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2002: An extraordinary year with all the superlative attributes of a great Vintage: uniformly warm temperatures, with no excess sun or heat, and a very mild winter; a slight rainfall deficit (around 20%) during the vegetative cycle; cool nights and a cool, dry north-easterly wind during August and September… All these exceptionally favorable conditions contributed to ideal ripening of the grapes and a beautiful concentration of flavors. The harvest began on September 12 with the Chardonnays, with an average sugar concentration of over 11% natural alcohol.
About Cristal Vinothèque: In the face of a Nature that renews its challenge every year, Cristal Vinothèque is the combined work of eternal Champagne time and made-to-measure ageing. An initial phase of eight to twelve years’ rest on the lees is necessary to give the champagne all its structure and rich aromas. The lees give the wine its caressing texture and depth. After riddling, the wine is left to rest on its lees for five to ten years. This is essential to slow down the aging process and prolong maturation, while preserving the original freshness that is the essence of Cristal Vinothèque. Finally, after disgorging, a third and final phase of two to six years begins, which is still necessary for the bubbles to become one with the material. In the heart of Louis Roederer’s cellars, beneath the rock where the water table flows just above, a silent, secret process begins. Total darkness and a temperature of 11 degrees provide the perfect conditions for champagne to blossom and flourish. Kept in this way, the wines preserve the purity, fruitiness and surprising spontaneity that are the quintessence of Cristal, offering a renewed perception that is even more complex, sophisticated and moving.