Louis Roederer Cristal Brut Late Release 2008 Wine (75cl)

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Powdery, chalky bouquet with ripe, fruity notes reminiscent of juicy candied lemon, along with hints of almond, harvested grain and lightly roasted cocoa beans. The aromas are fresh, well-honed and clean-cut. After aeration, one is almost surprised by the emergence of a floral and vegetal freshness intertwined with finely toasted hazelnuts.On the palate, the freshness is incredible… for a17-year-old wine! It has aged beautifully, gaining in thickness and richness, yet the saline substance and the drying freshness from the chalk soils preserve the great finesse of this Cristal 2008… It delivers a tactile sensation - almost like a liqueur rolling over the palate - powerful yet soft. The bubbles, too, have benefited from the long ageing, becoming softer and smoother, melting into the texture and enhancing the salinity to the point of creating "salt bubbles." The substance, now deeper than in the original disgorgement, creates a more composed, serene and mouthwatering quality, developing hints of white chocolate. The impression is one of great depth and seamless balance. The finish is prolonged by the saline quality, accompanied by some dry, noble bitters, followed by an unexpected retro-nasal impression of Havana cigar, cedar and undergrowth. Cristal Late Release 2008 is impeccable - refined, precise and gossamer-like. The 2008 Cristal Late-Released is a special cuvée bottled to celebrate Cristal's 150th Anniversary. It spent an added four years on the lees, which places it between the regular release and the Vinothèque in terms of aging. Explosive in the glass, the 2008 possesses off-the-charts textural richness and density, much of that coming from the shaking of the bottles during élevage (poignettage). That extra mid-palate resonance fills out the layers, resulting in a Cristal that is utterly profound. Unforgettable. Disgorged: 2020.