Louis Roederer Cristal Price

The 2018 Cristal opens a new chapter for Roederer. The Cristal estate is composed of 45 parcels. In better vintages, most of the 45 parcels are used for the blend. The 2018 vintage brought with it elevated ripeness and generally low acids. Longtime Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon was forced to cast his gaze wider, to look for parcels that offered a touch of freshness. Lecaillon expanded his palette to 57 parcels. The result is a Cristal unlike any other I have tasted. Orchard fruit, dried flowers, spice, chalk and herbs are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass. Floral and savory overtones are quite distinctive. Lecaillon reduced oak ferments, racked very quickly after fermentation and used all his best Chardonnay lots for Cristal, so much so that there is no Blanc de Blancs. He bottled earlier than normal and chose a crown capsule with a liner that allows less oxygen transfer than the norm here. Taken together, those choices paid off handsomely. In tasting, the 2018 is positively stunning. Its linear energy and brilliance are a bit reminiscent of the 2014, but its flavor profile is completely different from any Cristal I can remember tasting. Dosage is 7 grams per liter.

Antonio Galloni, 98.5

The 2016 Champagne Cristal is chalky and pristine, with a crystalline nature and notes of white peach, fresh citrus blossoms, and bright salinity. Tasted for the first time last year, it captures a precise and focused energy that’s unmatched. It boasts the energy and tension of 2002 and the precision of 2008. The wet-stone minerality of fresh chalk texture is profound, opening with medium body, showing pinpoint mousse, and sustaining a weightless energy through the long finish. This is not an obvious wine on opening, but it is by far one of my favorite wines of the year. It is going to require some patience, but it is worth stashing away and should have fantastic longevity.

Antoine Petrus, 100

The 2016 Cristal is a blend of 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay with 7 grams per liter of dosage. No malo-lactic was performed here, and 31% of the base wines were aged in French oak. The nose begins with bright red berry notes of fresh raspberries and strawberries before opening out to a complex undercurrent of saffron, white chocolate, talc, baker’s yeast, and emerging wafts of citron blossom and pear tart. The palate is very dry and spicy, not needing even a touch more sweetness thanks to the abundance of ripe berry and citrus flavors, delivering beautifully knit acidity and typically tiny, persistent bubbles. It finishes with notes of effervescent chalkiness and saffron flowers, leaving you reaching for another sip.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, 98.5

Cristal 2016 represents a return to purity and classicism for this cuvee, even seen through the lens of 2016's ripe, generous opening. It is characteristically discreet in youth, cloaking its ripeness in long, chalky, stony energy. Gentle mandarin, pale apricot and raspberry fruit sit under slowly maturing notions of floral honey and tight, smoky charm. There's an airy, flowing delicacy and persistence which lifts this cuvee above some other expressions of this year. It's a hugely promising Cristal, likely to stand as tall as the sought-after 2012 and 2013 releases.

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, Sarah Jane Evans MW and Pierre Mansour, 97

The finest rendition since 2013, the 2016 Cristal has turned out beautifully. A vintage that Lecaillon describes as “difficult in the vineyards but beautiful in the cellar,” it had suffered slightly in reputation due to the gloomy mood during the challenging growing season, but the results are indeed impressive. The fifth edition produced entirely from organically farmed and certified fruit, and heavily based on Pinot Noir, the 2016 represents the contemporary quality of Cristal, combining the concentration of 2002 with the precision and cut of 2013. Disgorged in July 2024 with a dosage of seven grams per liter, it opens in the glass to reveal a bouquet of lemon zest, white flowers and peeled almond, framed by youthful reduction. On the palate, it is bright and electric, with a pure core of fruit, pinpoint mousse and a textural attack, concluding with a long, saline finish. Drink it alongside the 2015, and it will illuminate its clarity and integration.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 96.5

The 2016 Cristal is a gracious, elegant Champagne, as it has always been. Floral accents with light tropical overtones distinguish a Cristal that is especially lifted in style. The 2016 is a delicate, restrained Cristal built more on finesse than power. It's a very fine effort in an extremely difficult year. Saline, chalky notes extend the effortless finish. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: July 2024.

Antonio Galloni, 96

From vineyards that are run organically, this iconic Champagne's latest iteration is as beautiful as ever. Textured, with a mineral undertow, the wine is just beginning to soften and show a balanced maturity. Drink this great wine now.

Anna Lee C. Iijima, 98

The 2015 Cristal is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. No malo-lactic was employed, and 25% wine was aged in oak. The dosage is 7 grams per liter. An exquisitely delicate yet complex perfume of clover honey, freshly shaved ginger, marzipan, and jasmine slowly emerges from the nose, giving way to a core of pear tart, persimmons, and apple butter. The palate is an exercise in finesse, featuring very fine bubbles and fantastic intensity with a myriad of spice and floral nuances, finishing with impressive persistence and jaw-dropping poise. This is a style for those that embrace purity, soft-spoken expression, and impeccable crafting. It won't disappoint those who love Champagne in its initial youthful perfume flushes, yet will undoubtedly reward the patient with a richer, toastier, more obvious and opulent style with 5-10 years+ of cellaring.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, 98

For the warm and dry vintage this has tremendous freshness and elegance. The complex nose of citrus blossom, mint, lemon and lime zest opens up slowly as this aerates in the glass. The wine’s ample structure is still quite firm, which is a vintage characteristic, the mousse very fine but also very lively for an eight-year-old champagne. Cristal fans will love this as it is, but a year or two more in the bottle will do a lot for the very long mineral finish of this youthful masterpiece. A cuvee of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, picked from all 45 Cristal vineyard plots. Tasted at the Cristal vertical tasting at the champagne house on July 6th, 2023. Drink from release.

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 97

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.<br /> <br /> This is a compelling set of new releases from Roederer and long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. 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,” Lecaillon 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.<br /> <br /> 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, Lecaillon bumps up the wood a bit to

Antonio Galloni, 96

I had the opportunity to taste the 2015 Champagne Cristal twice, both at the house in Reims as well as at my home office. On both occasions, the wine offered a terrific balance of decadence and notable freshness for this vintage, which was highly expressive on opening. The release reveals layered custardy notes of lemon balm, incense, apricot, and hazelnut. Medium to full-bodied, the mousse is fluffy and rounded out beautifully through the palate. Round and approachable, it has a well-managed richness along with underlying savory sapidity and saline to keep this going over the coming three or more decades, with a chalky tannin structure to support it. Drink 2025-2050. This was only the second vintage where Mr. Lecaillon opted to source from all of the 45 plots dedicated to Cristal. (Since then, he chose to draw from even more plots for the 2018.)

Antoine Petrus, 96

Sourced from 39 plots, the 2014 Champagne Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and the remainder Chardonnay, with 32% aged in oak, and it has 7 grams per liter dosage. It is highly expressive of classic elegance and purity, revealing aromas of crushed rock, almond croissant, and perfume of citrus blossoms. The palate is hyper-refined in its mousse, with pinpoint bubbles, a subtly rounded mid-palate, an irresistible chalky texture, and energy throughout its long and floral finish. Everything about this feels perfectly tailored. Drink 2024-2044.

Antoine Petrus, 98

This vivid Champagne shows up-front and linear definition, thanks to rapierlike acidity, with finely meshed flavors of ripe black cherry and mandarin orange fruit, raw almond, anise and cardamom spice as well as a touch of honeycomb, which all unfurl and expand on the fine, creamy palate. Sleek acidity continues through to the finish, with additional racy character provided by a streak of minerally saline and chalk, which gains momentum through the midpalate and rings out on the well-cut, lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2040. 9,181 cases imported.

Gillian Sciaretta, 98

The 2014 Cristal is another in a long line of gorgeous wines from Roederer and long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. 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.

David Schildknecht, 98

Still young, with toast aromas and shining white-fruit flavors, the latest release of Cristal is just setting out. A dry, tight core of intense flavors are shot through with minerality from the pure chalk soil of the 45 individual parcels in the blend. Drink this wine from 2025. Organic.

Anna Lee C. Iijima, 97

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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 96

The 2013 Cristal (magnum) is outrageously beautiful. A Champagne of stature and pure breeding, the 2013 is so impressive from the big bottle. There is a timelessness to Cristal in magnum that is so special in how the wine ages at the most gradual pace. The purity of the fruit is striking, as is the added touch of mid-palate richness from extended time on the lees in magnum. Sweet floral and chalk notes run through a core of layered citrus and orchard fruits, all framed by the silkiest of contours. Disgorged 2024.

