Champagne Brut Cristal 2012 Louis Roederer 75 cl

Description

History

The foundation of the maison takes place in 1776, but it will have the turning point when it will be taken over by Louis Roederer in 1833, who in addition to naming the company with his name, will introduce innovations for the care in the cultivation of his own vineyards, and will buy new ones personally selecting the best. Thanks to the attention to these details, his bottles will soon reach the United States and in particular Russia, reaching the table of Tsar Alexander II. It was in 1876 that the first “prestige cuvée” was created for the Tsar marketed under the name of “Cristal”, since it was marketed in a crystal bottle in order to better appreciate its color tone, which will soon become one of the best-selling and universally appreciated for their great elegance and quality. Even today this great elegance is the unique style of the company, under the guidance of the seventh generation of the family.

Grapes used

Pinot Noir 60%

Chardonnay 40%

Production method

This wine is produced according to the so-called methode champenoise or classic method, a method in which the wine substantially undergoes two different fermentations: the first, the alcoholic one (which it shares with the rest of the wines) takes place in vats for fermentation; the second instead takes place directly in the bottle and ensures that during this second procedure, thanks to particular yeasts, the wine also develops carbon dioxide (which will then give life to the famous bubbles when uncorked). Produced only in the best years, when the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay reach full maturity, it then ages for at least 6 years on the lees and a further 8 months in the bottle after disgorgement.

Alcohol content

12.5%

Tasting notes

It is presented in the glass in a crystalline and bright straw yellow color, with a delicate and very fine perlage. On the nose, notes of candied fruit, orange peel are immediately perceived, followed by dried fruit, hazelnut, toasted almond, light and delicate aromas of melted butter and spices, good minerality. In the mouth it is full and powerful, but at the same time creamy, delicate and enveloping; we have ripe fruity notes which then evolve into a youthful freshness with aging potential, accompanied by more mature and spicy notes and a very long finish that pampers the palate even several seconds after the wine has been swallowed. Balance perfectly found in all its components, with potential for improvement over time. Truly an icon.

Possible combinations

“Cristal” 2012 Louis Roederer is ideal for a special evening, to celebrate an important event with friends and/or loved ones. It is perhaps not really important what goes with it but you could try it with some delicate dishes based on fine fish, even tasty, for example some salmon tartare, oysters, caviar.