Champagne Louis Roederer - Champagne - Cristal - White - 2016

Wine:

Born from a year of contrasting weather, with a cool spring and scorching summer, the Roederer Cristal 2016 stands out for its impeccable balance. Sourced from 32 parcels across the renowned crus of Verzenay, Verzy, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Aÿ, Avize, Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Cramant, this Cristal blends 58% Pinot Noir, delivering rich, juicy fruit flavors, with Chardonnay bringing a chalky, saline freshness. The nose reveals aromas of white flowers, candied citrus, and stone fruits, along with subtle hints of iodine and toasted notes from extended lees aging. On the palate, it’s strikingly soft and accessible, with concentrated flavors of ripe, juicy fruit—an exceptional showcase of the vintage’s Pinot Noir—offering a refined, silky texture. Gradually, notes of harvest wheat and oyster shell emerge from the slow-ripened Chardonnays, adding complexity. The texture is delicately structured, with a fine, chocolatey grain. Perfectly balanced with crisp, saline, and slightly iodized notes, it finishes long, chalky, and crystalline, building beautifully. Its potential is immense, with a Parker rating of 97/100.

Vinification:

Hand harvested, grapes mainly from the following crus: Mesnil-sur-Oger, Cramant, Verzenay, Verzy, Beaumont-sur-Veyle, Ay, Avize. No malolactic fermentation and ageing in oak barrels for 31% of the wines.

Dosage: 7g/l.

Color:

Luminous golden yellow with delicate bubbles.

Nose:

Intense, precise, and layered, with aromas of white flowers, citrus, and ripe stone fruits.

Palate:

Smooth and delicate on the palate, this cuvée reveals perfect balance, with a texture that is both crisp and saline, culminating in a chalky, crystalline finish.

Temperature:

Serve between 8 and 10°C.

Food and wine pairing:

Aperitif with caviar blinis or salmon roe, shellfish, slipper lobster, lobster or grilled lobster, salt-crusted sea bass, capon stuffed with morel mushrooms or poultry demi-deuil, endless combinations...

Cellar aging:

From now until 2035 and beyond for enthusiasts

A pillar of Champagne excellence, Maison Louis Roederer embodies—perhaps more than any other—the highest expression of this magical wine’s cultural refinement. It also remains one of the few great houses still independently run by a direct descendant of its founding family.

A driving force in the transformation of Champagne viticulture, Louis Roederer has long focused its energy on the vineyard, embracing organic farming and gentle, sustainable practices well ahead of the curve. Over half of its 250 hectares are now certified organic, with many parcels also following principles inspired by permaculture.

This uncompromising pursuit of perfection and Roederer’s forward-thinking approach to flavor and farming are the focus of an in-depth feature in the latest issue of our magazine Racines, which pays tribute to this remarkable Champagne artisan.