Antonio Galloni, 99

Created in 1876 to satisfy the demanding tastes of Tsar Alexander II, Louis Roederer’s Cristal has since become a symbol of luxury all around the world. Produced only during the best years, it’s made from 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, the grapes coming from 45 of the finest lieux-dits in the region. 2013 was a late bloomer, with flowering only taking place in July after a cool spring. The summer was ideal with long periods of dry and warm weather. One third of the wine is aged in oak and there’s no malolactic fermentation. Vincenzo Arnese: Packed with elegant yet powerful aromas of ripe orchard trees that merge with brioche and dry cookies. This is a harmonious and well-defined Champagne with integrated residual sugar and astonishing acidity. Divine! Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW: Lemon coloured with a pink hue. Like a blanc de noirs, with cherries and white fruit aromas. Balanced and suave. Goes from less to more, with an exceptionally long and complex finish. Amanda Barnes: Appealing notes on the nose of pastry dough and apple tart that are very open. On the palate there’s beautiful concentration with lingering savoury notes. Minerally and sophisticated. Nominated by Peter Liem

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, Sarah Jane Evans MW and Pierre Mansour, 99

This is quite chalky with firm phenolics that frame the wine beautifully. It’s medium-to full-bodied with strawberries and earth. Dense, linear and intense. Hints of brioche and pie crust at the end. Very structured and gorgeous. Salty and lightly chewy. One third of the base wines fermented and aged in oak. Connoisseur Champagne. From organic vineyards of the Roederer domains. Smaller production than normal. Seven years on the lees. Give it two or three years to open.

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 98

One of the greatest wines of Louis Roederer’s contemporary chapter, the 2013 Cristal continues to impress. Tasted from magnum, which was disgorged in September 2024 with a dosage of 7.5 grams per liter, it wafts from the glass with a bouquet of white flowers, lemon zest and toasted hazelnut, mingling with iodine and smoke. Qualitatively speaking, it's “a copy of 2012 with a month longer growing cycle,” summarizes Lecaillon, and it's indeed true that these two wines represent the high points of the of the decade so far, as only time will tell what Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon will achieve with 2019. Expecting a crystalline, electric wine, given the cool, late-ripening season, the 2013 indeed delivers a Champagne that is bright, with incredible clarity and concentration, even if it’s undeniably a leaner version than its immediate predecessor. Since its release, I've enjoyed the 2013 Cristal several times from my own cellar, but having the opportunity to appreciate it from a magnum delivered an even more textural and seamless experience, emphasizing its chalky personality and laser precision.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 98

2013 is a dynamic wine with an exquisite salty and chalky expression on the finish. While the perfume is not as reticent as the palate there is still a mesmerising scent of strict citrus notes and faint nuttiness. There is arresting purity and drive here in fact a sip leaves one out of breath, such is the complexity on offer and the time taken for the palate to compute what is happening.

Matthew Jukes 100 Best Australian Wine, 97.5

Such attractive, fresh, floral aromas here with fine bread, hints of white almonds and a lemon edge. White cherries and strong, chalky minerals, too. The palate has a very composed feel. Seamless and quite silky texture with effortless length and flow. Very fluid and composed. Very late, warming almond flavors. This is very long and smooth with a velvety finish. Super long pinot weight. Resolved and drinkable, but will age so well.

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 98

As the first 100% biodynamic Cristal, entirely from Roederer-owned vineyards, this is an important milestone. This latest incarnation is a great Champagne with its density, elegance and poise. Still impressively young, the wine is taut, tightly wound and textured. At the same time, it has pure, ripe white and citrus fruits that are perfumed, and an important part of this wine's long-term future. Drink at the earliest from 2023.

Anna Lee C. Iijima, 98

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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 97.5

I thought the 2012s would be a good place to start this lunch, as the wines have always been quite open and seductive. That is very much the case today. The 2012 Cristal is quite delicate and floral, with hints of pear and white flowers that add considerable allure. This is a young Cristal still in its infant stage, but it’s a Champagne that can be enjoyed now.

Antonio Galloni, 97

The 2009 Cristal is a beauty, with incredible richness as well as elegance, which are the hallmarks of this cuvee. Always a rough blend of 60/40 Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from estate vineyards, it has a toasty, yet pure bouquet of stone fruits, rising bread, white flowers, and toasted bread, as well as a terrific sense of chalky minerality. While it’s not built around sheer richness and power (a la Krug), it’s perfectly balanced, has a fine, fine mousse, and shines for its class and purity. Bravo! It’s going to keep for another two decades.

Antoine Petrus, 97

A very rich and full-bodied Cristal that harks back to 2006 or 1989 in style. It's round and rich, which underlies the ripeness of the vintage. Lots of dried-apple and pineapple character with bread dough and flan flavors. The bubbles are so fine you almost don't notice them. Very vinous style. Drink now.

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 97

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.

David Schildknecht, 96

The 2009 Cristal is a blend of Grands Crus from the Montagne de Reims, the Vallee de la Marne and the Cote 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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 95.5

I am not in general a big fan of the 2009 Champagne vintage but the ’09 Cristal is an exception to that very broad generalization. At 15 years of age, the ripe nose is just now beginning to display hint of maturity with some secondary development on the toasty, yeasty and citrus confit-suffused aromas of mostly white orchard fruit and acacia blossom. There is good richness to the relatively full-bodied and generously proportioned flavors that are supported by a fine mousse that is just sufficient to keep the proper balance on the beautifully complex finale. While I wouldn’t call 2009 a classic vintage for Cristal, it’s far better than the majority of luxury marques. I would add that for my taste, even in this massive format, this is already enjoyable though it should hold for the next two decades, perhaps even longer!.

Allean Meadows, 94

The 2008 Cristal is a perfect wine, and Champagne simple does not get any better. This incredible wine offers a beautiful perfume of clean, crisp fruits, layers of complexity in its toasted spice and white flowers, and an utterly seamless, yet powerful style on the palate. This is a rich, decadent expression of Cristal yet it’s still crystalline and elegant, with no sensation of weight, and it just glides over the palate. Haut Couture at its finest and this majestic, profound, legendary Cristal can be drunk anytime over the coming 2-3 decades.

Antoine Petrus, 100

Disgorged October 2016 and will be the first Cristal to be released ten years from harvest when it is offered in 2018. 35 parcels used from a possible 45 in this vintage. The assemblage is 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay. This is so fresh and tense and mineral with extremely exuberant chardonnay notes on the nose of white peach, lemon and yellow grapefruit, and hints of almost brambly sous bois aromas. The yeast characters are also super fresh, and there are subtle woody notes, with a hint of vanilla bean and light spices. The palate is super long, and very pure, powerful and focused. It drives deep and taut. Pinot noir is a strong core and the chardonnay sits at the edge offering lemon and white nectarine sorbet flavors. Staggeringly concentrated, yet the balance makes it seem airy and light. Acidity is perfectly positioned, and the power is intense and long. This is an ultra precise Cristal, finishing with a mere suggestion of savoriness and warmth to come. Impressive on release, this will be at its best drinking from 2025.

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 100

This latest incarnation of the famous brand is a superb wine. It is on par with, maybe even better than, the already legendary 2002. Its balance is impeccable: Apple and citrus flavors working with the tight minerality to give a textured yet fruity wine. Produced from Roederer's own vineyards which are mainly biodynamic, the wine has its own intense purity and crispness. It has amazing potential and is likely to age for many years. Drink from 2020.

Anna Lee C. Iijima, 100

The 2008 Cristal Late-Released is a special cuvee bottled to celebrate Cristal’s 150th Anniversary. It spent an added four years on the lees, which places it between the regular release and the Vinotheque in terms of aging. Explosive in the glass, the 2008 possesses off-the-charts textural richness and density, much of that coming from the shaking of the bottles during elevage (poignettage). That extra mid-palate resonance fills out the layers, resulting in a Cristal that is utterly profound. Unforgettable. Disgorged: 2020.

Antonio Galloni, 100

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 cuvee, 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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 98

Long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon 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.

David Schildknecht, 97.5

Aromas of ginger, sliced dried pineapple, mango and tea. Full-bodied, dense and intense. Really fresh and delicious. Tangy acidity. Very long and flavorful finish. A vibrant and delicious Cristal. Hard to decide if this is better than or the same as 2005. Drink or hold.

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 96

Not surprisingly, this is of course quite similar to the wine in 750 ml but the larger format bottling renders the nose to be even more restrained and the mouthfeel of the wonderfully fine flavors to be even more tightly wound. This is a stunner of a vintage for Cristal and I would strongly advise continuing to hold it should you be fortunate enough to own it in magnum as it is very clearly still on the way up.

