Louis Roederer
Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend
Champagne, France
Ripe and lush with a blast of rock pool and a steeliness. Delicious from mag
Ripe and lush with a blast of rock pool and a steeliness. Delicious from mag
Jul 5th, 2020
So the Fevre Clos bottles were going down quickly and the conversation turned to Champagne. A guest stated her favorite was Cristal and I happened to have a bottle in the ready to drink bin. Light gold with nice mousse when poured that gives a smile-inducing bouquet in the nose. Notes of lemon and sweet citrus, brioche bread, some apricot, some almond and white chalk. Expands in the mouth, coating everything it hits. Hold it in a bit and your face goes flush. Everyone really enjoyed this bottle which is drinking very well now but will certainly evolve and improve with more age.
So the Fevre Clos bottles were going down quickly and the conversation turned to Champagne. A guest stated her favorite was Cristal and I happened to have a bottle in the ready to drink bin. Light gold with nice mousse when poured that gives a smile-inducing bouquet in the nose. Notes of lemon and sweet citrus, brioche bread, some apricot, some almond and white chalk. Expands in the mouth, coating everything it hits. Hold it in a bit and your face goes flush. Everyone really enjoyed this bottle which is drinking very well now but will certainly evolve and improve with more age.
Jun 20th, 2020There’s red fruit in this (raspberry) and some delicate floral notes. A sweetness with underlying steeliness. Very good.
There’s red fruit in this (raspberry) and some delicate floral notes. A sweetness with underlying steeliness. Very good.
Jun 7th, 2020More restrained than I remember it. Lemon, limestone, salinity. Fresh and delicious and getting better in the glass
More restrained than I remember it. Lemon, limestone, salinity. Fresh and delicious and getting better in the glass
May 24th, 2020This is gorgeous. Honeyed at the edges with great minerality, complexity and a long finish. Sweet and delicious.
This is gorgeous. Honeyed at the edges with great minerality, complexity and a long finish. Sweet and delicious.
May 1st, 2020
Light with citrus fruits, fresh fields/hay, a bit of bitterness in the middle/end of the palate.
Light with citrus fruits, fresh fields/hay, a bit of bitterness in the middle/end of the palate.
Apr 11th, 2020
Hmmm the never ending lunch! Clean and crisp tiny bubbles velvety citrus notes. Three bottles at lunch! Thank you Luca!
Hmmm the never ending lunch! Clean and crisp tiny bubbles velvety citrus notes. Three bottles at lunch! Thank you Luca!
Mar 13th, 2020
The 2012 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Chanpagne is a thrilling, dense new offering from this historic house. On the nose this takes on rich brioche and baked Pazzaz apple flavors that combine with lighter kumquat and marzipan tones that all meld in the glass. Fresh and vibrant, with a remarkably silky mousse, the weight and richness of this wine is impressive, while the bright character provides a wonderful foil. Rich layers of lemon zest dusted brioche with toasted hazelnut and Gravenstein apple with lighter vanilla cream and starfruit tones seamlessly combine on the palate. As several hours develop, the wine pieces itself together more magically with the intense citrus components melding with its weighty stature. Marvelous at this stage in its development, the 2012 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Chanpagne will have an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Try to give this at least another year of bottle development before savoring. Drink 2021-2040- 97
The 2012 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Chanpagne is a thrilling, dense new offering from this historic house. On the nose this takes on rich brioche and baked Pazzaz apple flavors that combine with lighter kumquat and marzipan tones that all meld in the glass. Fresh and vibrant, with a remarkably silky mousse, the weight and richness of this wine is impressive, while the bright character provides a wonderful foil. Rich layers of lemon zest dusted brioche with toasted hazelnut and Gravenstein apple with lighter vanilla cream and starfruit tones seamlessly combine on the palate. As several hours develop, the wine pieces itself together more magically with the intense citrus components melding with its weighty stature. Marvelous at this stage in its development, the 2012 Louis Roederer ‘Cristal’ Chanpagne will have an exceedingly long life ahead of it. Try to give this at least another year of bottle development before savoring. Drink 2021-2040- 97
Mar 4th, 2020
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. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2019)
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. (Antonio Galloni, Vinous, December 2019)
06 in 19. Cristal our of mag. Approachable and champagne aged rich
06 in 19. Cristal our of mag. Approachable and champagne aged rich
Dec 8th, 2019