Louis Roederer : Cristal Vinotheque Rose 1996

The concentration and aromatic richness of a Rosé champagne signed Louis Roederer

The property

Founded in 1776 in Reims, Louis Roederer is a Champagne House that has managed to remain family-owned and independent. After more than 200 years of existence, the Louis Roederer House is still owned by the same family. Now led by Frédéric Rouzaud, who represents the seventh generation of the family's lineage, Louis Roederer boasts and embodies the excellence of Champagne around the world, through cuvées crafted like works of art.

The vineyard

With nearly 241 hectares of vines, the Louis Roederer House derives its strength from its extraordinary vineyard, made up solely of Grands and Premiers Crus in the Marne Valley, the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. A veritable mosaic of terroirs, the Maison Louis Roederer vineyard is divided into 410 plots, reflecting the great diversity of the Champagne region's soils.

The wine

In order to prolong the search for the perfect balance, Louis Roederer keeps a limited amount of exceptional bottles in its cellars for 20 years. Benefiting from an exceptional ageing process, Louis Roederer's Cristal Vinothèque cuvées develop an aromatic complexity as well as an exceptional maturity fro one year to the next and enjoy the silence and obscurity of the House's cellars.

The vintage

A cool, grey winter preceded a long period of very low rainfall throughout the development of the vines. Although yields were affected, the reduced size of the berries favoured ripening and the concentration of aromas. The few rainy episodes punctuating a sunny month of September with seasonal temperatures were beneficial for the vineyard. The grapes were exceptionally ripe, with a good acidity and a high sugar content.

Vinification and ageing

This cuvée has been aged for 10 years in bottle and settled for 10 years after disgorgement.

The blend

Cristal Vinothèque Rosé 1996 by Louis Roederer is a blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.

Cristal Vinothèque Rosé 1996 by Louis Roederer: Characteristics and tasting tips

The tasting

Colour

The champagne showcases a subtle pink colour, with light copper highlights. The effervescence is regular and extremely fine.

Nose

Complex, the nose blends dried fruit fragrances (hazelnut, cocoa bean) with perfectly concentrated lemon notes. Aerating the wine brings out notes of sugared almonds, almonds and toasted pine nuts due to the long ageing period, followed by delicious aromas of red fruits and slightly alcoholic raspberries.

Palate

The attack is flavoursome and silky. Marked by a chalky freshness resulting from the limestone terroir, the mouth seduces with its grilled, smoky, almost malty notes which blend with delicious aromas of fine and concentrated lemon.