Cristal 1995 Louis Roederer

When to drink: 2008 to 2026
A mild winter followed by a relatively warm but wet spring, then frost on 20 April damaged vineyards in Verzy and Verzenay. After a slow start to summer the flowering started nearly two weeks later than usual and coulure reduced potential yields by 20-30%. A spell of hot, humid weather at the end of June accelerated vine development. Throughout July and August there was hardly any rain and above average temperatures. Harvest began on 18 September for Chardonnay and 25 September for Pinot Noir. Ripeness in the Chardonnays was balanced by higher than average acidity in the Pinot Noirs auguring a good well-balanced vintage with excellent keeping qualities. Disgorged 2007. Dosage 8 g/l with the same wine. 57% Pinot Noir. 10% malolactic fermentation. Relatively large harvest. Quite a bit of evolution on the nose. Beautifully tightly knit and complex. Savoury finish. Real bite on the finish. Zesty – real zest! Long. Just slightly dry on the end. Jancis Robinson