France · Champagne · White · Champagne · wine-wine · 1082542
Lowest offer: 136.3733333333333333333333333 GBP (Buy)
Offers: 186 · Bids: 0
| Price / case | Vintage | Packing | Qty | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 966.63 GBP | 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 935.28 GBP | 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 15048.00 HKD | 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 898.70 GBP | 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1066.95 GBP | 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 6 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 10659.00 HKD | 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 7 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 1463.00 GBP | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1463.00 GBP | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 12540.00 HKD | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 1086.16 GBP | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1161.14 GBP | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 919.60 GBP | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 971.85 GBP | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 11286.00 HKD | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 919.60 GBP | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1514.21 EUR | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | fr_bordeaux / Bordeaux |
| 1101.43 GBP | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1101.43 GBP | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1201.75 GBP | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 950.95 GBP | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 12540.00 HKD | 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 4 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 11850.30 HKD | 2005 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 1289.53 GBP | 2005 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 11913.00 HKD | 2005 | 6 x 75cl | 4 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 15048.00 HKD | 2005 | 6 x 75cl | 6 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 13768.92 HKD | 2005 | 6 x 75cl | 6 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 1254.00 GBP | 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1227.88 GBP | 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1287.26 GBP | 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 13480.50 HKD | 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 15838.02 HKD | 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 1302.52 GBP | 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1302.52 GBP | 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1254.00 GBP | 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1196.53 GBP | 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1254.00 GBP | 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1828.75 GBP | 2000 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 18747.30 HKD | 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 1489.13 GBP | 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 17869.50 HKD | 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 1457.78 GBP | 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1400.30 GBP | 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1463.00 GBP | 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1395.15 GBP | 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1358.50 GBP | 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1427.47 GBP | 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1463.00 GBP | 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1567.50 GBP | 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 10 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 2037.75 GBP | 2002 | 3 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 2769.25 GBP | 2002 | 3 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 30096.00 HKD | 1995 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 909.15 GBP | 2006 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 11286.00 HKD | 2006 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 909.15 GBP | 2006 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 831.82 GBP | 2006 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 940.50 GBP | 2006 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1166.22 GBP | 2006 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 14734.50 HKD | 2006 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 11599.50 HKD | 2006 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 15361.50 HKD | 2006 | 6 x 75cl | 4 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 575.80 GBP | 2004 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 600.88 GBP | 2004 | 3 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1828.75 GBP | 1999 | 6 x 75cl | 6 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 662.53 GBP | 2005 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 2847.63 GBP | 1996 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1410.75 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1722.16 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1882.05 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1463.00 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1354.77 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1291.62 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1290.58 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1285.35 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1290.58 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1395.08 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1233.10 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1306.25 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1301.03 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 8 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1301.03 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 8 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1301.03 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 8 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1306.25 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 10 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1248.78 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 10 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1306.25 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 10 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1338.13 GBP | 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 11 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 658.35 GBP | 2008 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 807.79 GBP | 2008 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 731.50 GBP | 2008 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 836.00 GBP | 2002 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 783.75 GBP | 2002 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 731.50 GBP | 2002 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 783.75 GBP | 2002 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 726.28 GBP | 2002 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 697.58 GBP | 2002 | 3 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 935.28 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 930.05 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 930.05 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 930.05 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 930.05 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 930.05 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 818.24 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 935.28 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 987.53 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 935.28 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 950.95 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 950.95 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 903.93 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 4 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1478.47 EUR | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 7 | fr_bordeaux / Bordeaux |
| 909.15 GBP | 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 9 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 467.12 GBP | 2012 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 739.23 EUR | 2012 | 3 x 75cl | 3 | fr_bordeaux / Bordeaux |
| 1201.75 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1071.13 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1071.13 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1013.65 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 11286.00 HKD | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 940.50 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1195.48 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 966.63 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 974.99 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 966.63 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 966.63 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1013.65 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 976.03 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 956.18 GBP | 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 21945.00 HKD | 2013 | 12 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 611.33 GBP | 2013 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1410.75 GBP | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 940.50 GBP | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 14289.33 HKD | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 1090.98 GBP | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 961.40 GBP | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1478.47 EUR | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | fr_bordeaux / Bordeaux |
| 888.25 GBP | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 940.50 GBP | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 13480.50 HKD | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 5 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 11160.60 HKD | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 7 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 1598.85 EUR | 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 17 | fr_bordeaux / Bordeaux |
| 627.00 GBP | 2014 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 739.23 EUR | 2014 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | fr_bordeaux / Bordeaux |
| 940.50 GBP | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1097.25 GBP | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1155.77 GBP | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 12414.60 HKD | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 940.50 GBP | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 988.05 GBP | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 4 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 970.81 GBP | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 4 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 13480.50 HKD | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 4 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 11913.00 HKD | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 4 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 898.70 GBP | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 4 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 982.30 GBP | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 5 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1598.85 EUR | 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 30 | fr_bordeaux / Bordeaux |
| 21945.00 HKD | 2015 | 12 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 422.18 GBP | 1983 | 1 x 75cl | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 14107.50 HKD | 2016 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 988.90 GBP | 2016 | 6 x 75cl | 12 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 22321.20 HKD | 2016 | 12 x 75cl | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 985.64 EUR | 2014 | 4 x 75cl | 1 | fr_bordeaux / Bordeaux |
| 574.75 GBP | 2012 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 498.47 GBP | 2012 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 574.75 GBP | 2012 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 392.92 GBP | 2012 | 1 x 1.5L | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 412.78 GBP | 2012 | 1 x 1.5L | 5 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 407.55 GBP | 2012 | 1 x 1.5L | 13 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 376.20 GBP | 2009 | 1 x 1.5L | 4 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 438.90 GBP | 2009 | 1 x 1.5L | 5 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 365.75 GBP | 2009 | 1 x 1.5L | 8 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 449.35 GBP | 2007 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 4180.00 HKD | 2007 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 433.68 GBP | 2006 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 433.68 GBP | 2006 | 1 x 1.5L | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 5979.49 HKD | 2006 | 1 x 1.5L | 4 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 470.25 GBP | 2006 | 1 x 1.5L | 5 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 454.58 GBP | 2006 | 1 x 1.5L | 9 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 783.75 GBP | 2008 | 1 x 1.5L | 2 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 663.03 GBP | 2008 | 1 x 1.5L | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 702.24 GBP | 2008 | 1 x 1.5L | 4 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 763.90 GBP | 2000 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 941.55 GBP | 2002 | 1 x 1.5L | 5 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 28549.40 HKD | 1989 | 1 x 3L | 1 | hk / Hong Kong |
| 418.00 GBP | 2013 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 444.13 GBP | 2013 | 1 x 1.5L | 3 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 444.13 GBP | 2013 | 1 x 1.5L | 4 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 444.13 GBP | 2013 | 1 x 1.5L | 4 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 444.13 GBP | 2013 | 1 x 1.5L | 4 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 444.13 GBP | 2013 | 1 x 1.5L | 5 | uk / United Kingdom |
| 1072.17 EUR | 1989 | 2 x 75cl | 1 | fr_bordeaux / Bordeaux |
No active bids.
