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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 ROSÉ 2005
HARVESTS
The 2005 vintage was a year of marked contrasts between seasons and regions. Following a fairly harsh winter, 2005 had a mild spring with relatively warm temperatures all year long. There was above average sunshine and a slight water deficit, as had been the case throughout the dry cycle of 2005/2004 and 2003. The heat and humidity in July produced larger grapes and bunches, rather unusually for the Champagne region, while the cooler weather in August, followed by a very sunny month of September, led to favourable ripening in spite of heavy parasite pressure. The harvest dates were “typical” of those of the decade: September 12th for Chardonnays and the following day for Pinots noirs.
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 : between 8 and 10 g/l is adapted to each vintage.
STYLE
Precise, seductive and delicious, Cristal Rose 2005 has a ‘slender’ and almost ‘living’ freshness. The Cristal hallmarks are evident: purity, precision and the unique harmony of flavours associated with the subtle power of our older vines, located on the finest Champagne Grand Cru terroirs.
TASTING
Light pink colour with a youthful, bluish hue and a steady stream of tiny bubbles.
The nose is pure Pinot Noir: explosive, almost liqueur-like red berry fruit (Griotte cherries), on a deep bed of minerals with a chalky undertone. Aeration brings out toastier, nuttier notes characteristic of yeast autolysis.
Dense, concentrated, multidimensional palate. Lush attack of red and black berries, intermingled with flowers and a zesty sprinkling of minerals; fabulously vibrant on mid-palate, with a solid core of fruit. Concentrated, dense, with near syrupy fruit balanced by an edgy, mineral acidity that makes for terrific length and purity… Great Pinot Noir is revealed here in all of its glorious duality! Built on lusciously ripe fruit from limestone soils, this Cristal Rosé 2005 is more than ever a perfect symbiosis of Champagne and the finest, most sumptuous Pinot Noir. Tenderness, intensity and power all rolled into one.
Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon
Vintage 2005
The 2005 vintage was a year of marked contrasts between seasons and regions. Following a fairly harsh winter, 2005 had a mild spring with relatively warm temperatures all year long. There was above average sunshine and a slight water deficit, as had been the case throughout the dry cycle of 2005/2004 and 2003. The heat and humidity in July produced larger grapes and bunches, rather unusually for the Champagne region, while the cooler weather in August, followed by a very sunny month of September, led to favourable ripening in spite of heavy parasite pressure. The harvest dates were “typical” of those of the decade: September 12th for Chardonnays and the following day for Pinots Noirs.