Champagne Louis-Roederer’s 2008 Cristal is the best in cellar master Jean-Baptise Lecaillon’s 30-year history with the house, he says.
Speaking to the drinks business at the official launch of the famous prestige cuvee’s 2008 vintage, Lecaillion said that it is “the most Cristal of Cristals; it represents exactly the vision we have of a Cristal”.
The 2008 follows the release of the younger 2009 vintage last year. According to Lecaillion, the 2008 – which he admits was a “struggle” – needed longer to calm down its acidity. However, it was worth the wait, and the cellar master has compared it to two previous, much-lauded Cristal vintages: the 1988 and 1996.
The Champagne – a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay – was aged for 10 years, the longest ever cellaring time for Cristal. Cristal pricing at this release is £210 per bottle (RRP), a 5% increase on the 2009 release.
