Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé 2009

Producer Information

Founded in 1776, and property of the same family since 1819, Champagne Louis Roederer is today one of the last major champagne houses to be an independent family affair. The annual production of its wines (Brut Premier, Carte Blanche, Brut Vintage, Rosé Vintage, Blanc de Blancs, Cristal, Cristal Rosé) represents just over three million bottles, distributed to 100 countries worldwide. In 1974, almost 200 years after the establishment of the Champagne house of Louis Roederer and 100 years after the creation of Cristal, Jean-Claude Rouzaud decided to create the Cristal Rosé cuvée. To achieve this, he selected old-vine Pinot Noir grapes using massal selection, which involves propagation from the vineyard’s most successful plants.

Vineyards

The Cristal Rosé 2007 is made from the finest Grand Cru vineyards at Aÿ. The limestone bedrock and unique calcareous clay soil enable the vines to attain exceptional fruit maturity complemented by a pure and crystalline acidity that is a perfect evocation of the Cristal style. Today the vineyards are cultivated according to biodynamic principles. This wine is only produced in the very best years.

Winemaking

A blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, comprising 15% of wine vinified in wood (oak tuns), which undergoes weekly bâtonnage (stirring by hand); it is not subjected to malolactic fermentation. Louis Roederer’s Rosé champagnes are always produced using the saignée (bleeding) process after cold maceration for five to eight days in the liquid phase. The Cristal Rosé cuvée is aged, on average, for six years in Roederer’s cellars and left for eight months after dégorgement (disgorging) to attain the perfect balance.

Vintage Information

A continental, sunny year with a real winter that was very cold and dry followed by a glorious sun-filled summer and almost no rain in August and September. All this meant traditional vine growth, excellent health and remarkable grape ripeness for the production of fruity and delicious wines. 2009 is an obvious addition to the select group of brilliant and accomplished Champagne vintages with a light, sunny character.

Tasting Note

Elegant and profound with dark berries, forest fruits and ripe Morello cherry on the nose, reminiscent of concentrated, tangy jam. The immediate effect on the palate is velvety, silky and enchanting – characteristic of the great Pinot Noir from Aÿ, simultaneously intense with a tight strructure, all the while remaining delicate, subtle and etherial.

Food Pairing

This is fantastic with lobster and beluga caviar, or a gourmet salad: lobster and foie gras. It also works with seared salmon or poached sea trout.

Serving Suggestion

Serve at 12°C

Press

The Wine Advocate: 96+ Points

June 18, 2018, Stephan Reinhardt

“The 2009 Cristal Rosé is a rich and intense expression of Roederer’s Cristal. Due to roughly 55% of old-vines Pinot Noir from Aÿ’s calcareous clay soils and the sunny vintage, it has super luscious fruit with a velvety, caressing and powdery-chalky texture and great depth that gives it very good potential to age. There is also remarkable purity, finesse and tension in the energetic 2009, which cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon compares with the 2012 and the enchanting style of Vosne-Romannée. The 2009 Cristal Rosé is like a laser beam on the palate, very straight, sharp and precise yet elegant, intensely fruity and chalky. Very fine wild red fruit flavors feature on the nose, with crystalline freshness on the chalky palate. This is a gorgeous Cristal and another great 2009. In contrast to the 2009 white Cristal, the Rosé is perfect to drink now, perhaps only for a few months before it shuts down to start its real life in a couple of years. Tasted at the domaine in May 2018.”

Wine Enthusiast: 95 Points

December 1, 2016, Roger Voss

“Still young but already impressive, this new vintage of Cristal Rose is dry and perfumed, packed with fruit and tightened by acidity. It features red fruit, zesty blood orange and ripe apple flavors. Because it is young and because it is dry, the wine needs to age.”

AOC Champagne
Pinot Noir: 55%
Chardonnay: 45%

Cork
12%
3114080047057
3114081547051
Yes
No (horses in vineyard)

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