Allean Meadows, 96

Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon calls Cristal the first terroir cuvee 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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 95

Shows lovely texture and harmony, featuring a powerful backbone of acidity married to finely knit flavors of green pear and raspberry fruit, with hints of preserved lemon, biscuit and honey. Light spice and mineral details echo on the creamy finish.

Gillian Sciaretta, 94

Fantastic from the start. A colossal power of beautiful rumbling Pinot maturity. It’s like chewing on the ripest grapes from Ay and Verzenay. At the same time ultra stylish: unmistakable Cristal essence of peach and mango sweetness, pineapple, coconut, vanilla, sprightly acidity and citrus blossom. Many similarities with 2002 but with a clearer Pinot touch.

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, Sarah Jane Evans MW and Pierre Mansour, 97

Deep pinot-driven presence is the first and lasting impression. Power with control. Superfine bead, bread and spiced biscuits, candied ripe red fruits and a sense of tight-knit complexity. Some grapefruit, lemon pith & gently flinty notes too - impressive nose. In the mouth it is rich, powerful, mouth-filling and flavorsome with a core of the same biscuity red fruit flavor, savory nutty notes and a wrap of assertive, persistent acidity that holds rich powerful flavor deep and focused whilst maintaining a polished, gently creamy texture. Long chalky bread and biscuit finish. A superb pinot-driven vintage.

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 97

The 2006 Cristal is a rich, explosive wine that captures all of the natural radiance of this warm year. Ample and full-bodied, the 2006 is one of the more extroverted recent Cristals. As such, it will drink well now, even though it has more than enough body to drink well for another 20 years or more. This shows real density and tons of character. It’s a big wine. “In retrospect, we might have preferred a lower dosage, but the wine was quite difficult to balance in blending, so we had to go for a higher dosage,” Lecaillon adds. Dosage is 9 grams per liter. Disgorged: 2014.

Antonio Galloni, 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.

David Schildknecht, 97

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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 95

The complexity and youthful freshness here makes a striking Champagne that offers immense pleasure and a certain richness and depth that reflects the style of the vintage with some warmth reflected in the wine. The nose has rich citrus and stone fruits, some white flowers, light creamy honey notes and fresh sweet pastry, it has a toasty thread that has built quickly in the wine. Plenty of body on the palate, it has a wealth of assertive citrus and more exotic fruits too, the power and concentration undeniable, the length impressive and the balance impeccable. Already great drinking here. Slightly higher chardonnay component at around 45%.

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 96

(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.

David Schildknecht, 94

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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 93

The 2004 Cristal is nuanced and classy right out of the gate. Hints of lemon confit, marzipan, tangerine oil, spice and chamomile are all suggestive of a Champagne that has arrived at its first inflection point of early maturity. The interplay of slightly more mature notes with a good deal of freshness makes for an incredibly delicious wine to enjoy now. As it turns out, I tasted the 2004 again the following day and found it even more vibrant than the bottles we served at this lunch. This remains one of my favorite vintages here. Two thousand and four was the highest-yielding vintage in Champagne at the time, yet the best wines have always been compelling.

Antonio Galloni, 99

What a stunning nose of brioche, toasted baguette and smoke this almost 20-year-old champagne has! Deep base of chalky character wrapped in Amalfi lemon and with savory and salty notes that build in intensity at the long, structured finish. Still many years ahead of it. A cuvee of 53% pinot noir and 47% chardonnay. Tasted at the Cristal vertical tasting at the champagne house on July 6th, 2023. Drink or hold.

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 97

Exceptionally rich and dense, an exceptional wine that reveals itself in layers, from the first fruit attack to the mineral texture and the way it gradually fills the mouth. Selected from old vines, there is a great flavor in this wine, with the promise of many years' aging.

Anna Lee C. Iijima, 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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 97

Cristal plays 2004 with a quiet, serene sense of maturity today, still characteristically understated yet full on fine detail; preserved lemon, cashew, nut oil and toasted sourdough bread meet some more savory, parmesan-like tertiary nuances in a palate that, similarly to the rose of the same year, is approachable for Cristal while still driving narrow and long. It's a fine moment to broach this delicate, understated vintage, although there is plenty more in the tank.

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, Sarah Jane Evans MW and Pierre Mansour, 96

A re-release of the original 2010 disgorgement. Super fine, super fresh and super savory aromas of chalky stones with hints of flowers, white almonds, lemon peel and grapefruit. The palate has intense, mouth-filling, lemon-curd flavor. Very powerful, very concentrated and very expressive. Smooth finish that’s full of life, leaving a bright, white cherry note. Drink in 2022.

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 98

This is an exceptional wine, as is the vintage. The fruits, grapefruit, crisp red apple, balance with a fine yeasty character. There is a great depth of flavor, the fruits going in a pure line of freshness. The one problem is that it is much too young, the result of the demand from the market for the next vintage. Age this wine for at least four years.

Anna Lee C. Iijima, 98

The 2002 Cristal is just entering its first plateau of maturity. Ripe, exotic and striking, the 2002 is all class. Apricot jam, ginger, spice, dried flowers and mint open first as the 2002 shows off its alluring personality. Pretty floral accents, apple tart and brioche build with time in the glass, bringing out added dimensions of freshness and energy. The 2002 was fabulous when I first tasted it just prior to release, and has consistently been outstanding. It is a rare Cristal made from all 45 parcels that comprise the estate, a telling sign of the high level of the vintage across the board. This is the original 2009 disgorgement. Dosage is 9 grams per liter.

David Schildknecht, 98

From one of the true landmark vintages of Champagne, this is a titanic Cristal which pulsates with energy and verve. Though already fifteen years of age, it is still remarkably young and taut with tensile mineral strength. The stone and citrus-laden fruit is still in its infancy with just a developing hint of toasty brioche, vanilla and almond. Its purity, depth, weight and mouthfeel is balanced by a great arc of acidity, which will frame the wine for the long haul. A hugely impressive Cristal, but this is still not ready.

Pedro Ballesteros Torres MW, Sarah Jane Evans MW and Pierre Mansour, 97

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 cuvee 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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 96

blindGuessed Cristal 1996. Very fresh and elegant. Some tea biscuit notes. LOng life ahead. At the beginning I didn't like. I changed my mind.. 98

98 points, 2026-07-28

Pale golden color very fine bubbles. Fresh crisp complex wilt lots of vibrant exotic flavors wonderful brioche perfectly balanced acidity and excellent lingering length

98 points, 2026-07-23

Tasted alongside Krug 2002, Dom PA©rignon P2 2002 and Comtes 2002. Cristal 2002 showed as the most youthful wine of the lineup a€” remarkably fresh, tightly wound and still driven by structure more than maturity. The superb 2002 vintage combined outstanding ripeness with remarkable balance and acidity, and Cristal translates this into precision rather than sheer power. The 55% Pinot Noir / 45% Chardonnay cuvA©e delivers both depth and lift, while the ~8 g/L dosage is seamlessly integrated, supporting the winea€™s signature chalky tension, crystalline purity and youthful energy. Still very much on the ascent. No hurry to drink up.

95 points, 2026-05-31

Tasted alongside Krug 2002, Dom Perignon P2 2002 and Comtes 2002. Cristal 2002 showed as the most youthful wine of the lineup, remarkably fresh, tightly wound and still driven by structure more than maturity. The superb 2002 vintage combined outstanding ripeness with remarkable balance and acidity, and Cristal translates this into precision rather than sheer power. The 55% Pinot Noir / 45% Chardonnay cuvee delivers both depth and lift, while the ~8 g/L dosage is seamlessly integrated, supporting the wine’s signature chalky tension, crystalline purity and youthful energy. Still very much on the ascent. No hurry to drink up.

95 points, 2026-05-31

Absolutely stunning. A near perfect expression of Cristal. Will continue to age gracefully for a while.

98 points, 2026-05-01

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 Lecaillon said during the tasting in New York in November 2018.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 95

This is a lightweight Cristal, floating and fresh, without the punch this great wine can have from Pinot Noir. It is also way too young. To taste, there is good balance, but the persistent grapefruit flavor shows the wine's youth.

Anna Lee C. Iijima, 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. (Maisons Marques & Domaines USA, Oakland, CA)

Stephen Tanzer, 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.

David Schildknecht, 92

This goes for personality and finesse. An assertive, honeyed style, with plenty of citrus flavors. Mature coffee and roasted nut accents are peeking through, with a robust structure and a dried citrus aftertaste. Drink now through 2025. 32,000 cases imported. -BS

Gillian Sciaretta, 91

The cork flew very far, but the bubbles in the champagne are quite tired.Scent: Very damp and hard to feel anything at all. After some time comes a bit of bread.Taste: Raw green and yellow fruit, papaya, mango. After some time Very much limestone and some notes of sour pear.26 years old and feels good but a little bruised and tired.Its good quality, but lacks in aftertaste.Points: 93 (94)

93 points, 2026-07-07

Aged Cristal hit differently with blood orange, bruised apple, stewed pear, toasted sourdough, salted butter, gingerbread, honey and slightly oxidative characteristics of caramel and grilled hazelnut. The complexity given by bottle ageing is simply irreplaceable despite the palate showed slightly lack of structure and extension.

