In 1876, Tsar Alexander II—already a great lover of Louis Roederer wines—asked Louis Roederer to ‘take the exercise still further‘ and create a cuvée for his personal use which was unique, in terms of both its style and the bottle. Louis Roederer offered him an exceptional crystal bottle, holding the fruit of vines selected from the seven great crus on his estate. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes provide the subtle, precise balance that has now become synonymous with the leading prestige cuvée of Champagne, composed of Grand Crus from the Montagne de Reims, the Marne Valley and the Côte des Blancs.
Cristal Vinothèque radiates the notes of the original Cristal, as well as notes of iodine, salinity and a surprising youthfulness. Not quite the same, but not really different either. More “Cristal” than ever. At the end of a long meditation lasting two decades, combined with late disgorgement and fine-tuning to the point of perfect equilibrium, it emerges as a fresh perspective of champagne, an even more perfect and exciting vision.
Cristal Vinothèque 1995 celebrates the astonishing story of a very small number of bottles, stored in the Louis Roederer cellars for 20 years in the quest for
perfect harmony. This cuvée is bottle-aged for 10 years before being left
to rest for a further 10 years after disgorging.
The 1995 vintage is the reflection of this very classic year in Champagne. The weather conditions created an exceptionally elegant wine structured by a lovely acidity and remarkable aromatic complexity. Its perfectly balanced maturity and well-integrated flavours have been brought out even further by the Côte des Blancs Chardonnays and a small proportion of Pinots Noirs grown in chalky soil.
Light pink hue flecked with copper tints.
Fine, elegant sparkle.
The nose is both delicate and intense, a kaleidoscope of fresh fruit (strawberry, vineyard peach and Morello cherry) and dried fruit and nuts with hints of lightly roasted chestnut. Fruit still dominates after a few minutes (blackcurrant and raspberry) and is joined,
this time, by light resinous and iodized notes, typical of autolysis in champagne.
Cristal Rosé Vinothèque 1995 has a succulent, juicy character, yet is amazingly fresh and
lingers long on the palate. It embodies the grace and refinement inherent in a fine champagne.
The palate is delicate, fresh and finely wrought. It begins with an explosion of citrus (blood orange, tangerine and yuzu) in a coating of sweet, juicy fruit reminiscent of gingerbread and honey. The chalky and saline freshness traces out a precise, slender chassis and gives the impression of great elegance. The finish is fuller, with a firm structure, punctuated by notes of citrus peel.
No Malolactic Fermentation
62% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay
8% vinified in oak casks
The dosage is 8 g/l.
100 Points - James Suckling
“Very complete and very complex, offering well integrated, ripe pinot-noir fruit with an array of sweet flowers, ripe cherries and wet chalk. A gently sapid fruit texture on the palate, as well as composed, smooth and seamless textural charm. Beautiful balance of sweet fruit and acidity here. Very long, the soft, sweet tannins holding a darker, nutty finish. In a great drinking zone now.” (September 2018, James Suckling)
97 Points - Wine Enthusiast
“This magnificent wine celebrates the enormous aging potential of a great Champagne. It is still full of bright red fruits and tense minerality, with only a hint of maturity. While nearing its peak for enjoyment, let it breathe before drinking.” (December 2018, Roger Voss)
97 Points - Wine Advocate
“Originally released in 2002, the 1995 Cristal Vinothèque Rosé was aged on the lees for 14 years and was disgorged in 2010 with a lower dosage than the original Cristal Rosé (seven to eight grams per liter). Released in November 2017, the blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay shows a pale hint of color and opens with rich red fruit along with floral notes on the subtly layered nose. On the palate, this is a rich, round and voluptuous yet elegant Rosé with a mouth-filling texture, very good freshness and even purity in the complex, tensioned, very persistent and mineral finish. Tasted in Reims in May 2018.” (June 2018, Stephan Reinhardt)
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