As the largest independent family-managed Champagne producer, Louis Roederer is amongst the region's finest producer. Established in 1776, the House today is managed by seventh generation family member Frédéric Rouzaud alongside long-time Chef de Cave and Champagne legend Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. They own 242 hectares of vineyards many in chalk rich Grand Cru villages covering two-thirds of their grape requirements. Roederer have become pioneers in biodynamic farming and in 2012 all 78 hectares the “Cristal Estates” are farmed using biodynamic methods.
By 2021 Roederer have 115 hectares certified organic. All the grapes in Cristal & other vintage cuvee’s come from their own vineyards. The estate is made up of 410 plots which are fermented separately in one of the 450 stainless steel tanks in their Reims cellars.
All Louis Roederer vintage champagnes are made using grapes from their own estate. Louis Roederer use the structure and power of the Pinot Noir grapes from the Montagne de Reims to create their Brut Vintage blend. The character of the Pinot Noir in the champagne intensifies and becomes more refined through long ageing in wood. It is the Pinot Noirs from the Grand Cru rated village of Verzenay in particular that give the champagnes their velvety, creamy and elegant palate.
Today Cristal from Louis Roederer is widely recognised as the world's most awarded prestige cuvée champagne.
This vintage champagne, aims to capture the ultimate expression of the Pinot noir from Louis Roederer's “La Montagne” estate, concentrated on the original vines purchased by the Champagne House. The Vintage is therefore a testament to an exceptional year, a snapshot of a terroir that has undergone a slow maturation process.
2014 vintage was characterised by mild temperatures and frequent rainfall and a few weeks of high temperatures, a very solid vintage with good ripeness and acidity. Flowering began in June and summer was a combination of dry, wet and cold spells. Some regions saw some disease and Meunier in the Marne Valley didn’t have a great year and some of the Pinot Noir with its thinner skin made it more difficult for the red grapes. Harvest took place from 8th to 20th September. A year where it was necessary to select the red grapes carefully to maintain high quality. In general Chardonnay is the star of the vintage.
The grapes are from 2 appellations; Verzy, Chouilly in the ‟La Montagne” Estate
« Luscious, full-bodied and crunchy »
Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, Cellar Master
