Louis Roederer - Cristal Champagne 2009 (750ml)
Price: $395.00
| Producer | Louis Roederer |
| Country | France |
| Region | Champagne |
| Varietal | Champagne Blend |
| Vintage | 2009 |
| Sku | 1802064 |
| Size | 750ml |
Wine Enthusiast: 97 Points
The latest incarnation of this famous Champagne now comes from Roderer's own vineyards a good portion of which are run on biodynamic lines. This still-young wine has great depth and richness a beautiful balance between ripe fruit and crisp texture that make it alive crisp and bright. As it matures it will deepen and become even more intense. Drink now if you must but preferably wait until 2019.
Vinous: 96 Points
Rich creamy and radiant the 2009 Cristal captures all of the natural generosity of the vintage while also retaining a good bit of freshness and aromatic intensity. Immediate and totally sensual in its allure the 2009 will drink well with minimal cellaring. All things considered at this stage the 2009 comes across as relatively restrained for a wine from a warm year. (Drink between 2019-20
Wine Spectator: 95 Points
White peach and acacia blossom aromas accent the flavors of poached apple, gingersnap biscuit, pastry cream and spun honey in this harmonious Champagne. The satiny mousse caresses the palate, while firm, focused acidity drives the lasting finish. Drink now through 2030.
Wine Advocate: 95+ Points
The 2009 Cristal is a blend of Grands Crus from the Montagne de Reims the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs (a total of 33-34 parcels of which 40% were farmed biodynamically). Like the 2008 Cristal the 2009 also blends 60% Pinot Noir with 40% Chardonnay and 16% of the wine was vinified in oak casks. No malolactic fermentation was done. The 2009 was aged for six years in the cellars and was disgorged in March 2016 with a dosage of eight grams per liter. Released two years ago the 2009 is just starting another more "Burgundian" life. Tasted in May 2018 the bouquet was pretty reductive with flinty and toasty/nutty notes and some potted ginger flavors. Full-bodied round and rich on the palate this is a stunningly pure fresh and salty 2009 that is driven by its chalky terroir and the lingering salinity. Is it really 2009? It is ripe yes but driven by the strength of chalk. The finish is pure clean fresh very complex and long yet delicate and endlessly salty. However two years after disgorgement the 2009 Cristal is closing down and in a pretty reductive stage right now. Tasted May 2018. The 2008 Cristal and Cristal Rosé come two years after the 2009. "The 2008 is launched after the 2009 because of its impressive personality. The wine wasn't ready two years ago whereas the 2009 was brilliant? says Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon cellar master at Roederer since 1999 during my visit at the domaine in Reims in May 2018. Later this year Roederer will also relaunch the famous 2002 which was disgorged in 2010 and of which Lécaillon kept a few thousand bottles apart for three-star Michelin restaurants enabling them to offer several vintages of Cristal. "The 2008 vintage was a continental year with a slow and late ripening process due to an unusually dry and cool summer. Under certain circumstances ripeness could have been difficult to achieve? Lécaillon explains. "This was also the case in 1996 which we eventually picked a bit too early due the pressure given by rot. In 2008 however I waited a bit longer maybe a week or so to lower the high acidity level naturally. I also did malolactic fermentation in 16% of the volume which is not much but enough to soften the acidity. Last but not least the 2008 which we bottled in May 2009 spent eight and a half months on the second lees before the disgorgement?longer than any Cristal before. The resulting taste is incredibly pure like spring water from the rocks..." In fact the Cristal is a great combination of freshness salinity and finesse with power concentration and complexity. The 2008 Cristal Rosé is still terribly young and fresh but highly promising. The true class of both is something we should debate again in five to ten years. So far the 2002 Cristal and especially the Cristal Rosé are unrivaled masterpieces yet there is something in the air that smells...incredibly chalky! 2009 is also a continental but very sunny year following a very cold and dry winter. The summer was "glorious? full of sunshine "and almost no rain in August and September.? These conditions led to ripe grapes with excellent health and enabled team Roederer to produce fine very elegant deliciously light but fruit-intense cuvées of great balance and harmony. The 2009 Cristal is pretty reductive at the moment and according to Lécaillon this will remain for about 15 years following the harvest. The Cristal Rosé combines purity and finesse with texture and complexity. It is an age-worthy wine with substance and the precision of a laser sword.
