Delectable Wine

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9.9

Tasted from magnum, the 2013 Cristal Rosé is ravishing. Dense, creamy and powerful, the 2013 captures all the qualities of the vintage, specifically the interplay of rich fruit from the warm summer and cooler inflections from a year that started late and ended late with a rare October harvest. Today, the 2013 is deep and beautifully seamless, but it is also young – far too young to be at its best. Dosage is 6.5 grams per liter, a bit less than for the standard bottlings, a decision taken to balance longer aging on the lees and a bit more residual sugar that is always left in the magnums after fermentation. Readers who can find the 2013 in magnum will experience one of the greatest thrills in wine. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, March 2024)
— 15 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.1

The 5th and final wine at the Louis Roederer dinner last Friday night ( even though I did have a sip of the 2015 Cristal which was stunning ). The host for the evening said this Rose was made in a unique style with whole Pinot Noir berries added to the pressed Chardonnay juice. When the Pinot Noir berries split the must is pressed again. Red fruited but not as strawberries and cream as I was expecting. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

The 4th wine at the Louis Roederer dinner at the Downs Club on Friday night. A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay. Interestingly the Pinot vineyards are south facing and the Chardonnay vineyards are north facing. The Pinot asserts itself in the aroma with red fruits with yellow fruits from the Chardonnay. The palate incorporates these aromatics and is fresh, exhibiting power and energy. A great future here and already mouthwatering. — 2 months ago

Lorna Hajdini

9.3

At Mandarin Oriental Paris (October 2023) — 8 days ago

Willie Carter

9.2

An attractive pale gold color with highly active perlage. Very typically Louis in every way. Warm brioche and an abundance of yellow fruit aromas initially. Apples and dandelions with a nice whiff of honey. Strawberries and a little bit of chalk.

The numbered collection series from Louis Roederer continues to impress. Based on the 2018 vintage with a generous amount of reserve wines. Baronial but zesty with terrific balance and structure. Obviously young but there’s plenty of potential for this to develop down the road.

Inviting and thrilling in the mouth. Biscuits and apple with plenty of lemon zest. Just a bit of oak and dried herbs. A lovely, lovely champagne and one that I’ll keep coming back to. — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

The 2nd wine at the Louis Roederer dinner at the Downs Club last Friday night. From the Cote de Blancs from a vineyard in Avize. 8 grams, low dosage - only 5 atmospheres of pressure giving a creamy palate. A touch of salinity from the chalky limestone soils. One of my favourites on the night. Matured on lees for 5 years and left for a minimum of 6 months after disgorgement. — 2 months ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.3

Good birthday dinner with outstanding wines. 2014 Cristal, 2013 marcassin chardonay, cos d’estournel 1982, figeac 1990, 2019 nuits St. George’s clos de la marechale mugnier. Cos unfortunately corked. — a month ago

Billy L.

9.3

From Mag & 750 Oscar’s Champagne’s Cheers 🍾🥂👍🏻👏🏻 — a month ago

Bob McDonald

9.2

At the Louis Roederer dinner at the Downs Club on Friday night. I’ve always thought the Charles Heidsieck was my favourite NV but this might be a new contender. 54% 2019 vintage; 36% from the Perpetual Reserve and 10% from previous years and young plots on the Cristal estate. Fresh with interest with complexity building. — 2 months ago

Bob McDonald

9.0

The 3rd wine at the Louis Roederer dinner on Friday night at the Downs Club. Very much a minimalist wine with input from designer, Phillipe Starck - no malo, no dosage, biodynamic. Only made in ripe warm years from the Cumieres vineyard. A little too bone dry for my palate. — 2 months ago