THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE CREATION OF
CRISTAL ROSÉ.THE EVER-CHANGING STORY OF A CONSTANT DIALOGUE BETWEEN THE VINEYARD AND THE CELLAR.
A masterpiece from the Louis Roederer Champagne House, Cristal Rosé is an ode to lightness and refinement. Like a great perfume, this champagne is crafted like an essence, with softly nuanced fragrances that reveal a breathtaking expression in a feather-light body.
1974-1997.
In the beginning, the quest for the ultimate finesse
The turning point in 1974
Jean-Claude Rouzaud, then in charge of the vineyards and cellars, quickly recognised the importance of putting the vines back at the centre of the creative process. He identified and selected iconic plots of Pinot noir in Aÿ and Chardonnay in Avize and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, and created the first Cristal Rosé blend with the 1974 harvest.
His intuition laid the foundations for a long evolution, introducing a daring method known as "infusion", which would soon become the main thread running through the production of Cristal Rosé.
The first step towards a new technique: infusion
The first vintage of Cristal Rosé was a skilful blend of contrasts hailing from Champagne Louis Roederer's oldest and best-exposed vineyard plots. It was also the result of a special, pioneering method, gentle infusion, which would later become the hallmark of this champagne.
1998-2006. The full power of the terroir
Evolving winegrowing practices and the terroir effect
At the turn of the millennium, we realised that climate change was starting to have an impact and that new plant material was needed. Long committed to sustainable and responsible growing practices, Champagne Louis Roederer therefore began its important yet quiet evolution. At the same time, in 2006, Domaine Cristal began a transition to regenerative organic growing and massal selection.
This change in viticulture was a major turning point in the history of Cristal Rosé, as the wine expresses more fragrance, nuances and energy thanks to a better expression of its terroir.
2007-2017. The gentle infusion revolution
Gentle infusion, a revolutionary and pioneering technique
The aromatic expression of Cristal Rosé was already wonderfully enhanced by the infusion technique used since its creation, but we wanted to go further.
Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, our cellar and vineyard manager since 1999, has continued to perfect the technique, inspired by the work of the great Japanese tea masters. For almost 25 years, this continuous process of reflection has guaranteed even greater purity in the infusion.
The turning point of the 2008 vintage
The year 2008 was both a pivotal year and one of triumph: that of a legendary vintage, undoubtedly one of the greatest Cristal Rosé vintages ever produced, and that of a change in the nature of the infusion and paradigm.
Helped by the beauty of the year and the changes made in viticulture and vinification, Cristal Rosé 2008 remains a landmark vintage in the history of this champagne.
2017-2024. An ever-changing story
An ode to the preservation of plant heritage
The history of Cristal Rosé is intertwined with that of the Louis Roederer Champagne House and its various transformations over the years. 50 years ago, the plots selected for the Cristal Rosé blend were those with the oldest vines, producing perfectly ripe grapes. The very existence of this new champagne meant that these historic vines could be preserved and, a few years later, used for massal selections.
The genius of Cristal Rosé
Cristal Rosé is ushering in a new era, foreshadowing a new age and a radical change in the way we work and in the way we look at and support nature... Today, the know-how endures while the vintages just keep coming, each one revealing a new facet of the vineyard plots, always uncovering another unexplored side, to offer drinkers the very best of the Champagne region.
Since 1974, Cristal Rosé has offered the purest expression of a very fine champagne with a unique energy, a captivating presence and great finesse: the absolute mastery and foundation of a fine Champagne wine destined for long cellar-ageing.
This ever-changing story of Cristal Rosé parallels that of the Louis Roederer Champagne House itself, creating a constant dialogue between the vineyard and the cellar. Jean-Claude Rouzaud was the first to recognise the importance of this reciprocal relationship and laid the foundations for a continuous reinterpretation.