2008 Louis Roederer Cristal
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Tasting notes
The 2008 Cristal Late-Released is a special cuvée bottled to celebrate Cristal’s 150th Anniversary. It spent an added four years on the lees, which places it between the regular release and the Vinothèque in terms of aging. Explosive in the glass, the 2008 possesses off-the-charts textural richness and density, much of that coming from the shaking of the bottles during élevage ( poignettage ). That extra mid-palate resonance fills out the layers, resulting in a Cristal that is utterly profound. Unforgettable. Disgorged: 2020.
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Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
William Kelley, Wine Advocate
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One of the masterpieces of this exceptional vintage (the last that was this cool). Ravishing nose of Amalfi lemon and white peach with hints of white chocolate, chamomile and oyster shell. Super-elegant and tightly structured with a hint of creaminess on the mid-palate adding tension. Very long steely finish carried by the linear mineral acidity. A cuvée of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, part of which (unusually for Cristal) underwent malolactic fermentation. Getting very scarce on the secondary market, partly because of the great aging potential!
Magnum. Disgorged in 2020, dosage 8 g/l. 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, 20% of the cuvée is fermented in oak. 11 years spent on the lees. Very difficult growing season but great wines with lots of acidity, according to Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. ‘Very like the 1996 season, but we didn’t pick too early in 2008 – unlike in 1996.’ This was the start of Louis Roederer’s biodynamic journey, when the biodynamic fruit represented 40% of the blend. Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon’s benchmark vintage. Very complex and layered with real magic. Stunning with something floral. Really gorgeous. (JR)