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News
vinousmedia.com - Antonio Galloni - May 20, 2015
98+ Points "Still a baby, the 2004 Cristal Rosé has begun to put on considerable weight over the last few years, which only serves to balance the focus and tension that have always been present. Even at eleven years of age, the 2004 Cristal Rosé remains tightly wound and a touch austere at times. Hints of orange peel, white pepper and cranberry add an exotic flair on the deeply expressive finish. Readers who can find the 2004 should not hesitate, as it is simply stunning by any measure."
Wine & Spirits - Joshua Greene - October 01, 2014
98 Points BEST WINES OF THE YEAR "Few of the noble wines of the world have the effortless grace of Cristal Rose. The pinot noir for the blend, planted in the 1960s, grows in the center of the slope in Aӱ. Its flavor are more focused on the soil than fruit, as if the vines are bent on extracting the scent of fossilized seashells from the limestone their root explore, Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon blends the pinot noir with 40 percent chardonnay from Avize, creating a wine with flavor that reach the horizon line, and ethereal fragrance that last for minutes after each taste, bright, weightless, elusive and grand."
Wine Description
The Story
Cristal Rosé was first born a hundred years after the original Cristal, in 1974. It is an intriguing and particular prestige cuvée rosé, as it has the palest colour, yet a contrastingly fleshy, fruity, well-built palate of amazing freshness. Its secret is in the 60 per cent Pinot Noir from two hectares of Roederer’s own old-vine vineyards in Aÿ, Bonotte-Pierre-Robert and La Côte du Moulin, which are now cultivated according to biodynamic principles. It is these ripe, concentrated grapes that give the wine its delicate hue via the saignée, or bleeding method. Then 30 per cent of Côte des Blancs Grand Cru Chardonnay from Le Mesnil sur Oger and Avize is added to give spine and elegance.
Wine Information
Cristal 2004 Rosé / A classic, generous year, yielding both quantity and quality. 2004 followed the same climatic trends as 2002 : cool, moderate temperatures throughout the season, a considerably reduced, and rainfall (by about 30%) during the growing cycle, which, despite a particularly cold and rainy month of August, was fortunately followed by a dry and sunny September, ripening the grapes off impressively. The Louis Roederer vineyard team worked intensively in this period, and by the
20th September the grapes had attained a “vintage” balance, combining maturity and freshness.
PRODUCTION:
In 1974, nearly 200 years after the creation of the Maison Louis Roederer and 100 years after the creation of Cristal, Jean-Claude Rouzaud decided to create Cristal Rosé. To do this end, he selected old vine Pinot Noir grapes, according to specific characteristics, located on the finest of the Aÿ vineyards. Exceptionally, these vines lie on a limestone block with clay and limestone soil
and, in the best years, the vines achieve extraordinarily mature fruit with a crystalline purity of acidity corresponding perfectly to the Cristal style. Today these vines are organically grown.
STYLE:
Cristal Rosé 2004 is precise, racy and balanced.
ELABORATION:
60% Pinot noir - 40% Chardonnay – 20% of the wines vinified in oak barrels with weekly
batonnage. No malolactic fermentation. To create Rosé champagnes, Louis Roederer still uses the saignée method after cold maceration that can last 5 to 8 days in the liquid phase. Cristal Rosé is matured 6 years in the cellar and rests for 8 months after disgorgement to perfect its maturity.
Dosage of between 8 and 10 g/l is adapted to each vintage.
Vintage 2004
A great example of how large yields do not necessarily mean poor quality in Champagne. As a reaction to the previous year's low yields, the vines produced one of the largest crops on record. The growing season proceeded without major difficulties but the bumper crop called for bud thinning. August brought about cooler weather and some rains, increasing the risk of rot. The massive crop, averaging 13,990 kg/ha, was picked from September 18th onwards. The quality was a pleasant surprise; vibrant wines with appropriate intensity, refined charm and refreshing lightness. This vintage impresses me more and more, and I feel tempted to give it the full five stars. It comes with a rare balance of freshness, lightness, yet fine aromatic intensity. Post-release, this vintage has proven to be slow to age, and elegant wines are likely to keep on ageing gracefully. Dom Pérignon and Louis Roederer Cristal both excelled.
