Cristal Rosé 2014 – A Vintage of Contrasts and Craftsmanship
The 2014 vintage in Champagne unfolded like a true waltz in three acts: a very dry spring ending with an extreme heatwave, followed by a cool and rainy summer, and concluded with a sunny, warm, and dry September. Not the classic recipe for a great vintage, yet the result was an outstanding Cristal Rosé. This success can be credited to two key factors: the unique porous chalk subsoil in the middle and lower slopes, which absorbed the summer rainfall and prevented overly vigorous vine growth, and the skill and experience of Roederer’s vineyard team, who were able to achieve perfect balance and complexity in the grapes.
Cristal Rosé 2014 is made from 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, sourced from Roederer’s own Premier Cru vineyards in Aÿ, Verzenay, Verzy, and Cumières for the Pinot Noir, and Le Mesnil, Oger, and Avize for the Chardonnay. To achieve Cristal Rosé’s beautiful color and style, Louis Roederer uses a technique called skin maceration, where the skins of the Pinot Noir grapes are kept in contact with the juice for several hours before pressing. For the 2014 vintage, about 19% of the wine was fermented in oak barrels, with no malolactic fermentation. The wine was then aged for a second fermentation in the bottle for 7 years, and given a dosage of 8 grams per liter. After disgorgement, the wine was aged for another 8 months before release.
Cristal Rosé 2014 displays a stunning salmon-pink hue with golden reflections. The bubbles are fine, delicate, and persistent. The aroma offers classic notes of red berries like wild strawberries, raspberries, and cherries, as well as blackcurrants and more exotic, smoky, and lightly spiced tones. On the palate, the wine impresses with precision, finesse, purity, and charm. The key characteristics are precision, intensity, and minerality. Try it with caviar, fish, lobster, oysters, or simply as a sublime aperitif.
Louis Roederer is in a highly privileged position, owning 214 hectares of Champagne’s finest vineyards, and is thus nearly self-sufficient in grape production. The vineyards are roughly evenly divided across the three best regions in Champagne – Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, and Côte des Blancs – and supply 80–85% of Roederer’s grape needs. 97% of the vineyards are classified as Grand Cru or Premier Cru, and the same high quality applies to the plots in Bouzy and Ambonnay, where the remaining grapes are sourced.
Over the past several years, Louis Roederer has gradually transitioned its production to follow sustainable practices, including organic and biodynamic farming. The vineyards that supply grapes for Cristal are already DEMETER-certified (biodynamic). Since the 2021 vintage, an additional 115 hectares have been organically certified, with the remaining vineyards set to follow.
Louis Roederer has long stood at the pinnacle of Champagne, and few houses today enjoy greater prestige.
