Louis Roederer Cristal Rose 2002
A salmon pink hue, with radiant highlights and incredible youth. A regular, refined and lively effervescence. An intense, rich, bewitching bouquet of red fruit and citrus zest associated with more complex notes redolent of cedar and spring sap. The aromas evolve gently in the glass evolving from dried fruits, fresh almonds and frangipane, to notes of Tarte Tatin, oven-baked apples and caramel.
In tastings, the wine is soft and silky on the palate with a marvellous harmony of flavour and concentration of fruit. The attack is fruity and crisp. Finesse and fruit combine to create a full palate that melts in the mouth, giving way to candied citrus and dried fruits.
The exceptional characteristics of the 2002 vintage have been literally captured in this generous epicurean Cristal Rose 2002, which reveals a perfect equilibrium between concentration and finesse, richness and freshness, intensity and refinement.
Clearly imbued with the Cristal style, this wine has purity, fruit, finesse and incomparable harmony. In three words: proud, rich, and luxurious.
Grape Variety:
60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay - 20% of the wines vinified in oak barrels with weekly batonnage. No malolactic fermentation. To create Rosé champagnes, Louis Roederer still uses the saignée method after cold maceration that can last 5 to 8 days in the liquid phase. Cristal Rosé is matured 6 years in the cellar and rests for 8 months after disgorgement to perfect its maturity.
Dosage of between 8 and 10 g/l is adapted to each vintage.
Background Information:
Established in 1776, Champagne Louis Roederer is one of the few remaining completely independent family owned, great Champagne houses. By 1876 the House had achieved such a reputation for quality that the second Louis Roederer was asked by Tsar Alexander II to create Cristal for the exclusive use of the Russian Tsars and in so doing created the first ever Cuvée de Prestige.
In 1974, nearly 200 years after the creation of the Maison Louis Roederer and 100 years after the creation of Cristal, Jean-Claude Rouzaud decided to create Cristal Rosé. To do this end, he selected old vine pinot noir grapes, according to specific characteristics, located on the finest of the Aÿ vineyards. Exceptionally, these vines lie on a limestone block with clay and limestone soil and in the best years, the vines achieve extraordinarily mature fruit with a crystalline purity of acidity corresponding perfectly to the Cristal style. Today these vines are organically grown.
