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Louis Roederer Cristal 2004 Champagne
Brilliant
clarity with delicate pale gold nuances, combined with an ultra-fine,
persistent, soft effervescence. The immediate aroma is highly expressive
of the elegance and precision of Chardonnay; white fruit, sweet pollen,
fine citrus fruit and very pure minerality. After a few minutes the
aromas develop to more confit, lightly grilled notes, almost becoming
generous yet remaining precise and impeccably refined.
The
initial impression on the palate is full and creamy, revealing a fine
concentration of stone fruits; nectarine, fresh apricot and peach. This
silky, textured concentration, which is both dense and soft – and
typical of great Pinot Noirs – is intervowen with a sophisticated touch
of acidity, bringing the wine alive with minerality. The overriding
impression is one of a true harmony of flavours, senses and silky
textures...absolute sensuality.
2004
was a classic, generous year, bringing both quantity and quality. 2004
followed almost to the letter the same climatic trend as the exceptional
2002 vintage with cool, moderate temperatures throughout the growing
season. Rainfall was lower than average, by about 30%, and despite a
cold and wet August, September was dry and sunny leading to an
impressive ripening of the grapes. By 20th September the grapes had
attained a ‘vintage’ balance in the Louis Roederer vineyards combining
both physiological maturity and great freshness.
Cristal is
produced from the finest plots of Louis Roederer’s vineyards in the
Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs
including Ay, Avize and Mesnil-sur-Oger.
Grape Variety:
55%
Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay. 20% of the wines are matured in large
oak casks which undergo weekly batonnage. There is no malolactic
fermentation. The wine spends an average of 5 years ageing in the
cellars then rests for a further 8 months post disgorgement.
The dosage is about 9 g/l.
With such substance Cristal is a hugely versatile champagne matching well with lobster and crayfish, mushrooms and even duck.
Background Information:
Established
in 1776, Champagne Louis Roederer is one of the few remaining
completely independent family owned, great Champagne houses.
In
1876 Tsar Alexander II, who was already a great fan of Louis Roederer’s
champagne, asked Louis Roederer to go one step further and produce, for
his own personal consumption, a unique wine in quality and bottle.
Louis Roederer offered to create an exceptional white crystal bottle to
house the best selection from the 7 finest vineyards of his estate. This
wine was only produced in the “great” years when the ripeness of the
Chardonnay and Pinot noir enabled a subtle, precise balance. The wine is
the region’s most prestigious.
The bottle
of Cristal comes complete in a golden-coloured anti-UV cellophane
wrapper and is presented in a Louis Roederer Cristal gift box.
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Price :
£225.00
Code : rsg00151
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