£276.00 / bottle
5 in stock
| Origin | Champagne, France |
|---|---|
| Main Grapes | Pinot Noir |
| Other Grapes | Chardonnay |
| Vintages | 2014 |
| Bottle Sizes | 75cl |
| Organic Status | Biodynamic, Vegetarian |
Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal is Roederer’s flagship, luxury cuvée Champagne.
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. Each bottle of Cristal has a flat bottom and clear glass because the Tsar was worried about someone placing explosives in the punt or of being poisoned by his enemies. In this way it was easier to see if the bottle had been tampered with n any way. The iconic yellow cellophone wrapper was added later to protect the wine from sunlight.
Champagne Louis 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 Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal; they produce lower yields, more concentration and aromatic wines with high maturity and high acidity. A percentage 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.
Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal 2014 is the third vintage of Cristal to be 100% biodynamic. It is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. No malolactic fermentation is carried out and 32% of the wines are vinified in oak. Residual sugar of 7 g/L.
Cristal is suitable for vegetarians.
Intense, bright and luminous golden hue.
Dynamic effervescence with a continuous stream of fine bubbles.
Intense, fragrant bouquet of great purity. Concentrated and candied citrus fruit mingle delicately with notes of grain and lightly roasted almonds. The lovely sensation of big ripe fruit is balanced and lifted by energetic fresh tangy overtones.
Fruity palate with a silky texture, complemented by soft bubbles that are perfectly integrated and deliciously elegant. The purity and perfection of the ripe yellow fruit melt into the intense chalky freshness, typical of Cristal, that is both powdery and saline.
Dense, juicy, concentrated and long on the mid-palate, thanks to the spicy and sappy structure resulting from partial ageing in large oak vats (foudres)
The finish builds to a crescendo, revealing a rich grainy and velvety texture that is wrapped in a long, saline and superbly elegant finish.
Gentle, tactile and full-bodied on the palate. The bubbles create a gentle, vibrating sensation, then the wine becomes soft, dense and juicy. But it is the chalky freshness that quickly sets the tone: the sweetness becomes energetic and intense, giving the wine an elegant yet powerful texture. Fine, textured tannins reveal a poised and vinous dimension to the wine. The finish is savoury and saline.
Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal 2013 is a great classic in which maturity and freshness are harmoniously interwoven ensuring potential for long ageing.
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