Louis Roederer's Cristal 2014 vintage stands out as an absolute icon, a masterpiece of winemaking precision born of a brilliant year. Defined by the Cellar Master as a true "vin de sols"(wine of the soil), this radiant vintage draws its strength from pure chalk to offer a texture of supreme finesse. Combining the fleshy power of Pinot Noir with the chiseled elegance of Chardonnay, it reveals a masterful balance between fruity maturity and salty freshness. It is a champagne for fine dining, crafted for the long term, promising a sensory experience of exceptional purity and racy length.
The making of Cristal 2014 Louis Roederer
The blend for this vintage is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The creation of Cristal 2014 required a drastic selection of plots: out of all the historic sites of the Cristal Estate, only 39 plots were selected for their ability to reflect the "pure and racy" identity of the year. True to the House's quest for freshness, no malolactic fermentation was carried out (0%), thus preserving all the natural liveliness of the grapes. A significant proportion of the wines, 32%, were vinified in oak casks, bringing a sappy structure and spicy complexity without weighing down the substance. The dosage is precisely adjusted to 7 g/l, emphasizing the wine's mineral tension.
The Terroir
The grapes come exclusively from Grands Crus spread evenly across the three historic areas: the Marne Valley, the Montagne de Reims, and the Côte des Blancs. The main crus that make up this symphony are Verzenay, Verzy, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Aÿ, Avize, Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Cramant. The success of this vintage is due to the chalk soils located in the middle and lower slopes. More draining, they played a key role in removing excess water during the summer, allowing the vines to find their balance and reach perfect maturity.
Vinification
At Roederer, winemaking is a quest for the perfect harmony between soil and climate. The House's virtuous viticultural practices have resulted in grapes of perfect maturity, tempered by gentle practices in the cellar. Partial aging in large oak barrels gives the wine body, density, and a "complete" texture. Cristal 2014 is a wine built for the long term, benefiting from extended aging on slats to refine its effervescence and soften its dense texture.
The 2014 vintage
The year 2014 has been described as a "three-step climatic waltz," marked by strong, sharp contrasts. After a magnificent, dry spring followed by a scorching June, the summer turned autumnal, cool, and rainy. Salvation came in the form of a warm, sunny, and very dry September, worthy of an August. This last-minute return of the sun made 2014 a luminous vintage, where the maturity of the fruit and finesse were able to express themselves brilliantly.
Tasting notes
Color
The color is golden, intense, and brilliant. The effervescence is dynamic, creating a continuous succession of clouds of fine bubbles.
Nose
The bouquet is intense, fragrant, and very pure. It reveals concentrated notes ofcandied citrus fruits that blend delicately with aromas of harvest and lightly toasted almonds.
Palate
On the palate, the sensation is one of generous, silky fruitiness, amplified by a gentle effervescence. Ripe yellow fruit blends with an intense chalky freshness that is both powdery and salty. The finish is long and elegant, revealing a velvety texture.
Serving suggestions
- Osciètre caviar
- Tempura langoustines
- Scallop carpaccio
- Roasted Turbot with Beurre Blanc
- Grilled blue lobster
- Bresse chicken with morel mushrooms
- Mature Chaource
- 36-month Comté
- Lightly sweetened citrus tart
Storage and serving tips
How should this champagne be stored?
The famous transparent Cristal bottle, historically designed for the Tsar, makes the wine extremely vulnerable to light and UV rays. It is wrapped in a protective yellow film (UV-resistant cellophane) which must be kept on until the wine is ready to be enjoyed. Store your bottles horizontally in a dark, cool cellar (40-50°F) to ensure the perfect development of this great wine.
Aging potential
Cristal 2014 is a wine made for eternity. While it is already "radiant" and accessible in its youth thanks to its pure fruit, it has immense aging potential. It will reveal more complexity, depth, and tertiary notes over the next 20 years and beyond.
Serving suggestions
Serve this exceptional champagne at a temperature of 40 to 50°F. Avoid serving it too cold, as this will mask its aromatic richness. We recommend using large white wine glasses to allow the vinosity, almond notes, and salinity to fully blossom.
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