| Vintage | Packing | Offers | Bids | Market price | WA rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1978 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 33501.60 | |
| 1981 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 99774.48 | |
| 1981 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 49887.24 | |
| 1983 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1985 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 93 | |
| 1985 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 93 | |
| 1985 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 35092.08 | 93 |
| 1986 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 94 | |
| 1988 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 93 | |
| 1989 | 1 x 3L | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1989 | 1 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1989 | 2 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | ||
| 1990 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 29297.92 | 97 |
| 1990 | 1 x 6L | 0 | 0 | 97 | |
| 1990 | 1 x 6L | 0 | 0 | 58595.84 | 97 |
| 1990 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 87893.76 | 97 |
| 1990 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 97 | |
| 1993 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1993 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 31302.60 | |
| 1993 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 7825.65 | |
| 1993 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 15651.30 | |
| 1994 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1994 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 7874.22 | |
| 1994 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1995 | 1 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1995 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1995 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 60672.12 | |
| 1995 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1995 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 30336.06 | |
| 1996 | 1 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 6480.36 | 96 |
| 1996 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 77764.32 | 96 |
| 1996 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 38882.16 | 96 |
| 1997 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 23789.16 | 93 |
| 1997 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 5947.29 | 93 |
| 1997 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 71367.48 | 93 |
| 1997 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | ||
| 1997 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 93 | |
| 1999 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 18763.00 | 90 |
| 1999 | 1 x 3L Jéroboam | 0 | 0 | 90 | |
| 1999 | 1 x 5L | 0 | 0 | 31271.67 | 90 |
| 1999 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 90 | |
| 1999 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 56289.00 | 90 |
| 1999 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 28144.50 | 90 |
| 1999 | 3 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 56289.00 | 90 |
| 1999 | 6 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 28144.50 | 90 |
| 2000 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2000 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2000 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 34230.36 | 95 |
| 2000 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 17115.18 | 95 |
| 2000 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 8557.59 | 95 |
| 2000 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | 0 | 17115.18 | 95 |
| 2002 | 1 x 1.5L | 1 | 0 | 96 | |
| 2002 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 15225.72 | 96 |
| 2002 | 1 x 6L | 0 | 0 | 30451.44 | 96 |
| 2002 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 3806.43 | 96 |
| 2002 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 45677.16 | 96 |
| 2002 | 2 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 96 | |
| 2002 | 3 x 1.5L | 2 | 0 | 22838.58 | 96 |
| 2002 | 3 x 75cl | 6 | 0 | 11419.29 | 96 |
| 2002 | 6 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 45677.16 | 96 |
| 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 22838.58 | 96 |
| 2002 | 6 x 75cl | 11 | 0 | 22838.58 | 96 |
| 2004 | 1 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2004 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 11320.12 | 97 |
| 2004 | 1 x 6L | 0 | 0 | 22640.24 | 97 |
| 2004 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 2830.03 | 97 |
| 2004 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 33960.36 | 97 |
| 2004 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 16980.18 | 97 |
| 2004 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | 0 | 8490.09 | 97 |
| 2004 | 6 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 33960.36 | 97 |
| 2004 | 6 x 75cl | 10 | 0 | 16980.18 | 97 |
| 2005 | 1 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 93 | |
| 2005 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 11426.56 | 93 |
| 2005 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 2856.64 | 93 |
| 2005 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 34279.68 | 93 |
| 2005 | 2 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 93 | |
| 2005 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 8569.92 | 93 |
| 2005 | 6 x 75cl | 5 | 0 | 17139.84 | 93 |
| 2006 | 1 x 1.5L | 3 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2006 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 10162.20 | 95 |
| 2006 | 1 x 6L | 0 | 0 | 20324.40 | 95 |
| 2006 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2006 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 30486.60 | 95 |
| 2006 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 15243.30 | 95 |
| 2006 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 7621.65 | 95 |
| 2006 | 4 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 10162.20 | 95 |
| 2006 | 6 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 30486.60 | 95 |
| 2006 | 6 x 75cl | 9 | 0 | 15243.30 | 95 |
| 2007 | 1 x 1.5L | 2 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2007 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 10729.32 | 95 |
| 2007 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 2682.33 | 95 |
| 2007 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 32187.96 | 95 |
| 2007 | 2 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2007 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 8046.99 | 95 |
| 2007 | 6 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 32187.96 | 95 |
| 2007 | 6 x 75cl | 15 | 0 | 16093.98 | 95 |
| 2008 | 1 x 1.5L | 3 | 0 | 98 | |
| 2008 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2008 | 1 x 6L | 0 | 0 | 31441.68 | 98 |
| 2008 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 3930.21 | 98 |
| 2008 | 10 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 98 | |
| 2008 | 11 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 98 | |
| 2008 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 47162.52 | 98 |
| 2008 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 23581.26 | 98 |
| 2008 | 3 x 75cl | 3 | 0 | 11790.63 | 98 |
| 2008 | 4 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 98 | |
| 2008 | 6 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 47162.52 | 98 |
| 2008 | 6 x 75cl | 19 | 0 | 23581.26 | 98 |
| 2009 | 1 x 1.5L | 3 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2009 | 1 x 15L | 0 | 0 | 54789.40 | 95 |
| 2009 | 1 x 3L | 0 | 0 | 10957.88 | 95 |
| 2009 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2009 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 32873.64 | 95 |
| 2009 | 16 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2009 | 2 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2009 | 3 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 16436.82 | 95 |
| 2009 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 8218.41 | 95 |
| 2009 | 4 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 10957.88 | 95 |
| 2009 | 6 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2009 | 6 x 75cl | 6 | 0 | 16436.82 | 95 |
| 2012 | 1 x 1.5L | 6 | 0 | 97 | |
| 2012 | 1 x 6L | 0 | 0 | 21634.64 | 97 |
| 2012 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 2704.33 | 97 |
| 2012 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 32451.96 | 97 |
| 2012 | 15 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 97 | |
| 2012 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | 0 | 8112.99 | 97 |
| 2012 | 6 x 1.5L | 0 | 0 | 32451.96 | 97 |
| 2012 | 6 x 75cl | 15 | 0 | 16225.98 | 97 |
| 2013 | 1 x 1.5L | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2013 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 2503.29 | 98 |
| 2013 | 12 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 30039.48 | 98 |
| 2013 | 23 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 98 | |
| 2013 | 25 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 98 | |
| 2013 | 3 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 7509.87 | 98 |
| 2013 | 6 x 75cl | 14 | 0 | 15019.74 | 98 |
| 2014 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 2452.76 | 96 |
| 2014 | 12 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 29433.12 | 96 |
| 2014 | 2 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 96 | |
| 2014 | 3 x 75cl | 2 | 0 | 7358.28 | 96 |
| 2014 | 4 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 96 | |
| 2014 | 6 x 75cl | 11 | 0 | 14716.56 | 96 |
| 2014 | 9 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 22074.84 | 96 |
| 2015 | 1 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2015 | 12 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | 26120.40 | 95 |
| 2015 | 3 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 6530.10 | 95 |
| 2015 | 5 x 75cl | 0 | 0 | 95 | |
| 2015 | 6 x 75cl | 12 | 0 | 13060.20 | 95 |
| 2016 | 12 x 75cl | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2016 | 6 x 75cl | 2 | 0 |
Rating: 92 –92
Light gold. Vibrant, tangy aromas of apple, pear, white peach and minerals. Wound tight right now, only reluctantly offering up flavors of fresh orchard fruits, herbs and pepper. Finishes zesty and long. Seems less deep than the 1997 bottling; is this just in a sullen, youthful stage?
Rating: 95 –95
The 1985 Cristal is powerful and resonant on the palate, with just the earliest hints of oxidative notes starting to appear. The 1985 may not have quite the layers, focus or pedigree of the very best years, but it more than makes up for that with its inviting, generous personality. There is so much to like, including the wine’s soft curves and racy feel. The 1985 is an especially opulent Cristal, with attractive smoky and torrefaction overtones, and exceptional balance. “In 1985, we had a severe frost that lowered yields dramatically,” Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon recounted. “It was a vintage to handle carefully. From what the old-timers told me, because I was not here, set was so bad that the percentage of stems relative to fruit was quite high. Our crew works hard to cut as close as possible, especially in challenging vintages. But I imagine some stems and underripe berries made it into the tanks, resulting in somewhat green, bitter flavors at pressing. In the end though, those qualities have been pretty good for aging. Ultimately, Champagne is a battle between ripeness and greenness. If you are too ripe, you have rot, and if you aren’t ripe enough, you are green. You need to find the optimal window for picking.”
Rating: 95 –95
If the 2014 vintage was especially open and demonstrative, the 2015 Cristal is going to require more patience. Unwinding in the glass with aromas of citrus oil, crisp stone fruits, white flowers, crushed mint and subtle hints of buttery pastry, it's medium to full-bodied, deep and layered, with a deep, concentrated and rather introverted core of fruit framed by chalky extract and animated by a pretty pinpoint mousse. This is a serious, vinous Champagne that has considerable substance to age and may well evolve along the lines of the lovely 1985.
Rating: 96 –96
The 2014 Cristal is a terrific effort that transcends the vintage. Bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of ripe citrus fruit, nectarine, white flowers, freshly baked bread and subtle hints of honeycomb, it's medium to full-bodied, vinous and fleshy, with an exuberant core of fruit that's girdled by racy acids, resulting in a wine that's simultaneously chiseled and demonstrative, meaning that early appeal doesn't come at the expense of the requisite tension for long-term cellaring. Concluding with a long, aromatic and intensely chalky finish, it is a brilliant Champagne that will offer a broad drinking window. This bottle was disgorged in June 2021 with seven grams per liter dosage.
