2014 Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé (Gift Box)

Light, delicate soft pink hue. Bright, vibrant, ultra-fine bubbles. Refined bouquet of freshly-picked tart red fruit (wild strawberry, raspberry) and lemon scented flower petals. The pure, precise fragrances delicately intertwine and are gradually joined by overtones of fresh almonds, bread and spices (cocoa bean). These nuanced, intricately interwoven fragrances are ethereal and transcendent. Intense, velvety and captivating on the palate. What else would you expect after such perfume? The juicy, concentrated red fruit gradually pulls towards a raspberry liqueur character complemented by invigorating, sweet citrus aromas. The harmony and delicacy of the wine is reinforced by the creamy bubbles which create a sensation of roundness and concentration. The mineral freshness lengthens the palate; it becomes vertical, chalky, saline and sapid with a sensation of perpetual acceleration created by the pure, bright limestone.

The 2014 Cristal Rosé sizzles with energy. Finely cut and crystalline to the core, the 2014 is laced with striking vibrancy. Chalk, mint, white flowers, cranberry and blood orange all race across the palate. Deceptively understated and nuanced, the 2014 possesses tons of energy and captivating inner perfume. The 2014 is at the beginning of what is sure to be a very long life. I would not plan on opening a bottle for at least a few years. The style of the vintage is one built on linear intensity more than opulence, like say 2004, with captivating aromatics and a sort of inner tension that needs to resolve. As always, the Rosé is done in the classic Roederer infusion style in which Pinot Noir is vinified on the skins and then blended with Chardonnay to complete the fermentation. Dosage is 7 grams per liter.