2008 Louis Roederer, Cristal Rose 1×1.5L

Robert Parker 100

The finest rendition of this cuvee that Lecaillon has produced to datea and, indeed, one of the finest wines produced by any of Champagne’s important houses in the last two or three decadesa is the 2008 Cristal Rose, a brilliant wine that derives from a mere four of the 45 plots that are candidates for inclusion in Cristal: two blocks of Pinot Noir from AA , one of Chardonnay from Mesnil and another from Avize, and I suspect that its origin in the creme de la creme of Roederer’s Cristal-worthy holdings has even more to do with the extra dimension it possesses above and beyond its white counterpart than the delicate infusion of Pinot Noir phenolics that give it its delicate pink hue. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of wild strawberries, tangerine, warm pastry and crisp green orchard fruit, the 2008 is medium to full-bodied, deep and concentrated, with a racy but beautifully integrated spine of acidity, a multidimensional core and a searingly chalky and laser-focused finish. Impeccably balanced and harmonious, this superb wine represents one of the qualitative peaks of this great vintage. It will be seven or eight years until it truly starts to blossom, but its benchmark quality is already glaringly apparent. [William Kelley, 10/08/2019]

Anticipated maturity: 2025-2055

Vinous 99+

The 2008 Cristal Rose is all tension, nuance and class. Fresh and utterly brilliant, the 2008 bristles on the palate with pure pedigree. In the glass, the 2008 is at once translucent, weightless and powerful. Readers should be in no hurry to drink the 2008, a wine that will age effortlessly for many, many decades to come. [Antonio Galloni, 07/01/2017]

Anticipated maturity: 2020-2058