2000 Cristal Rose
By Louis Roederer
2000 Cristal Rosé by Louis Roederer
The dawn of the new millennium brought us the 2000 Cristal Rosé from Louis Roederer, a champagne testimony to a year graced with a mild winter and hot spring. This brings us to an exquisite symphony of Pinot noir and Chardonnay, deployed in exact measures hailing from Roederer's very own vineyards.
Ephemeral refinement, a palpable investment possibility
With its association to the Russian Tsar Alexander II, Louis Roederer enjoys an illustrious history trailing back to 1776. Nevertheless, the consistent treasure is the intricacy of their craftsmanship. The 2000 Cristal Rosé strikes an impressive demonstration of this artisan skill.
A whiff and sip of this tantalising vintage will have any connoisseur immersed in a world where delicate red fruit aromas mix with mineral undertones. A refined balance within the bottle makes it an alluring prospect for any discerning wine investor.
Whispers of an exceptional season, culminating in a grand crescendo
Sacred to the champagne world, this vintage from that distinctive year demonstrates what a gentle climate can offer when nurtured well by vintners with foresight.
A unique combination - slight acidity intertwined with an expressive richness, makes the 2000 Cristal Rosé stand tall. Traces of saffron and forest fruits dominate with a continuous mineral freshness whispering through every taste.
This stylish mélange of ripe fruit, spicy mineral complexity and ethereal elegance sets a new bar for what Champagne can aspire to be. It leaves an indelible memory on one's palate.
The crescendo does not end here. Indeed, it should be shared and revered beyond the rims of champagne flutes. Hence, making it an enticing prospect for those on the lookout for remarkable wine investments.
Current market price
£4,520.00
12x75cl
Highest score
95
POP score
301.33
Scores and tasting notes
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. Roederer is one of the most impressive estates in Champagne. Few houses have managed to reconcile this level production in a negociant operation while achieving such a consistently outstanding level of quality across the entire range. Roederer owns 214 hectares of vineyards, which is enough to meet 65-70% of the house’s needs. The vintage wines are made from 100% estate-grown fruit, while the NV wines are made with the addition of roughly 45% purchased fruit. Generally speaking, malolactic fermentation and oak aging are used to a higher degree for the NV range than for the vintage wines. Dosage varies as well, and ranges from 11-12 grams for the entry-level wines to 9-10 for the tete de cuvee Cristal. Unfortunately because if its rabid following the vast majority of Cristal is drunk upon release, which is ironic, if not downright tragic, considering Cristal is a wine that starts peaking around age 15-20, and that can last much longer under ideal storage conditions. With Cristal, Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon aims to make an ageworthy Champagne that is fresh and floral when young, but that is also capable of considerable development with bottle age, qualities the finest Cristals have in spades. In the best vintages one tank of Cristal Rose is also made that features the exquisite Pinot Noir of Ay. Unfortunately Roederer does not provide disgorgement dates for its wines, but the bottles have codes that can be traced back to dates at the winery. It would be great to see this venerable property add a simple disgorgement date, at least for their top wines, considering the significant financial investment required to purchase them. Importer: Maison Marques & Domaines, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000
Antonio Galloni - The Wine Advocate, 21 December 2008