Louis Roederer Cristal Vinothèque 1999 Brut |Prestige |1999

Louis Roederer Cristal Vinothèque 1999 Brut

Prestige 1999

$1,690.00

- One of the most prestigious and sought after champagne in the world

- Aged 20 years in Louis Roederer cellars

- A wine to cellar and collect as this will need time to mellow

Following on from the 1995 and 1996 vintages, Louis Roederer is now releasing Cristal Vinothèque 1999 which, just like its elders, offers exceptional freshness and the promise of eternal youth.

Cristal Vinothèque 1999 celebrates the remarkable adventure of just a few bottles, laid down in Louis Roederer cellars for 20 years in the quest for perfect harmony. These cuvées have been bottle-aged for 7 years “sur lattes” (horizontal), and 7 years “sur pointes” (upside down, vertical) plus a further 4 years following disgorgement, (dosage 8 g/l). Cristal Vinothèque 1999 embodies Louis Roederer’s exploration of time deep inside their chalky cellars…the magic of graceful maturity.

Vintage 1999 was a stormy and windy year. The season began early and was followed by a warm, dry summer. Fortuitously this helped the vines to escape unscathed during some rain over harvest. 1999 gave powerful, concentrated, generous, and succulent wines which show a minerally vibrancy intermingled with distinctively citrus notes, oriental spice and roasted hazelnuts, on a seductive base of silky tannins and creamy, elegant effervescence.

Made of 56% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay.

Club Price $1,605.50 (?) ?

This house has serious pedigree and a long history of making outstanding wines. Louis Roederer is still family owned and run and has a significant land holding of over 230 hectares allowing them to supply 70% of their grape requirements with excellent fruit. We are impressed by Louis Roederer’s increasing commitment to exploring biodynamics, both with treatment of their vast vineyard holdings plus the recent acquisition of a 15 hectare biodynamic parcel from Leclerc Briant. A relatively small 3 million bottles per annum of production are exported, largely to the USA.

Take this prestige cuvée to another level and serve with caviar. Take the caviar straight from the back of the hand so that you can appreciate its beauty. Please ensure that the wine is served in an Emperor tulip or a white wine glass to allow the cuvée to show you its true potential.

The Wine Advocate, March 6th, 2020, William Kelley
Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Vinothèque 1999, 94 points, drink 2019 - 2035

Disgorged with six grams per liter dosage after seven years sur lattes and a further seven sur pointes, the 1999 Cristal Vinothèque wafts from the glass with a complex bouquet of dried fruits, clear honey and crushed chalk aromas, complemented by hints of iodine and woodsmoke. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, ample and enveloping, with ripe but lively acids and a textural, gourmand profile, concluding with a beautifully defined, elegantly chalky finish.