Wine Advisor
Louis Roederer, Cristal Vinotheque Rose 1995
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Description
Cristal, Louis Roederer, Vinotheque, Champagne, Rose, 2000
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Stephan Reinhardt
Disgorged in 2010 and re-launched in September 2017, Roederer's low dosed 1995 Cristal Vinothèque (dosage: six to seven grams per liter) is very intense on the nose and shows lovely maturity. Due to the vintage, which saw some rain in the summer, the Chardonnay part is a bit higher than usual (43% instead of 40%), with just 57% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ). Five percent of the wine was fermented in oak, and 15% underwent malolactic fermentation (only the Pinot Noir though). The palate is rich and vinous but also pure, straight and fresh, finishing with a tight structure, persistent minerality and a yeasty character. Tasted in Reims in May 2018. Since September 2017, there is another Cristal: Vinothèque! With only "a few bottles" released in a few, hand-selected markets, the "other Cristal" is more than the late-release edition of Cristal. In fact, it has been 20 years in the making: 14 years sur latte and seven years sur bouchon. "Twenty or so years is a good time lapse to show the best of Cristal," says cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, who adds a significantly lower dosage to the Vinothèque than he did for the original Cristal. The 1995 is the inaugural vintage for both the white and rosé, and it will be followed by the 1996 (in September this year), 1997 and 1999.
About the Producer
When he inherited the Champagne House in 1833, the aesthete and entrepreneur Louis Roederer took a visionary approach to enriching his vines, aiming to master every stage of the wine’s creation. He forged the wine’s unique style, character, and taste. In the mid-nineteenth century, Louis Roederer acquired some of Champagne’s grand cru vineyards—an approach that contrasted sharply with contemporary practices.. While other Houses bought their grapes, Louis Roederer nurtured his vineyards, familiarized himself with the specific characteristics of each parcel, and methodically acquired the finest land. Louis Roederer’s guiding principle was that all great wine depends on the quality of the soil, a passion for tradition, and an astute vision of the future; the fame and reputation of the House of Louis Roederer was firmly established. His heir, Louis Roederer II was equally enlightened and adopted his father’s conscientious approach to the production of champagne, patrimonial estate management, and instinctive audacity.