Rating: 96 –96
Notes of crisp yellow orchard fruit, white flowers, blanched almonds and warm brioche introduce the 2013 Cristal, a full-bodied, layered and incisive wine that's taut and chiseled but also notably exuberant in a vintage that I admire immensely but which can sometimes present an austere side. Deep, concentrated and penetrating, it's complemented by a pinpoint mousse and concludes with a long, saline finish. Less introverted than its 2012 predecessor, readers won't regret trying a bottle of the 2013 Cristal young—even if I'd recommend forgetting some for a decade too.
Rating: 98 –98
I've revisited Roederer's 2013 Cristal four times since I reviewed it in April of this year—including several times from my own cellar—and I had to admit that even my lavish praise didn't do it full justice. Combining the cool-vintage cut of 2008 with the more completely mature fruit of 2012, the 2013 Cristal might well be said to represent the perfect combination of the two from a purist's perspective. The wine unwinds in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, almond paste and citrus oil, followed by a medium to full-bodied, seamless and multidimensional palate that's intense but weightless, with racy acids, a pinpoint mousse and a long, penetrating finish. Drink the 2008 Cristal on its own, and you're unlikely—to put it mildly—to have any complaints; but compare it directly with the 2013 and you'll see Roederer's rapid progress in the vineyards writ large.
Rating: 94 –96
The 2009 Cristal literally shimmers on the palate, showing great depth and purity in its sumptuous layers of fruit. It is a magnificent wine endowed with superb length and exceptional overall balance. The 2009 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The percentage of wine aged in oak is 15%, which is down slightly from previous vintages. Note: as indicated by the score in parentheses, this was a pre-release tasting just before the wine was bottled.
Rating: 97 –97
Let's start describing the 2008 Cristal technically first. It is a 60/40 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from 36 plots in seven grands crus: Verzy, Verzenay, Beaumont and Aÿ for the Pinot Noir and Mesnil, Avize and Cramant for the Chardonnay. Twenty-five percent of the wine was fermented in oak, and 16% underwent malolactic fermentation to moderate the fresh acidity of the 2008 vintage. The assemblage was bottled in May 2009. After 8.5 years on the second lees (longer than any Cristal before), the first release was disgorged in September 2017 with a relatively low dosage of 7.5 grams per liter. So, here is how it tastes as a "young" cuvée: The 2008 Cristal opens bright, super clear, fresh and pure on the exciting, absolutely fascinating nose with its fine, complex and elegant bouquet of gorgeously ripe and matured fruits, brioche and chalk expressions. This is the finest you can get from Champagne. The palate is pure, lean, fresh and filigreed but concentrated, highly complex, full of tension and enormously vibrant. This is a great vin de terroir, a dense and elegant Super-Cristal that goes straight and precise as a laser beam over the palate but also has texture in the form of sensually fleshy fruit. The dosage, however, is the lowest ever: just 7.5 grams. The endless and highly tensioned finish is complex, citrusy fresh, full of chalk and crystalline finesse. The 2008 Cristal is a vitalizing drug, "the Chevalier Montrachet of Champagne," as Jean-Baptise Lécaillon puts it. It is the most exciting 2008 Champagne I have tasted thus far (May 2018).
Rating: 98 –98
Disgorged in September 2017 with 7.5 grams per liter dosage, the 2008 Cristal was produced from 37 of the 45 parcels that are candidates for inclusion in this cuvée—some 40% of which were farmed organically back in 2008—and it's a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The finest young Cristal in decades, the wine wafts from the glass with a pure and vibrant bouquet of crisp orchard fruit, clear honey, warm brioche, citrus zest and white flowers. On the palate, it's full-bodied, intense and incisive, with superb concentration, racy acids and a long, searingly chalky finish. Pristinely balanced, there are some 500,000 bottles of this legend-in-the-making.
Rating: 95 –95
Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon calls Cristal "the first terroir cuvée of the Champagne." He furthers, "It’s not just Chardonnay or Pinot Noir, but the chalk that brings the ultimate finesse, length and precision of Cristal." Forty-five blocks with averaging age of 43-years-old, low-yielding vines form the base of Cristal, which is usually made of approximately 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Due to an early bud break (end of March) and the wet summer, the 2007 was picked at the end of August, so almost 100 days after the flowering instead of the normal 93-95 days. There is a bit less Pinot Noir than usual (57%) and accordingly, more Chardonnay (43%) in the 2007 Cristal. This Champagne comes along in a golden color and with a deep and matured, yet well-defined bouquet of ripe yellow fruits and honey notes. Full-bodied, round and very complex, the generous 2007 is a perfect mix of ripe fruit and precise minerality. It is a silky textured, pure and precise, as well as powerful and expressive Champagne. It has great tension and grip in the very long and persistent finish. Great expression of chalk. The 2007 was disgorged in 2015. The 2009 is to be released in September; the 2008 won't be in the market earlier than January 2018. Neither a 2010 nor a 2011 will be released, but a 2012.
Rating: 93 –93
Roederer’s 2006 Brut Cristal is striking in its sense of lift and delicacy, serving as one of many instances where those bringing preconceptions of this vintage’s warmth and ripeness of fruit to their experience may be pleasantly surprised. A nose of fresh apple, fennel and cucumber sets up associations with a slaw or salad that are crisply, lusciously and refreshingly redeemed on the palate. A garland of honeysuckle and heliotrope complements subtle suggestions of raw almond and vanilla, while alkaline and iodine notes as well as cooling but pungent green herbal notes add to the soothing yet stimulating finish. This exceptionally poised, refined, and buoyant performance is apt to gain depth with a few years’ bottle age. Owners of vast vineyards (totaling some 500 acres) that supply the majority of their fruit, Roederer also presides—by design as well as due to that vastness—over a mind-bending number of micro-vinifications, divided entirely between tanks and foudres, supplemented by a concomitantly deep and diverse range of reserve wines. But for all of the variety that these phenomena entail, scarcely any lots undergo malolactic transformation. Importer: Maisons, Marques & Domaines USA, Oakland CA; tel. (510) 587-2000
Rating: 95 –95
The 2006 Cristal shows rich and ripe (tropical) fruit on the nose along with delicate brioche notes. Round and textured on the palate, this is a generous but fresh, fine and salty Cristal with a very long and greatly finessed finish. Tasted in New York, November 2018.
Rating: 93 –93
The 2005 Cristal is drinking very well, and it stands out as a fine effort in this challenging year for Champagne. Offering up aromas of crisp orchard fruit, nectarine, freshly baked bread and subtle hints of honeycomb, it's medium to full-bodied, elegantly fleshy and incisive, with racy acids and a pearly mousse, concluding with a long, chalky finish.
Rating: 93 –93
The 2005 Cristal stands out for its exceptional inner perfume and elegance. Soft, delicate and pretty, the 2005 is a relatively immediate Cristal with all of the signatures very much in the right place. The 2005 doesn’t have the opulence of the 2002 nor the focus of the 2004, but it is a very pretty, if somewhat small-scaled version of this iconic Champagne. I would drink the 2005 while the 2002 and 2004 age. Although Cristal has an impeccable track record when it comes to aging, personally I would not push it with the 2005. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2020. Roederer fans will find plenty of delicious wines in this lineup. Best of all, many of the best wines this year won’t break the bank. Unfortunately I did not taste Roederer’s NV wines, as the house does not list disgorgement dates or base vintages on their labels. Still, there are few estates in Champagne that are so consistently outstanding across their entire range. Importer: Maisons Marques & Domaines USA, Inc., Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000
Rating: 96 –96
The estate's 2004's had been recently disgorged at the time of my visit. An explosion of fruit emerges from the 2004 Cristal, making a strong and very positive first impression. This is a wine of incredible finesse, length and balance that promises to develop beautifully over the next several decades. Today the 2004 comes across as more linear than the 2002. It should fill out nicely in bottle, although my sense is it will always remain a more focused, pointed vintage. The 2004 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. In 2009 dosage was 9-10 grams per liter, down from the 12 or so grams that was customary five years ago. This bottle was disgorged in January 2009.
