Discovering: Louis Roederer Cristal

There is something special about champagne, it can be the history of each Champagne House that I am searching for in each bottle, the stories that are transmitted over the generations, the stories that are born at an amazing tasting, or just the celebration feeling that I am experiencing when I have a glass of champagne on my hand. 

I love champagne, and I think it has beautiful mystical energy around it. There is a glamorous feeling when you are holding a glass of champagne in your hand, whatever the place or occasion. The gold color of champagne, the pearl bubbles, everything about a glass of champagne is classy and elegant. I enjoy every opportunity I have to taste various champagnes, which is probably why we have organized a lot of masterclasses and gourmet dinners that had champagne as a special guest at WineUp.

But this time, it was different, I was lucky enough to be invited to a spectacular tasting where I discovered the precious Louis Roederer Cristal champagnes. A selection of magnums from 2000 to 2009 tasted in a perfect setting.

I just hope that the images and my tasting notes can give you a glimpse of this beautiful and elegant tasting, the feeling of “Joie du Vivre'' of the Belle Epoque, when the art flourished, with numerous masterpieces, and “Cristal” was created for Tsar Alexander II.

Louis Roederer is one of the last great independent and family-run Champagne houses. 

Louis Roederer inherited the Champagne House in 1833, he took a different approach, aiming to master every stage of the wine’s creation. He acquired some of Champagne’s grand cru vineyards—an approach that contrasted with contemporary practices. Other Houses bought their grapes, and Louis Roederer familiarised himself with the specific characteristics of each of his parcels, and methodically acquired the finest land. 

His 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. He forged the wine’s unique style, character, and taste. 

242 hectares located exclusively in the Grands and Premiers Crus of the Marne

The Louis Roederer House has remained an independent, family-owned company and is now managed by Frédéric Rouzaud, who represents the seventh generation of the lineage,  alongside long-time Chef de Cave and Champagne legend Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon.

They own an astounding 242 hectares of vineyards, many in chalk-rich Grand Cru villages covering two-thirds of their grape requirements. Roederer has become a pioneer in biodynamic farming & by 2012 all 78 hectares of the “Cristal Estates” are farmed using biodynamic methods. By 2021 Roederer have 115 hectares of certified organic. All the grapes in Cristal & other vintage cuvee’s come from their vineyards. The estate is made up of 410 plots which are fermented separately in one of the 450 stainless steel tanks in their Reims cellars. In 2020 Roederer replaced Brut Premier with “Collection” allowing each year's non-vintage blend to be identified and “re-engineering” the non-vintage cuvee to maintain freshness in the light of global warming in the Champagne region. Today Cristal is, widely recognized as the world's most awarded prestige cuvée champagne.

With the same patience and unshakeable faith in its creative vocation, the House of Louis Roederer’s annual exports totals three million bottles around the world. 

The Tsar’s wine 

The House’s most famous wine was created in 1876 to satisfy the demanding tastes of Tsar Alexander II. The emperor asked Louis Roederer to reserve the House’s best cuvée for him every year. He was particularly fond of the House’s wine. To distinguish this cuvée, this exceptional champagne came in a flat-bottomed, transparent lead-crystal bottle. The new brand was named after this precious material, which is particularly transparent and luminous. 

A man of great taste and an inveterate researcher, Louis Roederer II fashioned exclusive champagne for the Tsar and launched a novel concept: the very first Cuvée de Prestige. It was created in 1876 and named ‘Cristal’. Ever since the subtleness and elegance of Cristal have forged Louis Roederer’s reputation for excellence.

Cristal - the perfect harmony

Produced uniquely during the best years, when the Chardonnay (around 40%) and Pinot noir (around 60%) grapes have attained perfect maturity, Cristal is aged for a minimum of 6 years in Louis Roederer’s cellars and left for a further 8 months after dégorgement.

Today, Cristal is widely recognized as the most awarded Cuvée Prestige Champagne in the world.

Louis Roederer Cristal 2000: Bright gold color with a delightful and sensual nose, with very interesting notes of white currant leaves and yellow plum and incense. A delicate bouquet of brioche dried lemon peel and ripe apple. Delightful buttery taste with a persistent salty minerality and a creamy and round texture. 

Louis Roederer Cristal 2002: It was one of my favorite champagne of the evening, with beautiful richness and a sparkling ripe and creamy lemon acidity. Intense and savory flavors of white chocolate, almonds, and vanilla, with a fine minerality, and a persistent note of wet chalk. The palate had intense mouth-filling, ripe apple, and a spiced brioche. Great finesse and elegance make this champagne irresistible.

Louis Roederer Cristal 2004: Bright, powerful, and still surprisingly young. The wine has different layers and opens from intense notes of grapefruit to subtitle hints of hay and white flowers, with a smooth touch of white cherry, pear, and brioche, and a lovely finish of orange zest. It’s beautifully balanced between the crispy acidity, minerality, full body, and complex finish.

Louis Roederer Cristal 2005: Elegant, intense, and savory. Intense creamy notes of honey and sweet lemon pastry, with surprisingly intense white flower notes, apple, and smooth touch of whiff, with interesting flavors of chamomile tea. A nice finest imprinted by the minerality, bright acidity, and full-body texture.

Louis Roederer Cristal 2006: Lively and elegant. It's a stylish combination of richness and flavors. It has intense flavors of sweet pastry, with notes of peach, pear, and grapefruit with a touch of dried walnut and orange peel. Round and creamy textured on the palate, with crisp acidity and a salty minerally taste. It will be interesting to taste this vintage after a couple of years.

Louis Roederer Cristal 2007: Refined and delicate with a yeasty character. Interesting spicy and smoky nose with honey flavors and ripe fruits. A vivid acidity with lemon peel and ripe grapefruit. Full-bodied, round, and complex with a very nice minerality. It is silky and expressive textured, different from all the other vintages. 

Louis Roederer Cristal 2008: The perfect expression of champagne! A pure, beautiful, and complex bouquet with layers to be discovered. The nose is opening with intense lime and lemon aromas, followed by pineapple, peach, and toasted walnuts biscuits, and a hint of chamomile. Powerful on the palate with a rich and elegant mouth feeling, vibrant acidity and a touch of spiciness, and plenty of freshness supported by a chalky and saline finish.  

Louis Roederer Cristal 2009: Rich and refinement. The bouquet shows the classic Cristal sense of refinement, as it opens up with white peach, apple notes, and a nice fresh pastry, beautifully complex, chalky minerality, a hint of spring flowers, toasty/nutty notes, and a touch of ginger flavors, Rich, creamy and radiant on the palate the wine is full-bodied and vibrant, with excellent length and a youthful and very complex finish. 

Review: Ioana Bidian
Location: Moșia Galicea Mare
Photos: Mihai Colfescu