Louis Roederer : Cristal 2016

Characteristics and tasting advice for Cristal 2016 from Louis Roederer

Tasting

Colour
Shiny, the colour is a beautiful golden yellow. The effervescence is lively and of great finesse.

Nose
The bouquet is intense, deep and of great precision, revealing delicate aromas of white flowers such as acacia, mixed with notes of concentrated and roasted citrus, notably lemon, as well as nuances of ripe yellow fruits like peach and mirabelle plum. After a few moments of aeration, subtle iodine, powdery and finely roasted touches appear, testifying to the effect of yeast autolysis during ageing, bringing complexity and depth to this wine.

Palate
On the palate, the attack is immediate, soft and delicate, marked by a sabayon of ripe and juicy fruits. The effervescence is fine, integrated and almost saline. The notes of harvest and oyster shell give way to a powdery texture, slightly chocolatey. Cristal 2016 is of remarkable purity, combining finesse and concentration, with remarkable elegance.

An exceptional champagne combining concentration and freshness

The property

Founded in 1776 in Reims, the Louis Roederer Champagne House has remained family-owned and independent. After more than 200 years of existence, the Louis Roederer House is still in the hands of the same family. Today led by Frédéric Rouzaud, who embodies the seventh generation of the lineage, the Louis Roederer House embodies the excellence of Champagne wines around the world thanks to cuvées crafted like a work of art.

The vineyard

With nearly 241 hectares of vines, the Louis Roederer House draws its strength from its extraordinary vineyard, made up exclusively of Grands and Premiers Crus in the Marne Valley, the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. A true mosaic of terroirs, the Louis Roederer House's vineyard is divided into 410 plots that reflect the full diversity of the Champagne soils.

The wine

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

The vintage

Cristal 2016 follows in the line of remarkable vintages. Born from a late year marked by the intense heat of a scorching summer and enhanced by the richness of a unique chalky terroir, this vintage reveals a rare balance

Vinification and ageing

The work in the vineyard is guided by increasingly virtuous viticultural practices that allow for a perfect balance and superb maturity of the grapes. The vinification is carried out under wood to the extent of 31%. No malolactic fermentation. The dosage of this Brut champagne is 7 grams per litre.

Blend

Pinot noir (58%)
Chardonnay (42%)