92 points, 2026-04-20

Amazing and perhaps at peak. Honey and complex bread with perfect balance and golden color. Maybe best champagne Ia€™ve had. Hard to describe but had with tasting menu at Altura (Seattle Italian fine dining)

95 points, 2026-03-11

Amazing and perhaps at peak. Honey and complex bread with perfect balance and golden color. Maybe best champagne I’ve had. Hard to describe but had with tasting menu at Altura (Seattle Italian fine dining)

95 points, 2026-03-11

I agree with Thethirstyarab. This has absolutely no further upside but that's okay because it's such a delight at the moment. Lillies, ripe golden apple, candied orange, toffee, star anise and gingerbread on the nose. It shows all the classic gout anglais characteristics at 26, with a high intensity of aromas. The palate adds a mineral streak - stone and sand - but is otherwise consistent with the aromas. High intensity of flavors.Medium + body with still medium acid and a medium - mousse. The ripe fruit is starting to fade. I don't see much taking its place over the next few years, but for now it all still works.

95 points, 2026-03-06

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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 98

From the family collection, disgorged ten years after harvest, slightly lower than original dosage. A warm year, the hottest since 1959 at the time, this has high ripeness and plenty of spice, a touch reductive, gentle citrus peel and some candied tropical fruits, clear chalk, dried honey and brioche too. The palate has a compression to it, smooth and finely layered texture here, some flesh and some succulent texture, generous dried red cherry fruit flavours pressed together with layers of more savoury autolysis. Complex and textural Champagne.

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 97

A powerful Cristal, which has all the richness of the 1999 vintage. The aromas of white flowers and cocoa lead to a palate that is rich, intense, concentrated, but restrained. It is already drinkable, but should mature well.

Anna Lee C. Iijima, 95

Lovely richness on the nose with real spread of creme patissiere but very tight and refreshing too. Very satisfying. At peak and very flattering. Long and fresh. Spreads opulently but not dully across the palate. So complete. Such lovely neatness.

Samantha Cole-Johnson, 95

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?

David Schildknecht, 92.5

My 3rd bottle from the same case, its coming into its window. Big flavours immediately on opening, and needed about 5-10mins to settle down. More flavourful and aromatic that I recall. well rounded full bodied example of a classic champagne. Sweet on the nose and dry finish. Easily called out in a blind. The bottle lasted the whole evening, and paired extremely well with seafood. tail end, it got sweeter and was more recognisable as the sweet perfumed version that I recall from the same bottle years back. Medium to long finish, however, the NC19 La Closerie & the same evening had an even longer finish, if less rounder than the Cristal.Lovely, 2 bottles left to explore this example in years to come

98 points, 2026-03-18

Beautiful scent!Scent of honeymelon, light honey, vanilla, matured apples, wine gum, green curants, wet stone.Taste of a mixture of yellow and orange stonefruits, red orchard fruits, pineapple, sour mango, fresh peach. Aftertaste of:green apple, mandarin, clementine, orange peel, sweet lemon.Yummy, semi refreshing and good balance of the boquette. Lacks only a little short aftertaste.27 years old, drinking beautiful today. The question is if its going to develop further within 5-7 years?Im little doubtful. I think its the best to drink all bottles from this vintage this year or the next!Maybe best to buy it on Magnum!Regardless a beautiful bottle!Points 94 (95)

94 points, 2026-02-07

Served from 3.0 Liter. with more than two decades behind it, has settled into the serene glow of late maturity. What was once all polished citrus and silken mousse has deepened into something more textural, autumnal, and quietly radiant.In the glass, the wine unfurls with that unmistakable Cristal poise: a seamless arc from orchard fruit to chalk to patisserie. But the fruit has shifted registers. The youthful brightness has mellowed into baked yellow apple, preserved lemon, and dried apricot. There’s saffron at the edges, a little brioche and hazelnut cream in the mid-palate, and a cool mineral hum beneath it all, like limestone warmed by late-afternoon sun.On the palate, it still feels glassy in its precision, yet broader now, almost Burgundian in its satin-wrapped weight. The mousse is fine but gentle, carrying flavors of toasted almond, honeycomb, and poached pear. Acidity has softened into a graceful glide, and the finish lingers with a salted-butter richness and a faint sense of citrus oil.

99 points, 2025-12-06

Served from 3.0 Liter. with more than two decades behind it, has settled into the serene glow of late maturity. What was once all polished citrus and silken mousse has deepened into something more textural, autumnal, and quietly radiant.In the glass, the wine unfurls with that unmistakable Cristal poise: a seamless arc from orchard fruit to chalk to patisserie. But the fruit has shifted registers. The youthful brightness has mellowed into baked yellow apple, preserved lemon, and dried apricot. Therea€™s saffron at the edges, a little brioche and hazelnut cream in the mid-palate, and a cool mineral hum beneath it alla€”like limestone warmed by late-afternoon sun.On the palate, it still feels glassy in its precision, yet broader now, almost Burgundian in its satin-wrapped weight. The mousse is fine but gentle, carrying flavors of toasted almond, honeycomb, and poached pear. Acidity has softened into a graceful glide, and the finish lingers with a salted-butter richness and a faint sense of citrus oil.

99 points, 2025-12-06

This stood on its own and towered over the DP99. Fine bubbles and great balance with still nice acidity and orchard fruits. A mix of zesty and dried fruits adds lift and complexity respectively. Very long aftertaste.

96 points, 2025-05-27

In its famous clear bottle, this is one of the best known prestige cuvees, and also the oldest, made first in 1876 for the Russian Tsars.This most recent vintage is a very fine wine in a great tradition, revealing elegance, flavors of red fruits and impressive complexity from the blending. The aftertaste is extraordinary, going on seemingly into the distant horizon.

Anna Lee C. Iijima, 94

Very fresh, complex nose combines soft citrus fruits, toast and minerals, with hints of red berries. Penetrating, bright and very intense, with powerful citrus and mineral flavors that turn sweeter toward the back end. The chewy finish of pear and hazelnut really stains the palate. Ultimately quite pliant and harmonious, in the style of the year.<br /> <br />

Stephen Tanzer, 94

Light gold, with a hint of copper. Expansive and powerful on the nose, displaying scents of honey, light toffee, fresh fig and baked apples. Dense and thick, with serious heft; emphatically not an aperitif style of Champagne. The flavors of ripe apple and pear, singed butter and baking spices are concentrated and deep. Boasts a velvety, weighty texture that carries through the finish.

David Schildknecht, 90

Pretty advanced nose of sea salt, umami, slightly nutty. Palatte more fresh than nose, with classic Cristal acidity providing the backbone. flavor of dried orange and caramel. Ready to drink.

93 points, 2025-10-12

From 750mL. This was sourced recently and was a very sound bottle. Not a lot of carbonation but not especially advanced. The wine was balanced, fairly calm, soft and enjoyable to drink with some maillard flavors. A good, not great vintage of Cristal.

93 points, 2025-10-06

Served from Magnum.The scent is really really good! When glass is empty the scent is strong and so sweet and nice!Scent: apple cake, tart, a very light baked spicy element, pear, caramel, honey, stewed stone fruits, light nougat, fresh ice cream cone, light gunpowder.On empty glass comes cotton candy.Taste: apricotes, peach, yellow, green and red apples, mandarin, nectarine, citrus, lemon cest, a bit of mineral, chalk, pear,The champagne lightly stucks in your mouth and on your teeth...Yummy!For being a weak vintage like 1997, this bottle performed very well.Has similarities with vintage 2002.Good vintage one of the better Cristals from the 90s.Points: 95 (97)

95 points, 2025-05-15

I really don’t have words to describe how perfect this btl was. Incredible. Lucky it was so good and still has the vibrancy of an old aged champagne.

97 points, 2025-01-19

Such a gorgeous wine and sculpted wine, a truly sublime experience.Fine beads wrapped in contrasting beautifully against the golden yellow colour. Lovely bouquet of pear and sweet apple tart, the body had lovely notes honey and full of sweetness to remind one of a sweet shop in one's youth. Finely balanced acidity and lovely tension, finish was full of plushness, one that had a real Gucci feel about it.Drink now or 7+ years.

