Louis Roederer : Cristal 2018

Characteristics and tasting notes for Louis Roederer Cristal 2018

Tasting

Appearance
This wine reveals a brilliant hue adorned with subtle yellow nuances bordering on amber. Its bubbles emerge with great delicacy, rising slowly and steadily.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet proves particularly expressive, first unveiling scents of fresh yellow fruits such as nectarine, blended with the liveliness of citron. Delicate floral notes reminiscent of orange blossom and pollen are added to the mix. Aeration reveals a beautiful complexity marked by hints of vanilla and smoke, along with touches of menthol, bergamot, cedar and white chocolate.

Palate
The attack highlights the marked presence of Pinot Noir, offering a texture that is at once fleshy, concentrated and full of juice. The tannic structure stands out for its great finesse, accompanied by a perfectly integrated effervescence. The mid-palate is underlined by an elegant saline touch, leading to a particularly thirst-quenching finish. The whole shines through its remarkable freshness, fruitiness and fluidity.

Food and wine pairings
This cuvée pairs wonderfully with delicate seafood dishes, such as caviar, shellfish like lobster or langoustine, as well as tartares and carpaccios of fine fish. It also brilliantly accompanies refined fish preparations, or elegant white meats such as poultry or veal.

Serving and ageing
To fully appreciate Cristal 2018, it is recommended to serve it at a temperature between 9 and 11 °C, ideally in a tulip-shaped glass. Endowed with great ageing potential, this vintage will be able to rest for many years in the cellar.

Other characteristics
This brut champagne is characterised by a moderate dosage of 7 g/l.

An exceptional champagne combining concentration and freshness

The estate
Originally founded in 1776, the House truly took on its current identity in 1833 when Louis Roederer took over its management and gave it his name. Today led by Frédéric Rouzaud, who represents the seventh generation, this illustrious Champagne estate has managed to preserve its family independence. With a vast vineyard of around 250 hectares, the brand stands out for its deep commitment to sustainable viticulture and biodynamics. It is recognised worldwide for its exceptional cuvées, combining precision, purity and respect for the great chalky terroirs.

The vineyard
The grapes come from a rigorous selection of 57 plots evenly distributed across three major areas of Champagne: one third in the Rivière vineyard, one third on the Montagne and one third on the Côte. This exceptional terroir brings together prestigious crus such as Verzenay, Verzy, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Aÿ, Avize, Cramant and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. The majority of these vines are over 25 years old. All of these lands are cultivated 100 % according to the principles of organic viticulture.

The vintage
The year 2018 in Champagne stood out for particularly generous, warm and dry climatic conditions. After a winter marked by abundant rainfall, spring proved mild but punctuated by storms. The summer season then offered exceptional sunshine and intense heat. The harvest, which took place from 27 August to 8 September, allowed for the collection of perfectly healthy berries, yielding a vintage that was both abundant and of impeccable sanitary quality.

Winemaking and ageing
The crafting of Cristal 2018 is the subject of meticulous attention. In order to preserve all the natural tension and liveliness of the juices, no malolactic fermentation is carried out. In addition, 28 % of the wines benefit from ageing in wood, bringing additional complexity to the final blend.

Grape varieties
57 % Pinot Noir, 43 % Chardonnay.