Louis Roederer : Cristal 2012

The power and finesse of a Louis Roederer Champagne

The product of a vintage that was as complex as it was unique in Champagne, the Cristal 2012 by Louis Roederer is undoubtedly one of the greatest vintages of the house so far.

Despite the low yields of the year 2012, the continental climate conditions of the late season made it possible to attain grapes with a rare level of ripeness with rich and powerful wines that reveal the greatness of their precious terroirs of origin. 2012 also marked the advent of a new chapter for viticulture on the exceptional vineyard of the Louis Roederer estate. The Cristal 2012 is thus the first vintage of this precision viticulture, product of several years of experimentation, which places the vine at the center in the elaboration of each champagne.

An iconic cuvée created for the first time in 1876 for the Tsar of Russia, Cristal is made from the finest Crus of the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs. The 2012 Cristal champagne from Louis Roederer is a blend dominated by Pinot Noir (60%) and Chardonnay (40%). In order to preserve the freshness of the terroirs, malolactic fermentation is not carried out, and 32% of the base wines are vinified in oak for more complexity.

The Cristal 2012 by Louis Roederer reveals in the glass a bright yellow-gold colour, with shimmering green reflections and a dazzling, dynamic effervescence. Rich and complex, the bouquet expresses itself in several successive waves. Fruity and tangy notes charm the nose before giving way to warm notes of vanilla and slightly toasted notes. Swirling the glass highlights gourmet aromas of pastry, like freshly baked brioche, as well as smoky notes, resulting from the long time spent ageing in the bottle. From the onset, the Cristal 2012 packs the palate with its silky and tasty texture. Precise and polished, the palate offers an incredible chalky tension, giving the wine a deep and tapered edge upon a long and very persistent finish.