New Vintages From Louis Roederer

The other day, I got the chance, through VinUnic, to taste the new vintages from Louis Roederer. This is what I thought.

2004 Giulio Ferrari Riserva del Fondatore
But we started with this 100% Chardonnay from the high hills surrounding Trento. 2,5 g/l dosage and aged on the lees for more than 10 years, has turned out a wine with a round, expressive nose with some maturity and notes of ripe yellow apples, almond paste, smoke and a touch of cinnamon. Complex and intriguing. Very, very good.
The taste is soft and broad with notes of a Tarte Tatin made out of yellow apples, slate, smoke and warm grass. A very nice bubbly but it lacks some weight and focus on the mid palate. Highly drinkable. Good acidity and medium long. The nose outclasses the taste.
90p   (tasted 2016/10)

2009 Brut Vintage
This 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay blend offers up a fruity, forward nose with lots of fresh bread and additional notes of hazelnuts, red currants, dark butter biscuits and some burnt toast. Very, very nice.
The taste is young, tight and elegant with notes of dark fudge, toast, warm grass and gravel. A medium bodied finish with a fine acidity and persistence. A very fine effort.
91p   (tasted 2016/10)

2009 Brut Nature
This is a none dosage (the wine above has 9 g/l in comparison) wine is a special one. I think it will need to time to settle and then some time to unfold. The stuffing is there but it is a bit disjointed today.
The nose is fresh and high with notes of lemon peel, elderberries, freshly cut grass and dusty gravel. Mountain river pure. A very salivating nose.
The taste is dry, then dry, then revealing notes of dry grass, white currants, lime juice and wet stones. It has an anemic feeling about it, yet the structure and backbone is there for something very good along the line. Give it 3-5 years.
91p   (tasted 2016/10)

2011 Brut Rosé
Its hard not to compare to the glorious 2010 Brut Rosé, and as nice as the 2011 is, it is a far cry from the previous vintage. The nose is cool, low keyed and nice with notes of ripening strawberries, red currants and blood oranges. A hint of fir. Very good.
The taste is medium bodied, young and fresh with notes of red currants, gravel and some raspberry liquorice. A nice, refreshing finish. This is good but again, I am glad I have bottles of the 2010 in the cellar.
88p   (tasted 2016/10)

2007 Cristal
Aaaah Cristal! Always a treat, and the 09 is no exception. The nose is pure and refined with stunning notes of lemon cream, summer flowers, newly washed clothes drying in the wind, grape fruit and a hint of oak. Luxurious and handsome. Great wine.
The taste is complex, multi layered and rich with notes of yellow plums, lemon fudge, matchbox and chalk. The finish is long, focused and nuanced. It will get even better in 5+ years time. And now we wait for the 08, which should be an out of this world experience, given what that vintage has shown so far.
94p   (tasted 2016/10)