Silky texture. Crystalline freshness. Subtle aromas of forest fruits and vineyard peach, paired with delicate salty notes: the Cristal Rosé is an expressive addition to the family of these famous champagnes, which began with the development of the first Cristal in 1876 for the court of Tsar Alexander II. Cristal is still focussed on the best cuvées to this day: only Pinot noir and Chardonnay grapes from the great vintages are used, which reach perfect ripeness on selected, now biodynamically cultivated plots and utilise the full power of their terroir. With his vision of a Cristal Rosé, the then general director Jean-Claude Rouzaud opted for a new, revolutionary method in 1974: gentle infusion, a process inspired by the infusion art of Japanese tea masters, which produces the most delicate Pinot noir extracts without any mechanical intervention. Continuously refined over the years, this pioneering technique contributes to the unique identity of Cristal Rosé. The Cristal Rosé is aged for over six years in the quiet darkness of the wine cellars until it has reached its perfect expression. The Cristal may rest even longer: the wine is aged for six years after dégorgement, followed by a further eight months until it reaches perfection.
The grapes draw an exquisite minerality from the unique limestone soil, achieving an outstanding ripeness with crystalline acidity in the older years.
One of the best-kept secrets. The ultimate crowning glory and absolute highlight. Achieved through deep understanding, talent, savoir-faire and – above all: patience. Vinothèque is a unique treasure trove in which a tiny number of Cristal and Cristal Rosé are allowed to rest in the depths of the wine cellar for over two decades, where they mature to their new, perfect identity. It is a time laboratory in which the wine is developed in a customised way and its slow maturation is always carefully monitored and accompanied. With Vinothèque 2002, Louis Roederer presents the first vintages after its conversion to sustainable viticultural practices inspired by biodynamics and the splendid creation of a new dimension: the Cristal Vinothèque is a wine with a wonderful freshness, rich bouquet and velvety texture, while the Cristal Rosé Vinothèque shines with its floral aromas and energetic vitality. The additional boost of time creates a twenty-year patina that reveals itself in fabulous depth and range.
«Intense, refreshing, and exceptionally precise, the bouquet reveals a comprehensive and complex range of flavours – the ensemble is silky, full-bodied, luscious, and light, with a wonderful aromatic purity.»
Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, Cellar Master
Patience is the virtue from which Cristal Vinothèque and Cristal Rosé Vinothèque derive their unrivalled excellence. The 20-year journey begins with a long yeast maturation, a preparatory period during which the champagne develops its flavours and finds its complex structure and velvety smoothness. During the resting period on horizontal racks specially made by Champagne Louis Roederer, the bottles are rotated exactly a quarter of a turn by hand every three months. This allows the yeasts to collect evenly in the neck of the bottle and form a purely natural oxygen barrier. After dégorgement, merely a touch of dosage is enough for the wine’s further development and the final expression of its crowning personality.