94 points, 2023-09-17

We kept it simple and had a fascinating head-to-head of 1996 Cristal versus 1996 Cristal Rose, certainly a step up from the White Star and Sauvignon Blanc I had been consuming by the glass the evening prior. The 1996 Cristal was, frankly, spectacular, razor sharp and teeming with acidity as a great 1996 should be, but it was also meaty and chewy with its white meat and golden fruit flavors. Aromas and flavors of straw, sunshine, light toast, citrus and buttered corn graced this regal Champagne. It was so fresh, so clean, so crisp, so racy and just so damn good. It gives the 1996 Salon a run for its money as Champagne of the vintage. It is easily a 50 to 75 year Champagne

VT, 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.

David Schildknecht, 97

Still pale straw. Really exciting interest on the nose. Hints of gingerbread and electricity(!). Such creamy texture and some baked apples but real grip and tension. This is just coming into its own, demonstrating how long one should ideally wait for Cristal… Great undertow of both fruit and structure.

Samantha Cole-Johnson, 95

This wine was recommended, but no tasting note was given.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 95

A paradox. This has weight yet a sensation of weightlessness thanks to its seamless texture and harmony. Still firm and forceful yet elegant, offering citrus, pastry, biscuit and hazelnut notes enmeshed in the creamy texture. Great structure for aging. Drink now through 2015. 29,000 cases made. -BS

Gillian Sciaretta, 94

Still in excellent condition. Plenty of structure with apples, citrus and a bit of cream. Long finish with a hint of sweetness

95 points, 2026-01-04

Los Angeles La FAªte du Champagne Afterparty (Marino): (Magnum) Enjoyed this much more than I have remembered with this wine previously. Enjoyed with JB from Roederer which was good fun. Afterparty - Too hectic for decent notes.

93 points, 2025-11-15

Los Angeles La Fete du Champagne Afterparty (Marino): (Magnum) Enjoyed this much more than I have remembered with this wine previously. Enjoyed with JB from Roederer which was good fun. Afterparty - Too hectic for decent notes.

93 points, 2025-11-15

Annata 1996, Deg non riportato ma direi piu o meno risalente agli anni 2002-2004.Appena aperto e’ lui, solita eleganza.Naso riconducibile immediatamente a cristal, in bocca risalta crema pasticcera e una sapidita pazzesca ma presente, almeno inzialmente, una leggera nota amaricante di tipo arancia disidratata che mi fa pensare che per i miei gusti ha gia raggiunto l’apice qualche anno fa. Al naso e alla bocca e molto cristal, elegante, esile, a tratti quasi sussurrato, ha ancora acidita che lo rendono vivo. Personalmente l’ho aperto un po’ prima per farlo respirare.

93 points, 2025-08-08

Annata 1996, Deg non riportato ma direi piA¹ o meno risalente agli anni 2002-2004.Appena aperto ea€™ lui, solita eleganza.Naso riconducibile immediatamente a cristal, in bocca risalta crema pasticcera e una sapiditA pazzesca ma presente, almeno inzialmente, una leggera nota amaricante di tipo arancia disidratata che mi fa pensare che per i miei gusti ha giA raggiunto la€™apice qualche anno fa. Al naso e alla bocca A¨ molto cristal, elegante, esile, a tratti quasi sussurrato, ha ancora aciditA che lo rendono vivo. Personalmente la€™ho aperto un poa€™ prima per farlo respirare.

93 points, 2025-08-08

From the family collection, disgorged ten years after harvest, slightly lower than original dosage. Shows some malolactic honeyed character (rare in Cristal at 20-25%), a cool late September harvest with a poor set and high millerandage in the vineyard. This shows more dominant chardonnay on the nose with sweet honey and nougat, some dried lime citrus too, it also has an earthy side and some deep spice. The palate has almost cognac-like fruits, toasted brioche and raisin bread flavours, very assertive, concentrated, a liqueur-like Champagne that has a lot of potential and great length. -NS

Jacobo Garcia-Andrade Llamas, 97

The 1995 Cristal (Late Disgorged) is fascinating to taste, as it is quite different in style from the original release. Because of the extra three years or so on the lees, the 1995 Cristal (Late Disgorged) has picked up a reductive note that is not typical of Cristal. Scents of lime, crushed rock, lemon and slate gradually open up in the glass. The 1995 remains taut and chiseled, with crystalline purity and exceptional overall balance. The wine feels wonderfully alive as it tempts all of the senses with its compelling personality. This is a superb showing from Roederer.

David Schildknecht, 96

Great refinement shows in the subtle hazelnut, fruit, hay and vanilla aromas of this famous luxury cuvee. The palate is flavorful with lovely dry grape, peaches and cream, toasted nut, plum and flavors, and the mouthfeel is soft, lightly and gently frothy. Finishes long and leaner, but not hard, with mineral and citrus notes. Drink now through 2007.

Anna Lee C. Iijima, 92

Delicate and firm, especially for 1995, offering dough and citrus on a light-bodied frame. Not the most complex today, but should improve with time. Drink now through 2004. -BS

Gillian Sciaretta, 89

From Magnum.An absolutely pristine bottle, with all the energy and freshness of more recent vintages, coupled with the layers and depth of being over 30 years old, this biggin bottle of 1995 Cristal is on fire. Pours a honey color, signaling a more mature showing, but on the palate the flavors slowly build on the front end and pick up considerable speed as they expand and lengthen. Deep lemon, yuzu, clementine, yellow pear, and white travertine are perfectly balanced as they reverberate and expand.On the backend, the brilliant acidity accelerates, providing lift, with a finish that doesn’t quit, tingling on the tail for minutes on end. I’m still tasting this the next day.An extraordinary bottle that undoubtedly has everything to do with the 1.5L format and its overall provenance. Sounds like the 750s are potentially in the golden years of their evolution; but based on this Magnum, it’s all good in the larger format world. Killer suds right here!

100 points, 2026-05-09

Very pleasant aroma!cocoa, apricot, peach, medium bread, apple core. After 30 minutes comes: yellow red apples.The final aroma includes buttery notes, red apple flesh, light notes of pear.Aroma in flute glass: Lots of notes of cocoa, followed by wood, and older champions.Aroma in empty glass: some form of spice and also vanilla bean.Taste: older tired yellow stone fruit, preserved honey, honeycomb, dark orange, fresh clementine, light floury bread, preserved apricot, floury peach, stewed fruits, quince, white apples.I taste all four different apple colors in the following order: red apple, yellow apple, green apple, white apple. These 4 apples color the entire wine's final taste along with grilled lemon.Unfortunately, the wine had very few bubbles left.One of the finest Cristals I've ever had, 3 hours of pure pleasure!I imagine its even better in Magnum.With bubbles I would rank this bottle probably: 97 (98) Score: 96.5 (97)

96 points, 2026-02-20

Opened at Caprice in HK. Slow-oxed briefly before being enjoyed from magnum.No extensive notes taken. Solid, but no fireworks and slightly more oxidative than I expected. Perhaps suffered from being compared next to the Salon '96 which was a class above. Still, thanks to P for sharing!

94 points, 2025-09-19

I tried the 94 and 95 side by side, and there is almost no difference between the wines.How could this be?On the 1994 it says imported by Brussel, I never seen this before on any bottle. Another thing in the freezer was that the 94 turned to solid ice much more than the 95.Under my 10 years with wines, this is the first time i have suspicion of that at least one bottle could be a fraud. Its impossible that two vintages tastes exactly the same.Very very strange.The 95 was a little more sour than the 94.94 had scent of raisins. apricote and peach.95 slightly more fresh and brighter scent.Points: 88

88 points, 2024-08-01

Despite the very firm cork and the loud pop, there were no bubbles in the juice beyond the first few seconds. Classic old Cristal. Massive orange peel, cinnamon and caramel, almost sweet despite the firm acidity. It’s definitely interesting but becomes tiring after the first glass. I wonder if the Vinotheque version tastes fresher.

91 points, 2022-09-04

Pinot Noir character suffuses this wine, imbuing its aromas with a compelling meaty, leathery, sweaty quality. Full-bodied and earthy, it nevertheless shows great verve and liveliness in its brisk, citrusy finish. This is one Champagne that's badly in need of age.

