Winemaker Notes
Bright, shiny yellow hue. Magnificent fine, slow moving bubbles. The bouquet is intense, deep and precise, combining scents of white flowers (acacia), concentrated, roasted citrus (lemons), and ripe yellow fruit (peaches, mirabelle plums). After a few minutes, subtle iodised, powdery and roasted overtones emerge, the result of the autolysis of the yeasts during the "sur lattes" ageing process. On the palate, there is an immediate impression, soft and delicate, more accessible than ever! It is like a zabaglione with concentrated, juicy and ripe fruit, the hallmark of the Pinot noirs from the heatwave in 2016 with their soft, caressing texture derives from the chalky soil in which they grow. The bubbles are tactile, perfectly integrated and almost salty. Wheat and oyster shell notes are the signature of the slow and late ripening great Chardonnays. The substance is there, powdery, grainy, and deliciously chocolatey. We are very close to having the "ideal" balance, the wine is crisp, saline and iodised, with a long, chalky, crystalline finish that lingers and builds to a crescendo. The overall impression is one of refinement, sapidity and purity... like the infinite grace of an opera ballerina. Cristal 2016 is pure, delicate, and concentrated. Is it the perfect, eloquent "Grand Cristal" : 50% sun (ripe, juicy Pinot noirs) and 50% soil (chalky, saline Chardonnays). It is similar to the 2002, 2008, and 2012, but with an even longer, more precise and concentrated character.
About the Producer
Originally founded in 1776, Champagne Louis Roederer continues as one of the very rare Champagne houses to remain firmly in the hands of the same family, since 1832. For three centuries, seven successive generations have been responsible for building a reputation for unparalleled quality and continuity. A focus on meticulous viticulture, best demonstrated with an ongoing organic and biodynamic conversion to its vineyards-totaling 593 acres-accounts for the House's success and enduring excellence, spanning its multi-vintage Collection to the highly prized Cristal cuvee. Remarkably, 100% of the House's vintage-dated wines are estate-produced.