Rating: 97 –97
The 2004 Brut Cristal has put on quite a bit of weight since I first tasted it earlier this year. It is a powerful, structured Cristal layered with considerable fruit. Chardonnay seems to play the leading role in 2004, at least today. Cristal is often accessible young, but that is far from the case here. This is a serious, painfully young Cristal that will require considerable patience. Readers who are willing to spend some time with the wine today will find a super-impressive, complete Cristal. The 2004 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. This is Lot L033331E100008, disgorged January, 2010. Anticipated maturity: 2014-2034. My visit to these historic cellars earlier in the year was an eye-opening experience. I spent several hours with Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon tasting through a wide range of 2009s vins claires. Readers may want to take a look at my feature on www.erobertparker.com for more on those wines. The visit was capped off by previews of the 2004 Cristal and the as-yet-unreleased Cristal Rose. Both were superb. Over the last six months the 2004 Cristal has come together beautifully and is shaping up to be a truly great, monumental Champagne. From top to bottom, this is an impressive set of wines. My only real criticism of Roederer is the estate’s insistence on using lot numbers that resemble missile launch codes in their complexity. Surely something simpler must be possible. Importer: Maisons Marques & Domaines USA, Inc., Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000
Rating: 96 –96
Roederer’s 2002 Cristal is still in its infant, fresh stage. Subtle notes of pears, flowers, spices, mint, minerals and oak are woven into a cashmere-like frame of extraordinary grace and elegance. This beautifully-sculpted Champagne possesses notable clarity but with the additional depth of fruit that is characteristic of this vintage. It is a gorgeous, seductive Cristal of the highest level. In 2002, Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay with 10 grams of dosage. 20% of the wine was fermented in oak. This is Lot : L030351A107809. This bottle was disgorged in June 28th, 2007. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2032. Roederer is one of the most impressive estates in Champagne. Few houses have managed to reconcile this level production in a negociant operation while achieving such a consistently outstanding level of quality across the entire range. Roederer owns 214 hectares of vineyards, which is enough to meet 65-70% of the house’s needs. The vintage wines are made from 100% estate-grown fruit, while the NV wines are made with the addition of roughly 45% purchased fruit. Generally speaking, malolactic fermentation and oak aging are used to a higher degree for the NV range than for the vintage wines. Dosage varies as well, and ranges from 11-12 grams for the entry-level wines to 9-10 for the tete de cuvee Cristal. Unfortunately because if its rabid following the vast majority of Cristal is drunk upon release, which is ironic, if not downright tragic, considering Cristal is a wine that starts peaking around age 15-20, and that can last much longer under ideal storage conditions. With Cristal, Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon aims to make an ageworthy Champagne that is fresh and floral when young, but that is also capable of considerable development with bottle age, qualities the finest Cristals have in spades. In the best vintages one tank of Cristal Rose is also made that features the exquisite Pinot Noir of Ay. Unfortunately Roederer does not provide disgorgement dates for its wines, but the bottles have codes that can be traced back to dates at the winery. It would be great to see this venerable property add a simple disgorgement date, at least for their top wines, considering the significant financial investment required to purchase them. Importer: Maison Marques & Domaines, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 587-2000
Rating: 98 –98
Roederer's 2002 Cristal is a fabulous wine! Originally released in 2009, it was re-released in March this year—and was sold out in a very short time. The Cristal I tasted at Roederer in May 2018 was disgorged in 2010, after seven years sur lie. Its amazing richness and concentration makes it a forerunner of the 2015 and follows the 1999. Only two times—2002 and 2015—the fruit from all 42 plots reserved for Cristal was used for the Cristal. "I couldn't do any better blend than the one assembling all the 42 plots," says Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, stressing that at that time only two hectares were farmed biodynamically. As a result of the conversion to biodynamic farming, Lécaillon promised himself the production of even more beautiful, vital and balanced wines, and you can feel his satisfaction whenever he speaks of the cuvées that are yet to come such as 2012 and 2015, the latter of which he calls "the new 2002." Back to history: the nose of the 2002 Cristal shows a deep, ripe and elegant fruit with aromas of white chocolate, wet chalk, wild vanilla and pepper (typical for 2002) as well as terroir-driven truffle notes. Intense and very elegant in the mouth, this is a ripe, rich and concentrated yet also pure and vital Cristal with great finesse, elegance and mineral complexity. It's a sublime Champagne right now, although it's more wine than Champagne. Tasted in Reims in May 2018.
Rating: 94 –94
Seriously precocious nose with notes of apple blossom, fresh strawberries, clotted cream, cashews and lightly toasted hazelnuts plus a barely detectable hint of oak. Great concentration of apple crumble flavours with very fine bubbles and a crisp backbone of acid. Long creamy finish. Drink 2010 to 2029. Tasted March 2009.
Rating: 96 –96
The 2002 Cristal is a gorgeous, sculpted wine of extraordinary elegance. Graceful, well-delineated aromatics lead to ripe pears, spices, flowers, minerals and mint in this precise Champagne. Today the 2002 appears to have slightly more fruit than the 1996, and perhaps slightly better overall balance, although that is splitting hairs at this level. The wine remains fresh and in need of several years of cellaring before it hits its stride. In 2002 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. 20% of the wine was aged in oak, and dosage was 10 grams. This bottle was disgorged in December 2007. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2032.
Rating: 92 –92
Tasted at the IMW Louis Roederer tasting. Disgorged 2008. This has a similar bouquet to the bottle poured in September, candied orange peel, a touch of acacia honey and a little chalk dust. It just seems to lack the vigour and the vivacity of other vintages. The palate has very good weight, concentrated, slightly honeyed fruit, good acidity, hints of sour lemon, lemon sherbet, apricot and a little almond. Very dense, a little tight at the moment, becoming spicier in the glass. Very good length. Overall, better than the showing in September, lighter on its feet, but it needs another year or two in bottle. Drink 2011-2025+ Tasted December 2009.
Rating: 96 –96
Tasted from the original 2009 disgorgement, the 2002 Cristal is a broad, vinous wine, bursting with aromas of honeyed yellow orchard fruit, warm butter, brioche and fresh peaches. On the palate, it's full-bodied, textural and mouthfilling, rendering the fine-boned chalky structure and textural finesse that distinguish this quintessentially elegant style of this cuvée in a broader-shouldered, more enveloping register. The 2002 is beginning to enter its plateau of maturity and is drinking beautifully today, though it still has many years ahead of it.
Rating: 91 –91
Whilst I have always enjoyed the Cristal ’02, it has never “blown me away” and here it is put in its place by the Krug ’96. It retains that smooth, seductive, almond and here, white truffle scented bouquet that is very “cosy”. Yet I would have liked greater vigour. The palate is nicely balanced with soft coconut and white peach notes. There is still that luxuriant feel to this Cristal, but it does not want to put in the effort. Tasted November 2012.
Rating: 95 –95
From a difficult vintage with destructive hailstorms and botrytis, the 2000 Cristal opens with an elegant and delicate bouquet with brioche, ripe apple, green olive and iodine aromas. Complex and very salty, with oyster and umami flavors, this is a generous and very long Cristal that is excellent with Japanese food, such as sashimi for example, as chef de cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon said during the tasting in New York in November 2018.
Rating: 90 –90
A pale lemon hue. A fine, neutral nose developing river stone scents with time, then some fresh green apple and citrus fruits all with outstanding definition. The palate is slightly lower in acidity than I was anticipating, nice fatness in the middle, a touch of viscosity with a more steely finish. It lacks the vibrancy and tension of the Cristal ’96, the finish stern and dry. A lovely champagne no doubt, but it somehow leaves me wanting more. Drink now-2020 Tasted November 2007.
Rating: 90 –90
Tasted at the IMW Louis Roederer tasting. Disgorged January 2006. Clear silvery hue. It has a slightly yeasty, hazelnut and roasted almond scented bouquet, well-defined, perhaps a little muted at the moment. With time, aromas of frangipane, woodland and spice emerge. The palate is relatively toasty on the entry compared to the 2002, light oxidative aromas, walnut and litchi, quite rounded and sensuous towards the finish, good length. A “wine-y” Cristal but very primal. Drink now-2017. Tasted December 2009.