Anna Lee C. Iijima, 92

Pale peach skin color. Aromas of ginger apple, caramel, cinnamon and crystallized ginger. Full, round and concentrated; thick and strong in extract. Rather full dosage nicely leavened by firm acidity. Finishes tactile and long, with a note of honeyed apple. I began with a 90-point score for this wine but marked it down as it quickly took on the cooked apple aspect of '94 with aeration. Not nearly as fresh as the '93 version. (Maisons Marques & Domaines, U.S.A., Oakland, CA)

Stephen Tanzer, 89

Pale peach skin color. Aromas of ginger apple, caramel, cinnamon and crystallized ginger. Full, round and concentrated; thick and strong in extract. Rather full dosage nicely leavened by firm acidity. Finishes tactile and long, with a note of honeyed apple. I began with a 90-point score for this wine but marked it down as it quickly took on the cooked apple aspect of '94 with aeration. Not nearly as fresh as the '93 version.

David Schildknecht, 89

Slighlty darker gold color in the glass.Fine strings of tiny bubbles, but slowly moving.Served from standard bottle.Much more fresher than the Magnum.Scent: some bread, Taste: much lemon, light bread, orange stone fruits, very little mineral, Good taste but rather short aftertaste.Seems like the flavour register is a little bit closed.Will this vintage really get better?...Seems tired.First 2 glasses was 93 points. After some hours the glasses are not as good. If you pop the bottle be sure to drink it up rather fast.I would recommend you to drink up your bottles now or within maximum 1 or 2 years.Overall was the Magnum better than this one.Points: 92 (93)

92 points, 2025-04-30

Tasted from Magnum.Good scent with cacao, rum raisins, yeast. After 30 minutes a deep scent of mushroom evolved.The scent feels much older than what the bottle tastes.The taste was good with waffles, oak, wet wood, mushroom.Points: 94 (95)

94 points, 2025-02-28

Drank really nicely for an off vintage in Champagne. Lots of yeast, butter brioche, oak. Nuanced green apple and pear. Very fine effervescence. Drink now.

92 points, 2024-11-08

I tried the 94 and 95 side by side, and there is almost no difference between the wines.How could this be?On the 1994 it says imported by Brussel, I never seen this before on any bottle. Another thing in the freezer was that the 94 turned to solid ice much more than the 95.Under my 10 years with wines, this is the first time i have suspicion of that at least one bottle could be a fraud. Its impossible that two vintages tastes exactly the same.Very very strange.The 95 was a little more sour than the 94.94 had scent of raisins. apricote and peach.95 slightly more fresh and brighter scent.Points: 88

88 points, 2024-08-07

Fantastic bottle. Clean and a lot of mousse. Some initial sherry on the nose which blew away quickly. Surprisingly young on the palate. Pineapple really driving. So long and broad. Fantasy bottle

96 points, 2023-04-15

Vibrant, elegant, spicy aromas of orange peel, mace, nutmeg and ground horseradish. Brisk, steely and firm, but expands inexorably to fill the mouth. Strong in extract but quite light on its feet. A sinewy Champagne, and strong for the vintage. Very long and very fine on the finish.

David Schildknecht, 91.5

Finally a good bottle!The cork blasted hard!Scent: light spicies, some yellow fruit.Taste: matured red, green and yellow apples, good amount of acid but not stingy. Chalk, some mineral, plum, cherry, raw mango, lemon zest, grilled citrus.

94 points, 2026-05-05

9 months since last bottle.Very weak pop.I keep myself to my previous note.Taste of mostly sour and bitter lime, some mineral, chalk.The acid is pretty stingy.This bottle was one step worse than the last one I had. More sour and stingy.One of the weakest vintages made from Cristal.

83 points, 2025-03-23

Now it was 8 years since i tried this vintage.The fizz was very low, 1 out of 5. The bubbles are not here.Scent: Very damp scent, hard to pick out anything.Taste: A shimmering mixture of yellow citrus tones, and a little bit of lime. Tones of drid apricot. Theres also some mineral and chalk in the background. Its also an overlay of a mixture between red and yellow apples that are oxidated. The flavour register is shrouded. Not the best aftertaste either.Maybe one of the less better vintages from the 90s from Cristal. Not complex, just clean fresh taste. The sadest thing is that the bubbles are totally gone.Still has 2 more bottles to try later this year and see if they are of better quality.Overall a nice champagne but since we all know how a really good Cristal shall taste, this one is still in the shadow.

89 points, 2024-06-28

Opened a bottle last night. It was clearly past its prime. Very little bubble left. Nose and taste still quite enjoyable, but should have opened it a 3-5 years sooner.

88 points, 2023-05-06

Light yellow in color with a golden hue.Strong nose of bread, spices, earth, wet leaves, herbs, yeast, white pepper, lemons, yellow apples and river rocks.Medium plus in body with medium acidity and soft, small bubbles.Dry on the palate with light citrus, over ripen apples, spices, yeast, bread, river rocks, herbs and white pepper.Short finish with limes.This 28 year old Champagne is still delicious, although probably on its last leg.Showing great complexity with a nice mouthfeel. Soft and elegant. Not much fruit is left, but enough to make it tangy and interesting. Good by itself or with food. I paired it with caviar and good friends. Very tasty, especially with the caviar. 12% alcohol by volume.92 points.$550.

92 points, 2021-08-24

This last flight is mesmerizing. The 1990 Cristal is a rich, exotic beauty. Apricot, tangerine oil, spice and baked pastry are all signatures of a mature Champagne. Even so, the 1990 is fresh, vibrant and full of life. Its volume and resonance make it impossible to resist a second taste, and then a third. The 1990 is a transitional Cristal, made by Chef de Cave Michel Pansu with a young Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon learning the ropes at his side.

Antonio Galloni, 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.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 97

The most important details to work out were what to drink, and the wine list at Veritas is always a good place to begin. Both being the Champagne lovers that we are, 1990 Cristal was the aperitif of choice. I have been drinking a lot of Cristal recently, which is always a sign of a good holiday season. The 1990 was gorgeous, although a touch sweet. It had lots of yellow fruits, golden raisins and a spoonful of sugar that was right on the border of acceptable but didn't cross it. An overall toasty and nutty personality encased this tasty and hedonistic bubbly, which still retained the hallmark Cristal elegance. Rich, warm, approachable yet still fresh and ascending, I found this to be another excellent Cristal but felt more impressed by recent '89s and '96s

VT, 95

What a treat to drink a fully mature Cristal! Rich and round - definitely mature. Long and reverberant. Toasty and thoroughly satisfying. More youthful than many a 1990 champagne.

Samantha Cole-Johnson, 95

You won't soon forget this vivid and expressive Champagne. It packs in compound layers of citrus, vanilla, pear and nutmeg that harmonize and linger on the finish. Bright acidity makes it extra refreshing and layered. It has really opened up since last year. Best from 2000 through 2010. 25,000 cases made. -

Gillian Sciaretta, 94

**Saturday Older Wines Day**(19/20) Hardly any mousse left, but as a wine still standing strong! Deep copper coloured. Quite oxidative, very rich still. Blend of 62% Pinot Noir and 38% Chardonnay. Small portion of the still wine (10%) underwent malolactic conversion. Disgorged in 2007.Pronounced aromas of jasmine, chamomile, bruised apple, lemon curd, nectarine, mango, white pepper, wet stone, chalk, toast, earl grey tea, caramel, sweet tobacco, beeswax.Dry wine, high acidity, medium- body, pronounced flavour intensity, no mousse, long finish.12% ABV - 8 gr/l dosage - Wine bbq @ Martijn

98 points, 2026-07-04

Tasted even better than the magnum version.Deep, nutty elements, dried fruits.Excellent bottle!

95 points, 2026-06-03

WGD/ V Tasting/ Giando. Tasted sbs with Krug 90 (much more superior in my view). Same deep golden orange hue (reminding of Selosse, I thought ita€™s a same producer/ different cuvA©e). Crisp, medium sized bubbles. Vinous. Toffee, caramel, vanilla. Very rich, with great structure. Again fantastic and at a great point in time!

90 points, 2026-01-19

WGD/ V Tasting/ Giando. Tasted sbs with Krug 90 (much more superior in my view). Same deep golden orange hue (reminding of Selosse, I thought it’s a same producer/ different cuvee). Crisp, medium sized bubbles. Vinous. Toffee, caramel, vanilla. Very rich, with great structure. Again fantastic and at a great point in time!

90 points, 2026-01-19

Brioche, honey, apples, color quite some browning, sufficient acidity. A nice experience.

94 points, 2025-12-06

The 1989 Roederer Cristal was the most understated of these three wines. It showed incredible clarity and depth, with superbly well-delineated, floral notes intertwined with ripe fruit. It was hauntingly beautiful and a reminder that Cristal is a wine that blossoms with bottle age.

