Louis Roederer : Cristal 2002

Powerful and refined, an exceptional champagne by Louis Roederer

The property

Founded in 1776 in Reims, Louis Roederer is a Champagne House that has managed to remain family-owned and independent. After more than 200 years of existence, the Louis Roederer House is still owned by the same family. Now led by Frédéric Rouzaud, who represents the seventh generation of the family's lineage, Louis Roederer boasts and embodies the excellence of Champagne around the world, through cuvées crafted like works of art.

The vineyard

With nearly 241 hectares of vines, the Louis Roederer House derives its strength from its extraordinary vineyard, made up solely of Grands and Premiers Crus in the Marne Valley, the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. A veritable mosaic of terroirs, the Maison Louis Roederer vineyard is divided into 410 plots, reflecting the great diversity of the Champagne region's soils.

The wine

The House's iconic cuvée, first created in 1876 for the Tsar of Russia, Cristal is made from 45 exceptional vineyards that spread over 7 Grands Crus of the Montagne de Reims, the Marne Valley and the Côte des Blancs.

The vintage

2016 is an exceptional year in Champagne. A mild winter preceded a spring and summer with warm temperatures, without excessive sunshine, as well as low rainfall that did not cause water stress during the vegetative cycle. August and September were marked by cool nights and days with a cool, dry north-easterly wind. These ideal conditions enabled the teams to harvest fully ripe grapes that boasted a good concentration.

Vinification and ageing

The vinification is carried out in oak for 20% of the grapes and is accompanied by weekly stirring of the lees. No malolactic fermentation. This exceptional cuvée benefits from an average of 5 years of ageing in the cellars and an 8-month settling period after disgorgement. The dosage is between 8 and 10 g/l depending on the vintage.

The blend

Cristal 2002 by Louis Roederer comprises a blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay.

Cristal 2002 by Louis Roederer: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Nose

Intense, delicate and precise, the nose harmoniously blends fragrances of sweet flowers, cocoa, finely toasted hazelnuts and candied citrus fruit.

Palate

The palate is seduced by this champagne’s silky texture, its concentration and its explosion of aromas of ripe fruit, red fruit and white chocolate mixed with flavoursome notes of caramel and pastry, which are characteristic features of this wine. Throughout the tasting experience, this champagne increasingly reveals its powerful and refined expression and leads to a finish marked by a beautiful freshness and a bitterness, offering the pleasant ‘’crunchy’’ sensation.

Food and wine pairing

Cristal 2002 by Louis Roederer will complement scallops, caviar, fresh semi-smoked salmon, lobsters, spider crabs and oysters.