bread and toast integrating with the fruit. High apparent acidity works well to add freshness. 94/100 (£80 Waitrose)

Louis Roederer et Philippe Starck Brut Nature Rosé 2012 Champagne, France 
12% alcohol. 55% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay, from Cumières. The pink colour comes from a few days cold soak of a portion of the Pinot Noir. This is fine and expressive with some cherry and herb notes as well as a citrus core. Lovely acidity unencumbered by dosage, with a fine structure and refined red cherry and herb notes, as well as a bit of green apple. Grippy and dry on the finish. 92/100 (£80 Waitrose)

Find these wines with wine-searcher.com