Louis Roederer : Cristal 2008

Tasting notes and characteristics of the 2008 "Cristal Late Release" by Louis Roederer

Tasting

Appearance
The robe reveals a bright yellow hue adorned with subtle amber highlights. The effervescence stands out with bubbles of great finesse, regular and delicate.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet opens on chalky and powdery notes, mingled with aromas of ripe citrus and almond. It then evolves towards scents of harvest, lightly roasted cocoa bean and toasted hazelnut, all underlined by a beautiful floral and vegetal freshness.

Palate
The attack displays great freshness and remarkable precision. The texture is creamy and saline, carried by perfectly integrated bubbles and a tactile depth acquired during its long ageing. The finish, all in length and salinity, stretches out on noble bitters and touches of cedar, undergrowth and Havana tobacco.

Louis Roederer unveils a great vintage champagne, combining precision and aromatic expression

The estate

Founded under its current name in 1833 in Reims, the Louis Roederer House is an iconic figure of Champagne. Now led by Frédéric Rouzaud, who represents the sixth generation of the family, this independent estate stands out for its vast vineyard of 242 hectares. A pioneer in environmental practices, the brand has extensively converted its lands to organic and biodynamic viticulture. The seamless integration between the mastery of its own vines and historic expertise enables the House to craft cuvées of exceptional precision.

The vineyard

The grapes come exclusively from 37 plots classified as Grand Cru. This Champagne terroir is divided equally between "La Rivière", "La Montagne" and "La Côte", encompassing prestigious crus such as Verzenay, Verzy, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Aÿ, Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant. The vines thrive on chalky soils that favour deep rooting. For this edition, around 40% of the berries come from plots cultivated according to the principles of biodynamics.

The vintage

The 2008 year was marked by a cool summer that helped preserve remarkable freshness in the berries. The harvest took place from 15 September to 1 October 2008, yielding a crop with a dense, powerful and highly concentrated profile.

Winemaking and ageing

The crafting of this 2008 "Cristal Late Release" is characterised by meticulous vinification in which 20% of the wines are aged in oak foudres. Malolactic fermentation is carried out on only 19% of the wines. Dosed at 8 g/L, this cuvée benefited from an extended ageing on lees for an exceptional duration of 12 years and 9 months, before being disgorged on 16 March 2022.

Grape varieties

60% Pinot Noir
40% Chardonnay.