1990 Louis Roederer Cristal Proprietary Blend

1990 Louis Roederer Cristal

99 DEC

From the critics:

97 RP

97 AG

95 JG

94 WS

88 BH

Featured Review

Unusually, the 1990 vintage produced grapes with high sugars and high acidity, which has led to this legendary Cristal which is so ripe, rich, limpid, and dazzlingly delicious on the nose and palate. Nearly thirty years of bottle age have mellowed and condensed the flavour spectrum to a beautiful melange of citrus, candied fruit, almond, pear, truffle and gingerbread. There’s also a lovely creamy, soft, silky texture which belies the length, depth and reach of this classically elegant and vibrant champagne. Beautifully mature and ready now, but no hurry to drink up because of the vein of life-giving acidity which gently cradles it. Pure nectar. Drinking Window 2017 - 2030. Decanter

Decanter | 99 DEC

The Louis Roederer 1990 Cristal is awesome! A classic of power and finesse, richness and delicacy, it may be the greatest Cristal I have ever tasted!

Robert Parker | 97 RP

The 1990 Cristal is remarkable. Polished, nuanced and light on its feet, the 1990 is all class. Citrus, orchard fruit and floral notes are wonderfully lifted throughout. A slight reductive note adds character on the finely knit finish. I can’t think of a better way to start this tasting. Simply put, the 1990 is a total rock star. Moreover, it is much more delicate than most wines from this ripe vintage. Amazingly, the 1990 tastes like it is still not ready! “Nineteen ninety was my second vintage here,” says Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. “It was ideal. The fruit was just perfect. We blocked the malolactic fermentation completely and only fermented 6-7% of our lots in oak, as opposed to the more typical 20%, in order to preserve as much freshness as possible. The wine was made by my predecessor, Michel Pansu, but I was learning. This was the first year I started working with oxygen by reducing sulfites in vinification to pre-oxidize the Chardonnay musts, as I do know, which allows me to get rid of all the unstable, oxidative compounds. With Pinot, on the other hand, you need a little bit of sulfur at crush or you lose the brilliant fruit.

Antonio Galloni | 97 AG

(Louis Roederer Cristal Brut) I had not crossed paths with a bottle of the 1990 Cristal since all the way back in 2006, so I was absolutely delighted to see that Jean-Baptiste has selected this vintage to be included in our vertical at the maison in the spring of 2018. Having tasted this wine last in a large tasting of the 1990 vintage of Champagne in 2006, I was curious to see how the wine had evolved over the last dozen years and I was delighted to see that it had continued to blossom beautifully and that I had quite underrated it back in ’06. Today, the wine is into its apogee of peak maturity and is absolutely lovely, offering up a deep and complex nose of baked pears and peaches, a touch of white truffle, a beautiful blend of almond and walnut, limestone soil nuances, gentle smokiness and incipient notes in the upper register of the honey to come with further aging. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and utterly refined in profile, with a lovely core, still vibrant mousse, excellent complexity and grip, precise focus and a very long, poised and seamlessly balanced finish. When I last tasted this wine, the muscular nature of the 1990 vintage was quite evident in this wine, but the additional twelve years of bottle age has allowed the inherent elegance of Cristal to come to the fore and this wine is now quite classical in profile and an absolute joy to drink today. (Drink between 2018-2035).

John Gilman | 95 JG

You won’t soon forget this vivid and expressive Champagne. It packs in compound layers of citrus, vanilla, pear and nutmeg that harmonize and linger on the finish. Bright acidity makes it extra refreshing and layered. It has really opened up since last year. Best from 2000 through 2010. 25,000 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 94 WS

