Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal 2004 Vintage

Wine information: Established in 1776, Champagne Louis Roederer is one of the few remaining completely independent, family owned Champagne houses. By 1886 the House had achieved such a reputation for quality that the second Louis Roederer was asked by Tsar Alexander II to create Cristal for the exclusive use of the Russian Tsars, and in so doing created the first Cuvée de Prestige. Roederer owns just over 200 hectares of vineyards located in the finest areas of Champagne - Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs. Each vineyard is situated in the finest sites, with the plots ranking between 95% and 100% on the Echelle des Crus. This makes Roederer self sufficient for 100% of its vintage styles, and provides two-thirds of its production for Brut Premier. Such a high proportion of ‘estate’ grapes is very unusual in Champagne, and ensures superior quality at all stages from grape to glass. Cristal is wine made exclusively from grapes grown in Louis Roederer's Grand Crus vineyards. The Pinot Noir comes from the villages of Verzenay, Verzy, Aÿ and Mareuil-sur-Aÿ; and the Chardonnay from Mesnil-sur-Oger, Avize, Cramant and Oger. The oldest vineyards with the deepest root-system are selected to make Cristal; they produce lower yields, more concentration and aromatic wines with high maturity and high acidity. Twenty percent of the wines are matured in oak casks with weekly batonnage. There is no malolactic fermentation. The wines undergo an average of five years maturation in cellars and rest eight months on the cork after disgorgement to perfect its maturity. Dosage of between 8 and 10 g/l is adapted to each vintage.

Tasting Notes: "Brilliant yellow color displaying light amber nuances, combined with an ultra-fine, persistent, soft effervescence. There’s an intense, highly expressive bouquet on the first nose! The aromatic elegance and precision of Chardonnay is apparent: white fruit, sweet pollen, fine citrus fruit and very pure minerality. After a few minutes, the aromas move on to more confit, lightly grilled hints. The bouquet is rich and sweet, almost generous, remaining precise and impeccably refined. The bite in the mouth is full and creamy, revealing an incredible concentration of juicy fruits: yellow peach, apricot, mango and others. This silky, meaty concentration, which is both dense and soft – and typical of great pinot noirs – is immediately combined with a sophisticated touch of acidity, bringing the wine alive with minerality. The overriding impression is one of a true harmony of flavors, senses and silky textures...Absolute sensuality." – Jean Baptiste Lécaillon, Cellar Master.

Reviews: "My visit to these historic cellars earlier in the year was an eye-opening experience. I spent several hours with Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon tasting through a wide range of 2009s vins claires. Readers may want to take a look at my feature on www.erobertparker.com for more on those wines. The visit was capped off by previews of the 2004 Cristal and the as-yet-unreleased Cristal Rose. Both were superb. Over the last six months the 2004 Cristal has come together beautifully and is shaping up to be a truly great, monumental Champagne. From top to bottom, this is an impressive set of wines. My only real criticism of Roederer is the estate's insistence on using lot numbers that resemble missile launch codes in their complexity. Surely something simpler must be possible." 97 Points , Antonio Galloni, Wine Advocate (192), December 2010.

 
     

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