Having visited Louis Roederer Champagne House last year and meeting Frédéric Rouzaud, he was extremely generous to me and opened a bottle of 1983 Cristal. A classic year (Tottenham Hotspur beat Bayern Munich 2-0 in the Uefa Cup), the Champagne was out of this world especially when it was paired with the delicious Blanquette de veau. It has certainly left a lasting impression on me.
Last week we had a stunning Louis Roederer Tasting in the London office, which was a very refreshing break from Bordeaux 2011. The bubbles got us all in the mood and Mark Bingley MW was as good as ever. For those who don’t know much about this Champagne House it was Established in 1776 and Champagne Louis Roederer is one of the few remaining completely independent family owned great Champagne houses.
By 1876 the House had achieved such a reputation for quality that the second Louis Roederer was asked by Tsar Alexander II to create Cristal for the exclusive use of the Russian Tsars and in so doing created the first ever Cuvée de Prestige.
Alexander II ordered that the Cristal champagne bottles for his Three Emperors Dinner be made clear and flat at the bottom, so that he could see the bubbles and also to prevent hiding a bomb. I always thought the golden cellophane wrapper, that you find wrapped around the bottle of Cristal was for show, but it actually is used to protect the wine from UV rays. Widespread awareness of its high price has given the wine an image of exclusivity that, in turn, has elevated demand.
Roederer owns just over 214 hectares of vineyards located in the finest areas of Champagne – Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs.
We tasted:
NV Brut Premier
This has to be the best NV out there. Blended from six different vintages from over 40 individual plots in a cuvée composed of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Pinot Meunier. It is full and complex. It is powerful and modern yet retaining a classic balance.
BRUT ROSÉ 2007
Dynamic, soft and elegant. Light spring flowers on the finish. A super intense Rosé. Drink.
BRUT VINTAGE 2006
The mouth is round and gentle with a creamy flow. The 2005 was excellent but this certainly isn’t overshadowed. A well-made champagne that will bring pleasure to everyone….
CRISTAL 2004
2004 was a classic and generous year, it is similar to 2002 vintage. This wine is elegant and rich. So many dimensions. The fine light bubbles coat your mouth with rich strawberries, figs and lemons, that lasts forever! Opening this bottle for an hour before will work wonders for the wine. “The last glass is always the Best”