Rating: 90 –90
Tasted in Hong Kong. This is a delightful, if not profound Cristal. The nose is fragrant with similar traits as the bottle poured at the IMW tasting with touches of hazelnut and here, a little corn flour. It is very crisp on the entry with touches of spice, orange sorbet, butter toast and walnut with a harmonious finish that just needs a little more persistency. It remains very primal, so I would afford this at least couple of year’s maturation in bottle. Tasted November 2011.
Rating: 93 –93
Aromas of crisp stone fruit, tangerine, macadamia nut and fresh bread introduce the 1997 Cristal, a medium to full-bodied, deep and chiseled Champagne that's seamless and vibrant, with fine concentration and a pearly mousse. At least from my cellar, this remains a very youthful wine, and it's clearly one of the "sleeper" vintages of Cristal that is drinking well today.
Rating: 95 –96
Oh, well how can this fail? A very limpid, silvery colour. The nose has opened just a little since this time last year, with a touch of brioche and a faint scent redolent of strawberries and cream. It displays stunning balance on the palate with citrus lemon, crisp apples. Its still very primal, but its the killer poise that gets you. Needs a long time, but how many are going to cellar this for a decade or more? Tasted February 2006.
Rating: 96 –96
The estate’s 1996 Cristal, from a legendary vintage, does not disappoint. Like the 1979, there are elements of austerity that will require some time to sort themselves out, yet the 1996 is an insanely beautiful Cristal loaded with floral, perfumed fruit and vibrant minerality. The wine turns delicate in the glass, yet this is a sublime, fresh Cristal that is in need of further cellaring. In 1996 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. According to Lecaillon 1996 is a vintage that did not respond well to oak aging, so only 3% of the wine was aged in wood, while 10% of the wine saw malolactic fermentation. This bottle was disgorged in 2007 and dosage was 8 grams. Anticipated maturity: 2013-2026.
Rating: 96 –96
Roederer’s 1996 Cristal is gorgeous. The expressive, floral bouquet melds seamlessly into an expansive palate of sweet fruit. This is an exceptionally polished and finessed Cristal, but like so many vintages, it needs time in bottle, regardless of how rewarding it is today. Even after all of these great 1996s, the Cristal delivers the goods.
Rating: 97 –97
Tasted at the IMW Louis Roederer tasting. Disgorged September 2006. A light silvery hue. The bouquet is still firmly in its first stages of evolution but unfurls in the glass, offering notes of clear honey, acacia, a touch of smoke, a hint of white peach and pink grapefruit. Gaining freshness and intensity with aeration. The palate is beautifully balanced with a bewitching sense of symmetry. Elegant and caressing towards the finish with touches of orange-blossom and apricot. Superb length. Wonderful. Drink now-2025+ Tasted December 2009.
Rating: 96 –96
Even though Cristal is typically very appealing upon release, the truth is that it needs serious cellaring to reveal its pedigree. Several recent bottles have been breathtaking. The aromatics, fruit and acidity are all beautifully woven together in this fabulous Cristal.
Rating: 97 –97
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! One caveat. Champagne, more than any wine in the world, is extremely vulnerable to heat. Pierre Rovani has already tasted a cooked bottle of this wine. Readers need to be particularly careful when buying Champagne. Imported by (Maison Marques and Domaines, Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 286-2000)
Rating: 97 –97
Blending 62% Pinot Noir with 38% Chardonnay, fermented without malolactic and disgorged in 1996 after five years sur lie, the 1990 Cristal is still a superb and amazing prestige Champagne that is far from being over-matured or faded. The wine is as rich as it is pure and finessed, revealing a mineral tension and youthful freshness that is nothing short of stunning given the low-acidity vintage. This proves impressively that substance and terroir matter far more than just acidity. Tasted in May 2018, the 1990 is still fabulous. Even the 1979 Cristal was still excitingly fresh but unfortunately corked.
Rating: 97 –97
The 1990 Cristal is a dramatic, sweeping wine endowed with masses of apricots, peaches, flowers and minerals. A large-scaled Cristal, the 1990 combines size with clarity and focus in a remarkably complete style that recalls the 1982. The wine remains generous on the palate, with stunning length and a finish that lasts forever. The 1990 Cristal is 62% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay. Just a small portion of the wine (7-10%) underwent malolactic fermentation. This bottle was disgorged in late 2007 with 8 grams of dosage. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2023.
Rating: 93 –93
Tasted at the IMW Louis Roederer tasting. Disgorged September 2006. This has a much more mature nose than the 1996, more oxidative and honeyed, with touches of roasted walnut, white peach, a touch of wild mushroom and Kaffir lime. Good definition. With time there is a touch of tangerine and lime cordial. The palate has a rounded entry, a touch of spice and a tang of fresh ginger. Good weight, but it does not have the same tautness and complexity as the ’96. But it is a generous Cristal, a bit of a femme fatale and it lingers beautifully on the palate. Drink now-2015. Tasted December 2009.
Rating: 94 –94
The 1988 is a strapping, powerful Cristal. Ripe tropical fruit, butter, spices and smoke are some of the nuances that emerge from this energetic, focused Champagne. This is a rather monolithic Cristal that lacks the elegance of the finest vintages. The 1988 Cristal is unique in that it is the only vintage in which Chardonnay, at 55%, plays the dominant role in the blend. 1988 was a cool year and picking stretched into October. The late harvest largely favored Chardonnay over Pinot Noir. According to Lecaillon, the lesson learned in 1988 was that the estate needed to seriously lower yields on the Pinot in order to achieve proper ripeness. The wine was partially fermented in oak (25%) and 30% of the Pinot Noir underwent malolactic fermentation. This bottle was disgorged in late 2007, and dosage was 8 grams, quite a bit lower than is the norm these days. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.
Rating: 93 –93
Tasted at the IMW Louis Roederer tasting. Disgorged September 2006. The nose is very rich and developing, perhaps lacking a little definition and vigour, with dried apricot nectarine, mushroom/truffle and a touch of nutmeg. The palate is medium-bodied, much more vigorous than the nose suggests, well balanced with some lovely honeyed/tangerine notes, almost viscous in texture towards the finish that is driven by the higher proportion of Chardonnay. Not quite as compelling as the Krug ’88 and perhaps let down rather by the bouquet, the palate goes a long way to compensate. Mellow and seductive. Tasted December 2009.
Rating: 95 –95
No tasting note.
Rating: 92 –92
No Specific Tasting Note
Rating: 94 –94
No tasting note.
Rating: 94 –94
No tasting note.
Rating: 93 –93
No tasting note.
Rating: 93 –93
No tasting note.
Rating: 97 –97
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.
Rating: 94 –94
The 1990 Cristal is in a perfect spot, where the aromas and flavors have developed lovely complexity, while the contours have softened, making it an excellent choice for drinking now and over the next decade or so.
Rating: 95 –95
Roederer’s 1990 Cristal showed great balance in the opulent style of the vintage, even if this bottle wasn’t representative of how profound the wine can be.
Rating: 97 –97
The 1990 Cristal is a dramatic, sweeping wine endowed with masses of apricots, peaches, flowers and minerals. A large-scaled Cristal, the 1990 combines size with clarity and focus in a remarkably complete style that recalls the 1982. The wine remains generous on the palate, with stunning length and a finish that lasts forever. The 1990 Cristal is 62% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay. Just a small portion of the wine (7-10%) underwent malolactic fermentation. This bottle was disgorged in late 2007 with 8 grams of dosage.
Rating: 97 –97
As good as the 1995 Cristal (Late Disgorged) is, the 1996 may be even a touch better, as it has a bit more volume and also more layers of intensity. Taut yet wonderfully explosive, with fabulous energy, the 1996 captures all the best qualities of the vintage. In most 1996 retrospectives, Cristal makes a case for itself as one of the wines of the year, so it is not so surprising to see the Late Disgorged version show so well. Readers who can find the 1996 are in for a real treat.
Rating: 97 –97
The 1996 Cristal is another highlight in a tasting full of thrilling wines. Cristal is all about finesse, nuance and understatement, all of which come through in spades here. Hints of apricot jam and wild flowers are laced into the soft, super-expressive finish.
Rating: 96 –96
Both wines from Roederer are fantastic. Even though Cristal is typically very appealing upon release, the truth is that it needs serious cellaring to reveal its pedigree. Several recent bottles have been breathtaking. The aromatics, fruit and acidity are all beautifully woven together in this fabulous Cristal.