Antonio Galloni, 98

A jero of 1989 Cristal was first, and it was singing out of jero. Fresh, racy, zippy and practically sizzling, the '89 was a great way to start the afternoon. Corn, straw, butter and minerals were all present in this 'underrated monster' of a Champagne, per Bruce. The acidity was extraordinary

VT, 96

Massive scale. Very, very ripe nose but with great tension on the palate. Much more acidity and nerve than the 1990. Chardonnay much in evidence. See comments below on the relative merits of these two vintages in Champagne.

Samantha Cole-Johnson, 95

Hints of caramel, orange peel, apricot jam and spice run through the 1989 Cristal. Ample, creamy and generous, the 1989 is in great shape today. The slightly forward aromas and flavors suggest the 1989 has arrived at a plateau of maturity. I would prefer to drink it over the next decade or so, although the wine has more than enough density to hold for many years. I have had fresher bottles of the 1989, but this is a fine showing just the same. The 1989 is always a silky, gracious and totally understated Cristal, as it is once again today. “Nineteen eighty-nine was a riper year, and therefore more Pinot-driven, with about 63-64% Pinot in the final blend than the more typical 60%” adds Lecaillon.

David Schildknecht, 94

Rich and deep, ripe and full-bodied, this offers toasty, almond, spice and even white-chocolate flavors, emphatic yet harmonious. Has firm mouthfeel and a long finish; though the flavors are maturing, it will still evolve well.

Gillian Sciaretta, 92

Magnifique experience avec ce Cristal 89, le vin se developpe sur des notes legerement rancio avec une tres belle touche d'ananas, zeste de pamplemousse que je retrouve souvent ( et le comparatif est tres interessant ) dans des vieux riesling allemand de 40-50 ans. La bulle etait encore bien presente mais en subtilite, l'acidite a point, bref un vin d'exception encore bien en forme tout en etant sur un profile de vieux Champagne ! Sublime

96 points, 2026-02-04

From magnum. Amidst very stiff competition, this may have just been the WOTN. Wow! Spectacular!!

99 points, 2024-05-03

Out of 3L was insanely fresh alive. Bubbles were present and alive. Just so youthful. Tasted like an 02 or more recent vintage.

97 points, 2023-12-30

Olive Garden Party (Cristal vertical) (Chicago, IL): Perhaps more interesting than good at this point for me. Very ripe and sweet, almost like it was dosed a little too generously. Drinks like a dry Sauternes with some bubbles -- a moderate mushroom note from the age, but plenty of honey and marmalade notes too. With air, a very distinct curry leaf aroma develops. The effervescence is mostly dissipated too. Not really the type of champagne I'd like to drink.

90 points, 2023-03-30

Maturing but still nicely forward. Would tend to drink most of these in 750 over the next few years.

92 points, 2020-12-26

We commenced with the 1988 Cristal. I wish every Tuesday lunch would start with ‘88 Cristal. Burnished amber in color, it has a captivating bouquet with mandarin and apricot scents, then traces of honeysuckle, Mirabelle and light Tokaji aszu aromas. Despite its 32-years of age, it was vibrant as the day its umbilical was cut, weighty in the mouth with real grip. The acidity was spot on and the finish brimmed with tension, orange rind and marmalade notes zinging around the mouth some 30-45 seconds after it was gone. Just brilliant.

David Schildknecht, 98

No tasting note.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 95

We started with a mag of 1988 Louis Roederer Cristal, served out of a white wine glass, which this collector considers mandatory for any Champagne 1990 and older. The reasoning is to allow the complexities that come with age to aerate and open up as one would with a wine, and it makes complete sense to me. Champagne is, after all, sparkling wine! The nose was creamy and musky with nice buttery, yellow fruits, sweet and with touches of corn and rye yeast. The palate was round and fleshy, with nice sprite, very expressive and open at the moment. There were dry seltzer flavors, and while '88 is a middleweight vintage for Champagne, the Cristal still showed like a champ despite a lighter impression on the mid-palate.

VT, 94

Intriguing and complex, with enticing aromas of fig, butter and toast, backed by mouth-filling flavors of pear, cream and apple. Long on the finish, too. Gorgeous, refined and balanced. Drink now through 1997. -

Gillian Sciaretta, 93

30th birthday celebration. Deep golden-yellow in color. The mousse was surprisingly generous, with plenty of fine bubbles and pleasantly softened acidity. On the palate, brioche and nuttiness without being intrusive or overpowering the ripe apple and citrus notes. This bottle was at its peak, a perfect fit for the festive atmosphere.

97 points, 2025-11-14

I had thought Cristal, which can be so seductive in its relative youth, was not an ager. My bottles of 1990, for example, have been mostly tired. Not this 1988, which has subdued energy and a burnished gold brown butter and hazelnut flavors that only extended age can bring. A delight for lovers of old champagne.

95 points, 2025-03-15

A good day (Chicago, IL): Good, not great. I've never been too big a fan of Cristal, and that creamy, autolytic quality shows through here, despite the relatively high acidity of the vintage. Oddly sweet at the same time, with very clear advanced notes of roasted nuts and browned apple. Pleasant, but not my cup of tea.

90 points, 2024-05-30

Chave & Steak (RPM Steak - Chicago, IL): If only all Champagne tasted like this at age 25+ ... really love that the wine retained its sweetness of fruit, creamy texture and bright acidity, while adding the layers of earth and roasted nuts that come with age. A dialed in older Champagne.

93 points, 2024-05-30

Directly i taste that this bottle has crossed its peak. Its a heavy flavour of lemon, and almost lemon only. Also little bitter.In my opinion the 1989 was way better and passed the years in a more delicate way than the 1988.If you have bottles left its time to really open them up! Maybe if you have Magnum size it should be fine until this day.

80 points, 2023-12-20

No tasting note.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 94

A chewy and flavorful wine with lemon, berry, almond character, high acidity and a bitter almond finish. Drink now. -

Gillian Sciaretta, 89

So very lemon meringue pie, with tart thread of acidity, relatively high dosage (flirting with demi-sec), lush mineral/glycerol mouthfeel and ripe apricot emerging on the long finish. Outstanding depth and decadence. Light effervescent bubbles. An immediate crowdpleaser.

96 points, 2025-02-28

Amber with lots of apple and a bit of vervain very elegant snd complex. Full bodied and fine bubbles and excellent length

95 points, 2024-08-09

blindThe typical scent for an aged Cristal. For this weak vintage a great stored bottle. At his peak. 94

94 points, 2023-01-20

not blindFor a wine from this vintage in great shape. A lot of fine bubbles. Typical nougat note. Electrifying acidity. For a really big champagne could be more length and density. 94

94 points, 2022-02-09

NYE 2019 with friends who brought this wine. This was the WOTN. This is a wonderful expression of an aged LR Cristal. Warm and soft mouthfeel with absolutely resolved acidity which makes this wine so creamy. Paper and cardboard flavors mid palette with a finish of cedar wood and apricot nut. Simply delightful !

96 points, 2019-01-01

Very rich biscuity nose. Quite stunning combination of elegance and weight. Lovely stage in its evolution. The first wine of the tasting that seems perfectly ready to drink. Very complete and flattering. No harsh acidity or astringence. Well mannered, though certainly not the biggest of the Cristal vintages.

Samantha Cole-Johnson, 97.5

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 Lecaillon 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.”

David Schildknecht, 95

which was still young, a touch tangy, stony and minerally. I was a bit queasy from the previous night and the travel, so I wasn.t exactly ready for the Champagne, which was fine and long yet lacking weight on the palate. It was tart and light on its feet, with a touch of seltzer and not as expansive on the front palate as I would like

VT, 93

No tasting note.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 93

1985 Horizontal Bordeaux (+ Champagne) (Melee): Mature but still with plenty of yellow apple fruit and a touch of toffee and toast. Juicy acidity and a good balance. It has aged very nicely but it still feels fairly young and fresh.

95 points, 2025-10-04

Lovely aged Cristal. Still had some bubbles. Huge Madeira notes, lots of butterscotch, and a racing acidity. So seemingly sweet that I’d take this as my dessert wine over the 83 d’yquem we had later. This is so complex you’ll probably just want one or two pours, so drink with friends!

96 points, 2024-12-21

I had low hopes for this one as I suspected the bottle was not well-stored. Almost an orange color, suggesting oxidation, but still had some bubbles and drank well. This was my first experience with Cristal so unfortunately I don't have a reference of what it's supposed to be like.

92 points, 2022-12-31

Blind, side by side with 88A perfect bottle, so fresh, so elegant, only a touch of nougat, still the lemon aromas are dominating. Difficult to detect as a Cristal. I guessed CdM 83. The 88 was not a perfect bottle. Never had such a good 1985 of this wine. 96-97

97 points, 2022-11-19

One of the freshest cleanest 85 Cristal I've had. Pale yellow and ton of bubbles. amazing!

