Louis Roederer Vintage and Cristal at Alfavin

Louis Roederer is one of the most prestigious and independent Champagne houses in the region. Founded in 1776 in Reims as Dubois Père & Fils, the house has borne the name Louis Roederer since 1833, when Louis Roederer took over the business from his uncle. The house remains family-owned to this day, currently led by Frédéric Rouzaud in the seventh generation.

History, Innovation and International Reach

Louis Roederer was a visionary: he developed his own high-quality vineyards instead of relying mainly on purchased grapes. The focus is on the Grand Cru vineyards of the northern Montagne de Reims, such as Verzy and Verzenay, known for finesse and minerality. Early on, he established international export markets, including Russia, where he became the preferred Champagne supplier to the Imperial Court. Key milestones in the house’s history are closely linked to the Cristal cuvée: created in 1876 at the request of Tsar Alexander II, Cristal was the first prestige Champagne and was bottled in flat-bottomed crystal bottles to prevent poisoning. Initially, Cristal was made with a high dosage. After the Russian Revolution, Roederer was left with large quantities of sweet Champagne that were difficult to sell in other markets. The first vintage of Cristal produced for general release rather than as a bespoke commission was the 1945 vintage.

The Brut Premier was introduced in the 1920s when Léon Olry Roederer systematically developed consistent quality and the blending of multiple vintages – a concept that has influenced many modern non-vintage Champagnes.

Vineyards and Sustainable Practices

Louis Roederer is one of the few major Champagne houses that remains fully independent. The house owns around 240 hectares of vineyards, mainly in Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites. Sustainable and biodynamic viticulture is a key focus. Control over the entire production process, from grape to bottle, ensures consistently high quality and elegance in the wines.

Range and Style

The style of Louis Roederer is defined by mineral freshness, complexity and creamy elegance. The wines are lighter and less full-bodied than Bollinger. Similar to Pol Roger, the house emphasises minerality and charm, with additional notes of vanilla. These flavours come partly from oak ageing and partly from extended bottle maturation. Of particular interest to enthusiasts are Cristal, the Vintage Blanc de Blancs, and in some cases, the standard vintage Champagnes. Cristal is produced and typically aged for six years on the lees before release. Over three million bottles are produced annually and exported worldwide.

Quality and Innovation

Roederer has only been recognised among the top Champagne houses for a few decades. The outstanding quality of the wines is largely due to the exceptional grapes sourced from great vineyard sites. Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, Chef de Cave since 1999, has optimised vineyard management and improved grape quality. An increasing number of vineyards are being converted to organic cultivation. Since the 2012 vintage, Cristal has been produced exclusively from organically grown grapes. Jean-Baptiste is highly innovative and meticulous, using new oak barrels of different sizes and increasingly foregoing malolactic fermentation. Decisions on fermentation and ageing – whether in tank or oak – and malolactic treatment are made individually for each vineyard and each wine.

Conclusion – Buy Louis Roederer at Alfavin

Those wishing to buy Louis Roederer Champagne will find a carefully selected range at Alfavin, including the finest vintages of Cristal, the 2008 Vintage, and the 2008 Blanc de Blancs.