Rating: 96 –96
Then it was off to one of the most mind-boggling array of 1996 Champagnes I have ever seen. Imagine being able to liberally sample all of that vintage’s top wines at once. As I have recently tasted and reviewed many of the wines recently in my retrospective of the 1996 Champagnes, I won’t comment on each wine here, except to say that so many bottles seem to be growing with each passing year. The head of the class among the 1996s remains Krug’s Clos du Mesnil. I was equally impressed with all three Dom Pérignons and both Cristals.
Rating: 96 –96
Roederer’s 1996 Cristal was awesome. A sweeping, dramatic Champagne, it revealed an expressive core of exuberant fruit that came to life in the glass with marvelous clarity and precision. It was magnificent.
Rating: 96 –96
Roederer's 1996 Cristal is gorgeous. The expressive, floral bouquet melds seamlessly into an expansive palate of sweet fruit. This is an exceptionally polished and finessed Cristal, but like so many vintages, it needs time in bottle, regardless of how rewarding it is today. Even after all of these great 1996s, the Cristal delivers the goods.
Rating: 96 –96
The 1996 Cristal was another of the standouts of the night. Remarkable for its gorgeous bouquet and silky-textured fruit, the wine offered surreal balance in a sensual, seductive style.
Rating: 94 –94
Multidimensional nose offers baked apple, orange oil, acacia honey, white chocolate, toffee and earthy low tones. Expansive, superconcentrated and powerful but not aggressive, with wonderfully sweet flavors of orange, flowers and honey supported by strong underlying structure. An amazingly solid Champagne with the stuffing for extended development in bottle.
Rating: 92 –92
Bright gold. Deep, subtly smoky nectarine and musky yellow plum aromas are energized by a suave mineral quality. Broad and fleshy, with deep, chewy pear, pit fruit and buttered toast flavors. A serious style, with velvety texture and excellent finishing punch. This has the concentration to repay cellaring but is open-knit enough to enjoy on the young side.
Rating: 100 –100
Roederer’s 2002 Cristal, from magnum, is just off the charts. What else is there to say? The magnum format is so well-suited to Champagne. As opposed to still wines, which are just aged in glass, for Champagne, the secondary fermentation takes place in the glass. I am convinced that is a major part of what makes Champagne from magnum (or larger) often so compelling. The texture, breadth and overall pedigree here is just remarkable, with layers of apricot, spice, dried flowers and citrus confit that continue to build over time. The 2002 is neither old nor young; it is quite simply eternal. What a great way to start the night. Wow!
Rating: 97 –97
The 2002 Cristal is now entering its first plateau of maturity, which makes it a terrific Champagne for drinking now. Hints of apricot, brioche, lemon confit, honey, hazelnut, baked apple tart and spice give the 2002 striking layers of nuance. Rich and generous, the 2002 show plenty of the natural opulence of the year and yet retains terrific freshness as well. As always, Cristal is a blend of Pinot from Ay, Verzenay, Verzy and Beaumont sur Vesle, and Chardonnay from Mesnil, Cramant and Oger. Dosage is 9 grams per liter. This is the original 2010 disgorgement. What a wine.
Rating: 99 –99
The 2002 Cristal (magnum) is off the charts. In magnum, the 2002 shows a bit less of the opulence and richness it presents in bottle, which is not at all a bad thing for a vintage that has so much natural exuberance. Creamy and exquisitely layered in the glass, the 2002 is wonderfully expressive today, not to mention incredibly inviting. Dried flowers, mint, Mirabelle and wild flowers give the 2002 captivating inner perfume and tons of sheer allure. This is the original 2009 disgorgement. Dosage is 9 grams per liter, lower than was once the norm here, and the result of a combination of factors including climate change, generally riper fruit and a warm growing season.
Rating: 96 –96
The 2002 Cristal (Re-Release) is just as arrestingly beautiful as it has always been. Exotic, powerful and sensual, the 2002 is just starting to show all of its cards. The 2002 was magnificent when it was first released. Since then, it has only grown in breeding. In this vintage, Cristal is silky, sensual and open-knit, with enveloping fruit and striking textural resonance. It’s great to see the 2002 showing so well. I had high expectations when it was first released, and those expectations now appear to have been more than justified.
Rating: 96 –96
The 2002 Cristal is just now beginning to enter a plateau of early maturity. The ripeness and exuberance is on full display, but the 2002 needs quite a bit of air to fully open up and show its personality. Today, the 2002 is racy and intense to the core, with fabulous balance and plenty of the vintage's trademark opulence. What a gorgeous Champagne this is. 10,000 cases imported in the US.
Rating: 96 –96
The 2002 Cristal is a gorgeous, sculpted wine of extraordinary elegance. Graceful, well-delineated aromatics lead to ripe pears, spices, flowers, minerals and mint in this precise Champagne. Today the 2002 appears to have slightly more fruit than the 1996, and perhaps slightly better overall balance, although that is splitting hairs at this level. The wine remains fresh and in need of several years of cellaring before it hits its stride. In 2002 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. 20% of the wine was aged in oak, and dosage was 10 grams. This bottle was disgorged in December 2007.
Rating: 96 –96
Roederer's 2002 Cristal is still in its infant, fresh stage. Subtle notes of pears, flowers, spices, mint, minerals and oak are woven into a cashmere-like frame of extraordinary grace and elegance. This beautifully-sculpted Champagne possesses notable clarity but with the additional depth of fruit that is characteristic of this vintage. It is a gorgeous, seductive Cristal of the highest level. In 2002 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay with 10 grams of dosage. 20% of the wine was fermented in oak. This is Lot : L030351A107809. This bottle was disgorged in June 28th, 2007.
Rating: 91 –91
Light, bright gold with a steady bead. Orange, ripe pear, red berries and white flowers on the nose, with complementary notes of lemon, honey, sweet butter and smoky minerals. Ripe citrus and orchard fruit flavors are braced by gentle minerality, picking up subtle baking spice and buttered toast notes with air. Surprisingly generous at this stage, with smoky mineral and floral qualities on the finish. This is more open-knit than the comparatively elegant 2000 and appears ready to drink.
Rating: 97 –97
The 2004 Cristal is superb today. Bright and focused, the 2004 shows all of the tension and energy that has always been one of its signatures. The first hints of aromatic maturity are starting to develop, but the 2004 remains quite young and full of energy. I have always admired the 2004 (along with the best wines of the vintage) for its focus. In this bottle, the interplay of freshness from the recent 2018 disgorgement and richness gained through added time on the lees (which also results in lower dosage of 7 grams per liter) opens another window into the personality of Cristal. In 2004, the Pinot Noir is 57%, or a bit lower than normal, while the Chardonnay at 43% is correspondingly a touch higher.
Rating: 97 –97
The 2004 Brut Cristal has put on quite a bit of weight since I first tasted it earlier this year. It is a powerful, structured Cristal layered with considerable fruit. Chardonnay seems to play the leading role in 2004, at least today. Cristal is often accessible young, but that is far from the case here. This is a serious, painfully young Cristal that will require considerable patience. Readers who are willing to spend some time with the wine today will find a super-impressive, complete Cristal. This is Lot L033331E100008, disgorged January, 2010.
Rating: 96 –96
The estate’s 2004’s had been recently disgorged at the time of my visit. An explosion of fruit emerges from the 2004 Cristal, making a strong and very positive first impression. This is a wine of incredible finesse, length and balance that promises to develop beautifully over the next several decades. Today the 2004 comes across as more linear than the 2002. It should fill out nicely in bottle, although my sense is it will always remain a more focused, pointed vintage. The 2004 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. In 2009 dosage was 9-10 grams per liter, down from the 12 or so grams that was customary five years ago. This bottle was disgorged in January 2009.
Rating: 94 –94
(55% pinot noir and 45% chardonnay) Light, bright gold. Spicy citrus and orchard fruit aromas are complemented by chalk, white flowers and a touch of smokiness. Taut, linear lemon and orange rind flavors give way to deeper pear in the mid-palate and pick up notes of honeysuckle and toasted grain with air. Still very young but shows excellent promise. Finishes with good mineral cut and sappy persistence.