Type of Wine	Champagne : Nothing like a refreshing, vivacious glass of fine Champagne during a hot summer afternoon. Typically combining Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, each Champagne house has a distinct style. Whether you want to sample a single varietal (such as the 100% Chardonnay blanc de blancs) or a tasteful blend, no region can compete with Champagne.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	France : Wine is the lifeblood that courses through the country of France, pulsing with vigorous pride and determination. Viticulture is not just a hobby or an occupation in France; it is a passion, a cherished tradition that has been passed down through generations of wine stained hands. Winemaking is a beloved art that has been ingrained in the culture, an aptitude instilled in sons by fathers and the hallmark for which France’s reputation was built, allowing it to be renowned as, arguably, the most important wine producing country in the world. For centuries, France has been producing wines of superior quality and in much greater quantity than any other country in the world. It boasts some of the most impressive wine regions, coveted vineyards and prestigious wines on earth. The regions of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Rhone, Sauternes and Champagne have become the benchmark, for which others aspire to become. Legendary producers such as Chateaux Margaux, Domaine De La Romanee Conti, Chapoutier, d’Yquem and Dom Perignon are idolized world-wide. France has stamped its name on nearly every style of wine, from the nectar-like sweet Sauternes to hedonistic Chateauneuf Du Papes classic Bordeaux and Burgundy, to its sparkling dominance in Champagne. Many of the most infamous grape varietals in the world, such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay originated in France and are not only beloved, but utilized in the creation of some of the greatest wines on earth. French wine production commands the attention of the wine market year after year. With over 860,000 hectares under vine, and numbers close to 50 million hectoliters of wine produced annually, France dominates the market and sets the standard for not only product quality, but also quantity. France’s many contributions to the world of wine have been absolutely indispensable. The country is the originator of the term “Premier Cru,” coined the term Terroir (a French term so complex there is no literal translation) and has laid the blueprint for a structured appellation system, which others have implemented in their own countries. French vineyard techniques and winemaking practices are mimicked world-wide. California vintners have been replicating Rhone style wines for decades, South America has adopted the French varietal of Malbec and countries around the world are imitating Burgundian styled Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. With vast diversity in terroir, France is home to some of the most hospitable winegrowing locations on earth. The combination of topography, geology, climate, rainfall and even the amount of sunlight combined with the long historical tradition of winegrowing and making, has allowed the vintners of France to not only hone their skills, but learn from nature to create a product that like the world in which it resides… is very much alive.
Region	Champagne : The sharp, biting acidity, cutting through the richness; the explosive force that shatters the bubbles as they rise to the surface; the intense flavor and compelling, lively mouthfeel; these are all hallmarks of a good Champagne. Most wines are made from a combination of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier, but there are pure-Chardonnay variants and ones that blend only Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. As a result, most wines come with a feeling of familiarity, if not nostalgia. Each Champagne house has its own unique style, so different bottles of Champagne may not resemble each other outside of the core varietal strengths. The soil composition of the subregion is characterized by belemnite and chalk, which lets it absorb heat during the daytime and release it at night. This terroir helps create the feeling of airy, playful lightness of fine sparkling wine. These wines were originally marketed towards royalty, and you can feel a hint of that elusive blue-blood elegance and confidence while drinking one. A good Champagne carries you away like a hurricane carries small debris, and you can feel the powerful life force in each bubble even. The characteristic Champagne "pop" has become a staple at parties and celebrations around the globe - when you hear it, good times are right around the corner.

Producer	Louis Roederer : Cristal Champagne is one of the sexiest, most seductive and exhilarating names in the world of wine. Synonymous with success, luxury and merriment, the label is the pinnacle of fine winemaking making in the region of Champagne. Individuals are so infatuated with the Cristal label that they are perhaps, unaware that the proprietor, Louis Roederer, produces an entire line-up of stellar sparklers with diverse styles and essences that are just as thrilling. Long before the luxury Champagnes of Roederer were highlighted in music videos and coasting the waves on superyachts, they were being handcrafted and supplied to the imperial court of Russia, the Royal Court of England and US dignitaries. However the world portrays its extravagance, the Louis Roederer experience is defined first and foremost by the art of Champagne making. Established in 1776, under the name Dubois Pere & Fils, like many Champagne houses at the time, the company enjoyed its share of success, but it would not be until 1833, when Louis Roederer inherited the estate from his uncle, that its fame and reputation would rise to unheralded heights. He renamed the house eponymously, and took a visionary approach to enriching his vines, aiming to master every stage of the wine’s creation. In 1847, he acquired 15 hectares of Grand Cru vineyards of Verzenay. While other houses purchased their grapes, Louis Roederer nurtured his vineyards, familiarized himself with the specific characteristics of each parcel and methodically acquired the finest land, which again materialized in 1850 when he purchased another 100 hectares of Champagne’s Premier and Grand Cru vineyards. His guiding principle was that all great wine depends on the quality of the soil, a passion for tradition and an astute vision of the future. This strategy is still a core component of the House’s continuing development. Today, the vineyards of Louis Roederer span 240 hectares (90% Premier and Grand Cru) in some of Champagne’s finest terroirs of Montagne de Reims, Vallee de la Marne and Cote des Blancs. Roederer cultivates the three traditional grape varieties of the region: Chardonnay for its minerality, finesse and elegance, Pinot Noir’s solid structure and age-ability and Pinot Meunier’s adaptability which brings harmony and softness to certain cuvees. Their plot-by-plot approach to vine cultivation, which takes into account the specificities of the different soils, enables them to produce exceptionally mature grapes. As is their belief, the land is the source of all great Champagnes. In addition to their world-renowned, award-winning Cristal line-up (including Rose, Vinotheque and vintage Cristals) the effervescent portfolio of Louis Roederer is heaving with an array of tremendous and unique wines, each showcasing the essence of grape variety and its sense of place. The wines include, Brut Premier, Carte Blanche, Collection (a blend of multiple vintages and terroirs) Blanc de Blancs (from the esteemed Cote des Blancs) Vintage, Rose Vintage and Brut Nature. They wines are a testament to the Roederer family who have tenderly fostered a unique bond between grape and terroir. The collection has an impressive annual output of 3.5 million bottles, exporting to over 100 countries around the globe. Louis Roederer remains one of the few independent, family-owned houses in Champagne and is now managed by Frederic Rouzaud, who represents the seventh generation of the family’s lineage. As a direct decedent of Louis Roederer, it could be said that wine runs through his veins; with the same patience and unshakeable faith in creative vocation to Champagne winemaking, Rouzaud is not only perpetuating the greatness that is Louis Roederer, but elevating its reputation and broadening its horizons with its sister companies abroad. Today, Frederic is the driving force of Maison Louis Roederer’s wineries in France, Portugal and California (Roederer Estate in Anderson Valley, CA).