Champagnes

A key event in the success of Roederer was breaking the Russian market, as achieved by the elder Louis Roederer. As a result the blue-blooded Russians found themselves partial to the odd glass of Roederer Champagne, so much so that Tsar Alexander II requested that a special cuvée be created; one fitting to grace the table of a royal family. And so Louis Roederer II produced Cristal, regarded by many as the first prestige cuvée.

What made this sweet blend so distinctive was the packaging, being bottled in clear crystal rather than ordinary glass. It was a business coup for the Roederer family, although unfortunately one that backfired. The deposition of the Tsar that came with the October Revolution in 1917 meant that the Roederer’s lost their market. They had a lot of unpaid bills, and a large stock of sweet Champagne. But the firm survived, and remains in the hands of Roederer’s descendants to this day.

The range of wines is largely sourced from Roederer’s own vineyards, which provide the majority of the raw materials required. There are very good non-vintage cuvées including Brut Premier, the Extra Dry, Grand Vin Sec and the demi-sec Carte Blanche. These are all Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in a roughly 2:1 proportion, plus a dash of Pinot Meunier. The vintage wines include the Brut Vintage, Rosé Vintage and an oft superb Blanc de Blancs. The latter is obviously 100% Chardonnay, the other two are Pinot Noir and Chardonnay in an approximately 7:3 proportion. The rosé is made by addition of red wine rather than the saignée method. And, of course, the aforementioned Cristal, which is also available as a rosé. Cristal is usually an approximately equal blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir; the rose contains more Pinot Noir, and again is made by addition of red wine rather than by skin contact

Robert Parker : 95 points
"The 2000 Cristal Rose emerges from the glass in a stunning display of well-articulated aromas and flavors. Everything in is perfect balance as this perfumed wine opens up in the glass in a style that recalls the weightless transparency of a great Burgundy. The finish is long, sweet and incredibly refined. I came back to the bottle several hours after opening, and the wine had blossomed into an extraordinary Champagne. In 2000 the Brut Cristal Rose is 70% Pinot Noir from Ay and 30% Chardonnay from Mesnil, Avize and Oger. Roughly 15% of the wine was aged in oak. This is Lot: L029898D100064, disgorged February 1st, 2007. Anticipated maturity: 2008-2020." (2008)

Stephen Tanzer : 93 points
"Pink with an orange rim and a vigorous mousse. Deep cherry, berry skin, spiced nuts and flowers on the nose, brightened by blood orange and smoky minerals. Taut, finely etched red berry and citrus flavors gain flesh with air, taking a turn to bitter cherry, toffee apple and yellow plum. Sappy, lightly chewy and concentrated, with a long, spicy finish. Changed continually in the glass but maintained an impressive, nervy precision, suggesting that it will reward cellaring." (2008)