Rating: 92 –92
The 2005 Brut Cristal stands out for its exceptional inner perfume and elegance. Soft, delicate and pretty, the 2005 is relatively immediate Cristal with all of the signatures very much in the right place. The 2005 doesn't have the opulence of the 2002 nor the focus of the 2004, but it is a very pretty, if somewhat small-scaled version of this iconic Champagne. I would drink the 2005 while the 2002 and 2004 age. Although Cristal has an impeccable track record when it comes to aging, personally I would not push it with the 2005.
Rating: 94 –94
(L036332A109909): Bright yellow-gold. Heady floral-accented citrus and orchard fruits on the nose, with smoky mineral and floral overtones adding complexity. Velvety and chewy in texture, offering deep, juicy orange and poached pear flavors and suave honey and chamomile nuances. Blends precision with power, finishing with a distinct mineral quality and excellent persistence.
Rating: 97 –97
Broad, ample and resonant on the palate, the 2006 Cristal dazzles with its pure richness and volume. Readers need to give the 2006 another 4-5 years in bottle, perhaps longer, as the wine appears to be shutting down a bit. Tasted next to the 2002, today the 2006 is a bit less opulent but just as intense, layered and deep. This is a fabulous showing. 10,000 cases imported in the US.
Rating: 96 –96
The 2006 Cristal is one of the most towering, structured young Cristals I can remember tasting. Roederer is among the first, if not the first, major house to release its tete de cuvees. Young Cristal can often deceive with its open, seductive personality, but that is not at all the case here. The 2006 is majestic, powerful Cristal that is going to need bottle age. Today it is massive, tightly coiled and imposing, with tons of structure, phenomenal balance and plenty of potential for the future. In 2006, the blend favors Pinot Noir over Chardonnay slightly, at 60% and 40% respectively. The Pinots are from Verzenay, Verzy, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Ay and Mareuil sur Ay, while the Chardonnays emerge from sites in Avize, Mesnil and Cramant. As always, Cristal is made exclusively from estate-owned vineyards.
Rating: 95 –95
(made from 55% pinot noir and 45% chardonnay; 20% of the wine was aged in oak; no malo, as usual): Light, bright gold. Heady mineral- and smoke-accented citrus and orchard fruit aromas, with notes of fig, toasted nuts and sweet butter adding complexity and depth. Powerful, palate-staining poached pear and orange flavors are given spine by a smoky mineral quality, picking up floral and spicecake notes with air. Rich but lively and precise, finishing with superb clarity, power and spicy persistence. Drinking this Champagne now would be a shame given this cuvee's track record for aging.
Rating: 96 –96
The bouquet is drop-dead gorgeous, lively and broad, and beautifully defined as always, offering scents of citrus fruit, toasted walnuts and a hint of brioche. The exquisitely balanced palate displays spine-tingling mineralité and real tension and grace. The long, quite deep finish makes me wonder whether this 2006 will meliorate with further bottle age. Should I care, when it is so delicious now? Just superb.
Rating: 97 –97
Long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon has produced yet another in a string of superb Champagnes with the 2007 Cristal. Rich, powerful and enveloping, the 2007 takes hold of all the senses and never lets up. The aromatics alone are captivating, but then the wine opens on the palate, revealing layer after layer of flavor to match a multi-dimensional, kaleidoscopic personality that will leave Champagne lovers weak at the knees. The 2007 is 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay, which is to say a bit more Chardonnay-leaning than is the norm. The 2007 is striking today, but it should also age effortlessly for several decades. It is also without question one of the very finest new releases of the year.
Rating: 99 –99
The 2008 Cristal is one of the most complete, most dazzling Champagnes I have ever tasted. A stunning wine from any and all perspectives, the 2008 simply has it all. Spherical in construction, with superb persistence. The 2008 takes hold of all the senses and never gives up. One of the many things that makes the 2008 special is a combination of ripe fruit and bright, piercing acidity. Marzipan, lemon confit, dried flowers and orchard fruit all build into the explosive, resonant finish. “We learned from the mistakes of 1996, when we picked more on acid than ripeness, as was the norm in Champagne back then” Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon told me recently. “In 1996, the best fruit turned out to be the last picks, where the fruit was physiologically ripe. Today, we aim to pick all our fruit with that criteria.”
Rating: 98 –98
The 2008 Cristal is a wine that takes over all the senses and never lets up. The brilliance and cut of the Chardonnay finds an extra kick of resonance from the Pinot Noir to carry the mid palate and finish in this stunningly beautiful, chiseled Champagne. Lemon oil, almond, flowers, dried herbs and Mirabelle plum are some of the many aromas and flavors that develop as the 2008 shows off its pedigree. The 2008 is a regal, towering Champagne from Roederer. That’s all there is to it.
Rating: 98 –98
The 2008 Cristal is a real head-turner. Powerful, ample and explosive in all of its dimensions, the 2008 takes hold of the sense and never lets up. There is a crystalline purity to the flavors that is simply remarkable. Although still a baby, the 2008 looks like it will soon take its place alongside the greatest Cristals. Today, it is breathtaking.
Rating: 96 –96
Rich, creamy and radiant, the 2009 Cristal captures all of the natural generosity of the vintage while also retaining a good bit of freshness and aromatic intensity. Immediate and totally sensual in its allure, the 2009 will drink well with minimal cellaring. All things considered, at this stage, the 2009 comes across as relatively restrained for a wine from a warm year.
Rating: 96 –96
2009 Cristal has really shut down since I tasted it this past spring, which is probably a very good thing for its potential longevity. The radiance and richness the 2009 showed just a few months ago is not all evident. Instead, the 2009 comes across as tightly wound and in need of considerable cellaring. I expect it will drink well for a period measured in decades rather than years. The 2009 has always been quite exuberant, but for now, it looks the wine is going to need a bit of time before it is at its best. Readers should note that Roederer has decided to release the 2009 ahead of the 2008.
Rating: 96 –96
Rich, radiant and totally seductive, the 2009 Cristal possesses remarkable depth and striking purity. I have often felt that Cristal is released too young, but that is not at all the case with the 2009, a Champagne that is absolutely glorious today. The ripeness of the vintage comes through in spades in the wine's luxurious, enveloping personality. I remember tasting the vins clairs and the Cristal blend back in the spring of 2010. The finished wine is every bit as alluring as those early tastings suggested it would be. The 2009 is a superb Cristal in the making. The 2009 blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The percentage of wine aged in oak is 15%, which is down slightly from previous vintages.
Rating: 94 –96
The 2009 Cristal literally shimmers on the palate, showing great depth and purity in its sumptuous layers of fruit. It is a magnificent wine endowed with superb length and exceptional overall balance. The 2009 Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. The percentage of wine aged in oak is 15%, which is down slightly from previous vintages.
Rating: 98 –98
The 2012 Cristal is another absolutely stellar wine this flight of recent releases. Rich, vinous and beautifully textured, the 2012 has been nothing short of magnificent on the three occasions I have tasted it so far. In the glass, the 2012 is radiant and luscious, yet it possesses remarkable transparency and striking aromatic depth. Light tropical notes develop in the glass, giving the 2012 a real feeling of exotic beauty. The 2012 is the first vintage of Cristal done with 100% organically-farmed fruit, an approach introduced gradually starting with the 2007 that has profoundly changes Cristal, especially in its aromatic breadth. Two thousand twelve is the vintage where endless trials and experiments in farming and winemaking are fully realized. The 2012 is just stunning. It’s as simple as that. Dosage is just over 7 grams per liter, the lowest it has even been for Cristal.
