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ProducerLouis Roederer
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Vintage2008
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RegionChampagne
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SizeMagnum
Located in Reims with 240 hectares of vineyards strategically spread across 16 villages including key sites in Montagne De Reims, Vallee De La Marne and Cotes Des Blancs, Louis Roederer has grown to be the largest independent and family owned Houses in Champagne.
When Chef De Cave Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon was asked regarding the “Blend” he simply replied “We do not blend, we combine” which is true to his base principles across the Roederer portfolio. In Combination with Chardonnay, Pinot Noir is the selected choice varietal and is expertly balanced to achieve desired depth and character in all his Champagne ranges.
100 Points Jeb Dunnuck
The 2008 Cristal is a perfect wine, and Champagne simple does not get any better. This incredible wine offers a beautiful perfume of clean, crisp fruits, layers of complexity in its toasted spice and white flowers, and an utterly seamless, yet powerful style on the palate. This is a rich, decadent expression of Cristal yet it’s still crystalline and elegant, with no sensation of weight, and it just glides over the palate. Haut Couture at its finest and this majestic, profound, legendary Cristal can be drunk anytime over the coming 2-3 decades. Drink 2018-2038.
100 Points James Suckling
Disgorged October 2016 and will be the first Cristal to be released ten years from harvest when it is offered in 2018. 35 parcels used from a possible 45 in this vintage. The assemblage is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. This is so fresh and tense and mineral with extremely exuberant chardonnay notes on the nose of white peach, lemon and yellow grapefruit, and hints of almost brambly sous bois aromas. The yeast characters are also super fresh, and there are subtle woody notes, with a hint of vanilla bean and light spices. The palate is super long, and very pure, powerful and focused. It drives deep and taut. Pinot noir is a strong core and the chardonnay sits at the edge offering lemon and white nectarine sorbet flavors. Staggeringly concentrated, yet the balance makes it seem airy and light. Acidity is perfectly positioned, and the power is intense and long. This is an ultra precise Cristal, finishing with a mere suggestion of savoriness and warmth to come. Impressive on release, this will be at its best drinking from 2025.