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Date Printed: 5/20/2013
Louis Roederer Cristal Rose 2000
Louis Roederer Cristal Rose 2000
 (search item no. 93039)
collectible wine

Wine & Spirits rating: 96 points
The Wine Advocate rating: 95 points
PRICE ON 5/20/2013: $529.00

ratings pedigree (past vintages):
2004 Wine & Spirits rating: 98 points
2002 Wine & Spirits rating: 100 points
2002 Wine Enthusiast rating: 95 points
2002 International Wine Cellar rating: 93 points
1996 Wine Spectator rating: 93 points
1995 Wine & Spirits rating: 96 points
1995 International Wine Cellar rating: 95 points
1995 Wine Enthusiast rating: 94 points

Winemaker's Notes:

 The Louis Roederer Vintage Rosé is a unique type of Champagne. Roederer is one of the few houses to still use skin maceration in its winemaking. This is a delicate method that consists of letting Pinot Noirs macerate several hours on the press to extract more fruit and color. This process requires very concentrated and aromatic Pinot Noir grapes that come from the very old vines of the Cumières.

The wine is salmon pink in color, tinged with orangey-red highlights and ultra-fine bubbles. It is fabulously rich and lush on the nose, with an almost sappy opulence of juicy red and black berries (raspberries, strawberries, bilberries and blackcurrants), layering with ripe scents of candied and crystallized fruits plus a whiff of caramel and cocoa.

The wine is ample and creamy on the attack, with plenty of mouth-filling richness. The acidity is pure, mineral and crystalline, as crisp as biting into fresh fruit, deliciously light and subtle nonetheless. Red fruits still very much to the fore but with the added complexity of acacia blossom and nutty hints of hazelnuts and almonds. Overall, this is a complex Brut Rosé, with a robust, vinous structure, but remains fresh and elegant due to its enduring acidity.

Thanks to its structure and vinosity, 2000 Brut Rosé is a perfect accompaniment to fish (salmon in particular) or meats such as lamb, veal, fowl or even pheasant. In addition, this wine is an ideal complement to creamy cheeses or the sharpness of a soft fruit pudding.
My Notes:

Additional wines from Louis Roederer:

About Louis Roederer:

 Uncompromising Quality
Champagne Louis Roederer was founded in 1776 in Reims, France and is one of the rare family owned companies, which is still managed by the Roederer family. In 1833, Louis Roederer inherited the company from his uncle and renamed the company under his namesake. Under his leadership, the company rapidly grew while remaining true to their philosophy of uncompromising quality. Today, the company is under the helm of Jean-Claude Rouzaud and his son Frédéric who continue to place quality before quantity.

First-Rate Vineyards
Champagne Louis Roederer is one of the only French champagne producers to own nearly 75 percent of the grapes in the most desirable vineyards in the Champagne. The property is located on 450 acres in the finest villages of Montagne de Reims, Côtes des Blancs, and Valleé de la Marne. Each region is selected to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with the elegance needed for perfectly balanced champagne. The Louis Roederer vineyards rate an average 98 percent based on France’s statutory 100-point classification scale.

The reserve wine is then tasted and graded by a team of Roederer specialists. They choose as many as 40 different wines from several lots for the blend. For the final touch, the wine is then added in order to enhance the cuvee and guarantee consistency while retaining the champagne's characteristics.