Rating: 97 –97
The 2013 Cristal is a wine of extraordinary precision and tension. Searing acids drive a bold, racy Champagne that won’t be ready to offer its best drinking anytime soon. In recent vintages, Cristal has been quite open on release. That is far from the case with the 2013. Readers should plan on being quite patient. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ, Verzy, Verzenay, Beaumont-sur-Vesle) and 40% Chardonnay (Mesnil, Avize, Cramant). Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon was especially selective and used only 30 out of the potential 45 plots that are typically available for Cristal. About 32% of the lots were done in oak, the rest in steel, with the malolactic fermentation blocked across the board. It was an October harvest, the sort of harvest that has become increasingly rare in Champagne. Lecaillon describes the summer as similar to 2012, but adds the vines were a month behind in their development. In tasting, the 2013 reminds me of the 1996 in its austerity, even more so than the epic 2008. (Originally published in May 2021)
Rating: 97 –97
The 2013 Cristal is a wine of extraordinary precision and tension. Searing acids drive a bold, racy Champagne that won’t be ready to offer its best drinking anytime soon. In recent vintages, Cristal has been quite open on release. That is far from the case with the 2013. Readers should plan on being quite patient. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ, Verzy, Verzenay, Beaumont-sur-Vesle) and 40% Chardonnay (Mesnil, Avize, Cramant). Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon was especially selective and used only 30 out of the potential 45 plots that are typically available for Cristal. About 32% of the lots were done in oak, the rest in steel, with the malolactic fermentation blocked across the board. It was an October harvest, the sort of harvest that has become increasingly rare in Champagne. Lecaillon describes the summer as similar to 2012, but adds the vines were a month behind in their development. In tasting, the 2013 reminds me of the 1996 in its austerity, even more so than the epic 2008.
Rating: 98 –98
The 2014 Cristal is another in a long line of gorgeous wines from Roederer and long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. A dazzling, vibrant Champagne, the 2014 impresses with a stunning combination of fruit density and linear energy that brings to mind a hypothetical blend of 2012 and 2008. At times, the bubbles feel totally wrapped up in waves of creamy, resonant fruit to the point the mousse is barely perceptible, especially with aeration. The flavors are bright and finely sculpted, leaning very much into the citrus, floral and mineral end of the spectrum.The blend is a classic: 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay taken from 39 of the 45 parcels that comprise the Cristal estate. In most vintages, the Pinot components are roughly equally split between Verzy/Verzenay and Aÿ, but in 2014, Lécaillon favored Verzy and Verzenay, two north facing villages in the Montagne de Reims (where rain was less problematic) known for conferring saline energy and vibrancy. Rain was much more of an issue in the Vallée de la Marne. Consequently, some of the Pinots in Aÿ were diluted and did not make it into the blend. Chardonnays were sourced from historic plots in Avize, Mesnil and Cramant. About 32% of the lots were fermented in wood, the rest were done in tank. As always, all of the malolactic fermentations were blocked. In 2014, the growing season was marked by a good spring followed by a cool, wet summer and then very favorable weather in September. I vividly recall that there was not much enthusiasm for the vintage at the outset. Today, though, opinions are starting to change, at least with regards to some wines. Since 2012, Cristal has been made entirely from organically-farmed grapes, an approach Lécaillon adopted in order to achieve a more ideal and parallel relationship between sugar and phenolic ripeness. “Champagne is always a battle between picking too early and rot,” Lécaillon has often said during our tastings. One of the other benefits of organic farming is that it naturally lowers yields. As Champagne fans know, the great wines of the 1950s and 1960s were made at a time when yields were in the 5,000 kilo per hectare range. Then, in the 1980s, widespread planting of higher-yielding clones led to an entirely different situation in the vineyard. Today’s permitted yields are 11,000 kilos per hectare, with some variation in years that present unusual growing conditions. With organic farming, yields for Cristal are in the 7,000-9,000 kilo per hectare range. Another innovation at Roederer has been a focus on higher-density plantings with newer vineyards, an approach that encourages low production per vine. But back to the wine.The 2014 Cristal is a riveting Champagne. Don’t miss it.
Rating: 96 –96
I have tasted the 2015 Cristal three times so far - once as part of an extensive vertical I will be reporting on shortly, and then later in my office. Those tastings paint a portrait of a complex Champagne that is still finding its center. Tasted at the maison, the 2015 is rich, dense and explosive, with tremendous textural intensity and also a good bit of energy to back it up. Citrus confit, spice, ginger, chalk and dried flowers abound in a Champagne endowed with tremendous aromatic presence in a style that offers notable richness, but lighter than vintages such as 2012. There is a bit of the savoriness that is such a signature of the year, but it is nicely integrated in the wine’s fabric. Two later tastings in my office strongly suggest the 2015 has already started to shut down a bit, which is a shame, as it may be hard to read for some time to come. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: November 2022. This is a compelling set of new releases from Roederer and long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. The 2015 Cristal is one of the more intriguing Champagnes in what has turned out to be a tricky vintage overall for a region that is struggling to adapt to the new reality of climate change and its impact on achieving phenolic maturity in the field. “We strive to reach the classic measurement of 100 days between flowering and harvest, and that requires waiting to pick,” Lécaillon explains. “At the same time, acidity does not really exist anymore in Champagne, so we have to find a way to reinvent it,” he adds, a bit ironically.The 2015 is an unusual Cristal in that it includes fruit from all 45 parcels at the domaine, which has not happened since 2002. Pinots from Verzy and Verzenay, north-facing sites in the Montagne de Reims, featured quite a bit, adding energy to the blend. As always, there is no malolactic fermentation. About 25-30% of the lots were fermented in oak. In warmer vintages, Lécaillon bumps up the wood a bit to add phenolic intensity, which he describes as “stretching out the finish” and adding freshness.
Rating: 96 –96
I have tasted the 2015 Cristal three times so far - once as part of an extensive vertical I will be reporting on shortly, and then later in my office. Those tastings paint a portrait of a complex Champagne that is still finding its center. Tasted at the maison, the 2015 is rich, dense and explosive, with tremendous textural intensity and also a good bit of energy to back it up. Citrus confit, spice, ginger, chalk and dried flowers abound in a Champagne endowed with tremendous aromatic presence in a style that offers notable richness, but lighter than vintages such as 2012. There is a bit of the savoriness that is such a signature of the year, but it is nicely integrated in the wine’s fabric. Two later tastings in my office strongly suggest the 2015 has already started to shut down a bit, which is a shame, as it may be hard to read for some time to come. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: November 2022.
Rating: 95 –95
The 2009 Cristal is a blend of Grands Crus from the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs (a total of 33-34 parcels of which 40% were farmed biodynamically). Like the 2008 Cristal, the 2009 also blends 60% Pinot Noir with 40% Chardonnay, and 16% of the wine was vinified in oak casks. No malolactic fermentation was done. The 2009 was aged for six years in the cellars and was disgorged in March 2016 with a dosage of eight grams per liter. Released two years ago, the 2009 is just starting another, more "Burgundian" life. Tasted in May 2018, the bouquet was pretty reductive, with flinty and toasty/nutty notes and some potted ginger flavors. Full-bodied, round and rich on the palate, this is a stunningly pure, fresh and salty 2009 that is driven by its chalky terroir and the lingering salinity. Is it really 2009? It is ripe, yes, but driven by the strength of chalk. The finish is pure, clean, fresh, very complex and long yet delicate and endlessly salty. However, two years after disgorgement, the 2009 Cristal is closing down and in a pretty reductive stage right now. Tasted May 2018.
Rating: 97 –97
Aromas of clear honey, crisp green orchard fruit, white peach, pastry cream and dried white flowers introduce the 2012 Cristal, a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful wine that's built for the cellar. Broader, more textural and more muscular than the 2008 Cristal, with seemingly even greater reserves of structuring dry extract, the 2012 is incisive and searingly chalky. This is the first Cristal produced exclusively from organically farmed fruit, and it marks the opening of a new chapter for Louis Roderer. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with 7.5 grams per liter dosage. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once again excelled himself.
Rating: 98 –98
One of the finest Champagnes I have ever brought to my lips, the 1999 Cristal bursts from the glass with fresh hazelnut and apple scents. Elegant, deep, and silky-textured, this medium to full-bodied beauty is immensely concentrated, pure, packed with apple flavors, and astoundingly long in the finish. Louis Roederer does not display a disgorgement date or consumer friendly lot number on its non-vintage Brut. This is regrettable as it has consistently been one of the finer bottlings in this category. Importer: Maison Marques & Domaines USA Inc., Oakland, CA; tel. (510) 286-2000.
Rating: 95 –95
This wine was recommended, but no tasting note was given.
Louis Reoderer’s most famous wine was created in 1876 to satisfy the demanding tastes of Tsar Alexander II. The emperor asked Louis Roederer to reserve the House’s best cuvée for him every year. He was particularly fond of the House’s wine. To distinguish this cuvée, this exceptional champagne came in a flat-bottomed, transparent lead-crystal bottle. The new brand was named after this precious material, which is particularly transparent and luminous.