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The House Louis Roederer is one of the names that comes up when we talk about the great houses of Champagne, being still one of the Rares to remain family owned for more than two centuries now.
Reigning over a vineyard of 240 hectares classified on sumptuous terroirs in Premiers Crus and Grands Crus, the House Louis Roederer has never ceased to offer generous Champagnes that embellish all occasions.
It was in 1833 that Louis Roederer inherited his uncle's house: the house of Champagne Dubois Père et Fils in Reims, which he had founded in 1776. From then on, he chose to take the habits and customs of the region in hand and showed great concern for controlling all the stages of production of his Champagne. At the time, marketing was the business of the wine merchants, while the vineyard belonged entirely to the winegrowers. Thus, in 1845, Louis Roederer bought about fifteen hectares of vineyards classified as Grand Cru and acquired the status of winemaker-negociant in order to reconcile the two trades.
In 1876, Louis Roederer II, who succeeded his father following his death in 1870, created at the request of Tsar Alexander II a special vintage for the exclusive consumption of the Tsars of... See more ...
Roederer's Champagne Cristal 2016 is an exceptional example of balance and complexity, born of a year with a particularly contrasting climate. After a cool, wet spring, the scorching summer of Sec gave the grapes optimum ripeness, particularly for the Pinot Noir. These conditions favored the intense fruit character and silky texture characteristic of vintages marked by high temperatures. The Chardonnays, meanwhile, retained a classic freshness, bringing a chiseled, saline dimension to the blend.
Cristal 2016 is composed of 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay, a blend that reflects the perfect fusion of solar and mineral characteristics. The main origins of the grapes are located in prestigious crus such as Verzenay, Verzy, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Ay for the Pinots noirs, and Avize, Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cramant for the Chardonnays. The grapes come from 32 specific plots, cultivated on chalk soils, which give this exceptional Champagne its distinctive structure and salinity.
A particular feature of this vintage is the use of 31% of the wine in oak barrels, a method that brings depth and aromatic complexity. Malolactic fermentation was deliberately omitted, thus preserving the tension and freshness of the wines, essential elements in the elegance of this Cristal.
To the eye, Cristal 2016 has a bright, brilliant yellow color, with a fine, slow and persistent effervescence, a guarantee of quality. The bouquet is of great intensity and precision, with aromas of acacia, ripe yellow fruit (peach, mirabelle) and roasted citrus (lemon), to which are added iodized, powdery and slightly roasted touches, testifying to the autolysis of the yeasts during aging on laths. On the palate, the texture is soft and caressing, with an immediate sensation of accessibility, accentuated by the concentration of ripe, juicy fruit, typical of 2016 Pinot Noirs. The effervescence is perfectly integrated, almost saline, and supported by mineral notes typical of great late-harvest Chardonnays. The finish is long, chalky and crystalline, with a purity that evokes grace and sophistication.
This Cristal 2016 comes close to the House's great vintages such as 2002, 2008 and 2012, but is distinguished by greater concentration and precision, as well as even greater length and purity. This wine embodies the perfect balance between the solar warmth of Pinots Noirs and the minerality of Chardonnays, offering a refined, salivating and infinitely pure tasting experience.
Dosage: 7 g/l
Harvest: September 15 to October 1, 2016
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