1988 Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé
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From one of the truly great Champagne vintages of the last thirty years, the 1988 Cristal Rosé is simply fabulous. White truffles, hard candy, and wild flowers add nuance, but above all else I find the wine's freshness utterly mesmerizing. With time in the glass, the 1988 keeps getting richer and more vinous, with layers of fruit that continue to unfurl. Today, the 1988 appears to have at least another 10-15 years of fine drinking ahead of it, although I would prefer to err on the side of caution.
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Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
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Tasted next to the Cristal, the 1988 Cristal Rosé is bit softer, silkier and more resolved. Sweet hard candy, flowers and spices form a fabric of exquisite beauty. It is interesting to see that after all of these years, the two 1988s have converged.
The 1988 Cristal Rosé might be even better than the 1990 Cristal served alongside it. I admire its ability to transmit concentration and depth while remaining light on its feet. Blood orange, mint, white pepper, tangerine and crushed rocks all saturate the palate. Both wines are simply exceptional. They are also sublime with the food, the wines elevating the dish and vice versa. This inspired pairing left me and our guests absolutely thrilled. What a great way to conclude this lunch.