2008 Cristal
By Louis Roederer
An exceptional champagne vintage: 2008 Cristal from Louis Roederer
With passion and finesse as its hallmark traits, the house of Louis Roederer has exceeded all expectations with its 2008 Cristal. The 2008 vintage came after a dramatic year for grapes fostering a creation with a profound crispness, a quality often craved amongst investors in the rarefied world of the wine-connoisseur.
Decoding the quality of the grapes
A cool early season segued into a warm, dry summer, helping to shape a vintage described by many of those global industry insiders as showcasing majestic complexity and depth. This level of intensity was quite unexpected, given that some had worried about the risks posed by a tumultuous growing season.
The meticulous attention to detail in Roederer’s crafting gives us, in this release, a vibrant blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir predominantly sourced from Grand Cru vineyards. Such is the terroir's pedigree, it offers exciting potential for those discerning investors who appreciate the maturing potential packed within these enticing bottles.
A taste like no other
The 2008 Cristal is singular and spellbinding. A silken texture accompanies an invigorating line of acidity embraced by effulgent flavours of succulent citrus fruits coupled with baked apples and brioche produced by aging on lees. Its finish is brilliantly persistent and finely sculpted.
This bottle truly underscores the flamboyance of a telling vintage, singing the song of provenance and well-executed viniculture that every great Cristal ought to deliver.
2008 Cristal: A magnificent investment
The 2008 Cristal details why it's heralded as one of the finest releases from this esteemed Champagne House - Louis Roederer. Often perceived as an icon for investors looking beyond merely financial appreciation, it nestles effortlessly within the top echelon of investment-grade wines with its storied history, scarcity value, and age-worthy majesty.
The evolving story of 2008 Cristal from Louis Roederer can be summarised as the marriage between meticulous craftsmanship and the unexpected gifts bestowed by Mother Nature - presenting a narration worthy of your attention whether you are an investor or just an appreciator of fine wines.
Market price (GBP)
£2,580.00
12x75cl
Highest score
98
POP score
143.33
Scores and tasting notes
Disgorged in September 2017 with 7.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2008 Cristal was produced from 37 of the 45 parcels that are candidates for inclusion in this cuvée—some 40% of which were farmed organically back in 2008—and it's a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The finest young Cristal in decades, the wine wafts from the glass with a pure and vibrant bouquet of crisp orchard fruit, clear honey, warm brioche, citrus zest and white flowers. On the palate, it's full-bodied, intense and incisive, with superb concentration, racy acids and a long, searingly chalky finish. Pristinely balanced, there are some 500,000 bottles of this legend-in-the-making.
William Kelley - The Wine Advocate, 5 March 2020