Cristal Louis Roederer 1996

Lot presentation

Cristal Louis Roederer 1996

The wine

As the maison's flagship wine, the Cristal cuvée meets the strictest preparation criteria, calling for a rigorous selection of vintages, crus, grapes and wines. Only Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are selected from the maison's ten most famous crus. In addition, some of the wines are fermented in oak foudre casks, creating the delicate vinosity so characteristic of Cristal. The bright pale gold colour develops complex aromas of almonds and hazelnuts. Full bodied, round and creamy, Cristal is characterised by its perfect balance. Note the existence of a rare Cristal Rosé of exceptionally high quality.

About the Producer Louis Roederer

Remained the property of the same family since its founding in Reims in 1776, M. Dubois and his son, Louis Roederer is now one of the few Champagne houses still independent. In 1833, Louis Roederer inherited the house and decided to expand the vineyard. It is mainly the Cristal cuvée that contributed historically to the fame of this house. The history of Cristal, the first prestige cuvée in the history of champagne began in 1876 when Tsar Alexander II demanded a distinctive sign on his bottles of champagne, to make the imperial champagne easily recognizable by Tsar and the court. Thus was born a crystal bottle with a flat bottom, the shape and transparency are perpetuated today. Following the Russian Revolution of October 1917 Roederer Cristal has seen an eclipse before being reborn in 1924. This Cuvée, is still today, the jewel of the Roederer House.
The house was managed by Frédérique Rouzaud, the grandson of Camille and Léon Olry Roederer, who owned the house from the 1920s onwards since 2006 ; now it is his son Frédérique Rouzaud, the 6th generation of the family at the head of this house which owns now 250 hectares, composed of 420 plots and located essentially in premiers and grand crus: an exceptional wine heritage, which provides 100% of the house's needs (it does not buy grapes). To respect this great diversity of terroirs, the vinifications are fragmented. The wines are very regular and always of a high quality.
The vineyards are tended to according to a number of principals that'll put them in the best possible place for the future: organic, biodynamic... Since 2021, more than half of the vines (135 hectares) have been certified organic.

Detailed characteristics