Today, Cristal Champagne remains Louis Roederer's finest cuvée. It's a Champagne made from the very best Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes. This cuvée uses Chardonnay bunches from seven Grand Cru vineyards. The vineyards are located in the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne, and the Côte des Blancs. These are where Louis Roederer's oldest and finest parcels are located. Since 1876, these vineyards have nurtured this rich Champagne, which is produced only in the very best vintages. The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay bunches grow on very old vines, which yield little. However, the bunches that can be harvested by hand are of outstanding quality.
Once the harvest is brought in, a portion is fermented in oak barrels. Approximately thirty-two percent is aged in oak barrels, creating a unique potency. After the blend for this Louis Roederer Cristal is determined, the bottle is cellared. This bottle aging period lasts at least seven years, which is exceptionally long for a Champagne. Each Vintage is a unique blend of the very best Louis Roederer has to offer. Unfortunately, due to the low yields from the vineyards, this Champagne is very exclusive and not always available.
This vintage was one of the most challenging and powerful vintages of the past twenty years. It is therefore considered an exceptional year with great depth and ageing potential. This is evident upon opening the Champagne cork, as this Louis Roederer Cristal already reveals hints of spicy and candied fruit (lemon) mixed with white flower pollen. In the glass, it erupts golden yellow and displays soft, refined bubbles. Nosing the glass, we detect hints of roasted hazelnut and Madagascan vanilla. After aeration, the bouquet develops into rich notes of fresh pastry and smoky hints of bottle aging. A delicious, concentrated, and chalky palate. It displays incredible tension and perfectly honed aromatic precision. The attack is powerful, distinctive, and concentrated, revealing a silky, mouth-coating texture, characteristic of the ripe Pinot Noirs from this vintage.
