As the largest independent family-managed Champagne producer, Louis Roederer rank amongst the region's absolute finest. Established in 1776, the House today is managed by seventh generation family member Frédéric Rouzaud 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 have become pioneers in biodynamic farming & by 2012 all 78 hectares the “Cristal Estates” are farmed using biodynamic methods. By 2021 Roederer have 115 hectares certified organic. All the grapes in Cristal & other vintage cuvee’s come from their own 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 years non-vintage blend to be identified and “re-engineering” the non-vintage cuvee to maintain freshness in the light of global warming on the Champagne region. Today Cristal is, widely recognised as the world's most awarded prestige cuvée champagne.

In 1876, Russia's Tsar Alexander II, a long-time lover of Louis Roederer wines, asked the producer to create a special cuvée for his personal use which was unique in both its style and bottle design. Dissatisfied with standard champagne bottles that concealed the beautiful colour and effervescence from the eye, he requested that his personal cuvée be served in transparent crystal glass bottles, easier to spot poison and with a flat bottom to foil the insertion of explosives by would-be assassins. Thus, Louis Roederer selected the best vines from seven Grand Crus on his estate and Cristal, the first prestige cuvée, was born. Today some 45 plots make up the "Cristal Estates" and each vintage can sometimes be made up of all plots or as is normal often a few plots don't make the final blend.

In 1974, almost 200 years after the establishment of Champagne Louis Roederer and 100 years after the invention of Cristal, Jean-Claude Rouzad decided to create a Cristal Rosé. To achieve this, he selected old-vine Pinot Noir grapes from the finest Grand Cru vineyards of Aÿ, which are now cultivated according to biodynamic principals. The unique calcareous soil, which gives the grapes an exquisite minerality, enables the vines to attain exceptional fruit maturity complemented by a crystalline acidity. The rosé content is produced using the saignée (bleeding) process after cold maceration for five to eight days in the liquid phase. As with Cristal, 20-30% of the wines are vinified in oak barrels and the final blend is matured for six years in the cellars and rested for eight months after disgorgement. Produced only in the very best years, Cristal Rosé is Louis Roederer's rarest champagne. Cristal Rosé 2005 Late Release was aged on its lees for 7 years before being matured for a further 8 years in Reims after its disgorgement, hence this is the second time this has been released it original release in 2013.

Weather: The 2005 vintage was unpredictable and full of contrasts. The weather was mostly warm with little rain, however a heatwave in August followed by a cool and rainy September moderated initial anticipation. In the end, a drastic selection in the vineyard ensured a limited volume of exceptional quality and indeed, 2005 was an extremely short vintage.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Pinot Noir: Aÿ, Cumières, Verzenay, Verzy | Chardonnay: Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger (Detailed map)
Grape Varieties: 56% Pinot Noir, 44% Chardonnay
Ageing: 7 years on the lees
Disgorged: 2019
Dosage: 8.5 g/l
Drink: Now to 2050+

Champagne in clear bottles must be stored in complete darkness, it spoils quickly if exposed to any light source. Cristal is supplied in yellow wrapping (not shown in photo) do not remove it and ideally place in a box. Read More

Tasting Note: A pink hue with a deep red-brown tint. The bouquet is characteristic of Pinot Noir, with notes of black cherries and black fruit combined with floral, sappy notes. Sweet and exotic aromas such as mango and orange peel. Smoky notes, spice and caramel, derived from the Pinot Noir vinified as a red wine. Elegant, broad palate underpinned by discreet tannins. A well structured wine dominated by the strength and texture of the Pinot Noir.