97 points, 2022-08-18

The 1983 Cristal is fabulous. Rich, ample and generous, the 1983 is incredibly inviting, with tons of class and personality. A wine of real volume and textural breadth, the 1983 has enough pedigree to drink well for many years. None of the elements stand out in the 1983, the whole is far greater than the sum of the parts. “Nineteen eighty-three is a different animal from some of the other wines of the decade,” Lecaillon explains. “It was a heavy crop, with a lot of fruit. There was so much wine in the cellar that the team could not get to everything in a timely fashion, and so there were some lots that started to oxidize a bit, and that, naturally, made the wine bigger.” In tasting, though, there are no off aromas or mushroomy flavors that suggest the wine is fading. If anything, the 1983 is spectacularly beautiful right now, even in the presence of other wines from more highly reputed vintages.

David Schildknecht, 96

Absolutely delicious, the 1983 was both young and fresh AND mature and absolute class in a glass. Yarom, the Colonel himself, was there, and he made a special point to me of how good the 1979 was as well. Duly noted

VT, 94

Rich and concentrated, packed with intense pear, toast, lemon and spice flavors that are well integrated and focused on the palate. The flavors are beautiful, but it could stand a little finesse. Drink now.

Gillian Sciaretta, 90

20 Top Wines of the 1983 Vintage: Champagne Showdown: All three bottles showed better than expected. Dom Perignon wins with 97pts - a symphony of stature, purity, and layered complexity. Its vibrant mix of fresh citrus and fruit elegantly intertwines with mature notes of burnt sugar and honey, all supported by a vivid acid line and a mineral backbone adding extra dimension. This DP is poised for further evolution over the next decade. Comtes de Champagne, at 95pts, impresses with its signature blend of brioche and butter, harmonizing with both fresh and baked fruit nuances, despite a bouquet tinged with cardboard hints. Cristal, scoring 93pts, initially reveals its age through oxidation, yet remarkably rejuvenates with air, gaining freshness, depth, and a captivating saline spine. Decanting: This needed quite a bit of air, extensive slow-ox is advised (2h?).

93 points, 2023-12-31

40 years on: A global 1983 retrospective: Red apple, some oxidative notes, some apple acidity, still good but much more evolved than the other wines next to it.

88 points, 2023-11-25

1983 vintage horizontal with >20 wines, mostly from Bordeaux. Key observations: 1/ Acceptable vintage for Champagne with DP over-delivering, 2/ Laville Haut Brion is a masterpiece among the whites, 3/ Bordeaux is going strong at 40 years of age with stand-outs Latour and Margaux. 4/ No need to chase any Napa’s from the vintage, 5/ off-piste Italians kept up impressively with Soldera an undisputed medalist. Tasting note:Cork broke while opening, hence probably not an ideal bottle. Baked pear and apple fruit with fresher herbal accents. Also slightly rubbery notes, adding floral top notes. Did appear marginally oxidized here and there, but after some time in the glass returning with pure burned sugar and Cognac flavors. While there were hardly any bubble left, the acidity was still nicely fresh. Not a representative bottle probably.

91 points, 2023-11-25

A celebration of 1983: From magnum. This was spectacular. Surprisingly fresh on the nose with toast, lemon, brioche, yeast, grapefruit, and a bit of honey. Perfectly balanced with nice acidity and lovely mousse on the palate. Long finish.

96 points, 2023-08-19

Champagne Brunch (@Terkel): Oxidized but still yielding peach fruit and coffee. It has a quite high acidity and a great balance. Wonderful old wine!

95 points, 2021-12-28

One of my all time favorites, the 1982 Cristal is magnificent. Fresh, nuanced and exceptionally beautiful, the 1982 remains one of the all-time great Cristals. Apricot, almond and chamomile nuances suggest the 1982 is just starting to turn the corner into its plateau of maturity. This bottle lacks a bit of excitement, but, then again, the 1982 Cristal is not exactly the sort of wine I get to taste on a regular basis, so it is possible this is not the best showing. Hopefully, I will get a chance to taste it again soon. Even so, well-stored bottles will drink well for another decade-plus. “In my opinion, 1982 is the first vintage of climate change in Champagne,” Lecaillon explains. “Sugars were higher than we were used to seeing. As a comparison, the 1981 Cristal is also concentrated, but it is concentrated by low yields. In 1982, we had high yields and elevated ripeness, meaning it was the sun that ripened the fruit.”

David Schildknecht, 96

Yes, I added a point or two out of respect. But the interest and enjoyment of this geriatric champagne is not to be denied. Elusive flavors beyond fruit. Endlessly complex yet easy to enjoy. I've had exceptional luck with this vintage and it's still holding on.

94 points, 2025-03-15

By no means a tired turkey, the ‘82 Cristal is extraordinarily complex and interesting - and much more lively than the ‘74 next to it. Medium dark. Still has a modest bead of ultra fine bubbles. Barely roasted apricot flavor. Almost oily. The more you sip it the more flavors you get, but only if you concentrate.

93 points, 2024-01-23

Fresher and more interesting than the previous bottle. Quite a few bubbles remain even if they fade quickly. Very complex and impressive.

94 points, 2023-09-11

Brad and Diane England and Peter Joseph weekend dinner, Part 2. (Roger Nellans home): A nice way to start the evening. Golden color. Slight pop when pulling the cork. Some pleasant oxidative notes. Citrus and nice acidity...

94 points, 2023-02-05

Very nervous opening this as it appeared a touch dark and I had recently opened a 93 Cris that was horribly oxidized. Surprisingly had quite a bit of effervescence still, nose was mature with marzipan, honey and subtle autolytic notes, acidity was quite lively and fresh, very fine and persistent bead, deep flavor profile that comes with age as the CO2 felt integrated into the wine, great balance and overall amazing bottle. This did develop rather quickly and started to oxidize with air. Would open soon if you are still holding onto these.

94 points, 2019-12-31

Another highlight in this tasting, the 1981 Cristal is ridiculously great. Powerful and resonant in the glass, yet also nuanced, the 1981 is just starting to show the first signs of full maturity. Candied orange peel, apricot, dried flowers, chamomile and exotic spices all fill out the wine’s ample frame effortlessly. “The 1981 Cristal is really the last wine of the pre-climate change era in which the flavors were concentrated solely because of low yields,” Lecaillon continues. Even without that fascinating background, the 1981 is a stunning Champagne.

David Schildknecht, 97

-

Gillian Sciaretta, 91

Perfectly balanced. Lite sherry flavors. Stone and wheat. Nothing out of place. Crisp acidity.. Great wine.

94 points, 2022-08-07

Dark sauterne color, did not look good; some aged oxy notes on the nose but not strong, bubbles are gone, nutty pecan and roasted almond notes, slight sherry thing but in check; med. mouthfeel, good weight, with an incredible long tangy finish, sign of pedigree. This was really fun, at first not disappointed that it "was not horrible" based on the color and obvious signs of oxidation, but after sitting with this for 20 or so minutes, it really was lovely, full of character, with that nice finish, and slight caramel/sour apple notes. Sandy's old champagnes dinner.

92 points, 2020-10-16

Bye Bye Timmy (Convivial - Washington, D.C.): From magnum. Changed a lot over the course of the evening. At first I thought there was a hint of cork taint, but that seemed to blow off. Then I got the feeling I was dealing with an oxidized bottle as flavors of honey and butterscotch seemed to emerge. Sat the bottle aside, and about 2 hours later revisited it. Much cleaner, and fresher. Florals, pears, and minerals took center stage. Ended up really nice...good balance and depth. Just needed some air, I guess.

92 points, 2016-01-09

Orange golden color with fine bubbles. This bottle tasted a bit older than it should be, a bit plummy and nutty.

92 points, 2015-07-04

Had this alongside the '79 and in the end I'll give them a tie (I'll leave my note and score here because for some reason this one gets less love on CT). Both were great wines and remarkably fresh.

97 points, 2014-08-06

The 1979 Cristal is easily one of the greatest Champagnes I have ever had the privilege of tasting and drinking. A wine of breath and volume, the 1979 blossoms on the palate with a heady melange of flavors and textures that will leave the most experiences of Champagne drinkers weak at the knees. Orange peel, crushed flowers and exotic spices are some of the many notes that linger on the finish. Of course provenance is key with older wines, but the 1979 Cristal quite simply is as good as it gets. Well-stored bottles still preserve plenty of the acidity and energy that is one of the hallmarks of this great Champagne vintage.

Antonio Galloni, 99

A totally breathtaking Champagne, the 1979 Cristal (magnum) is exotic and stunningly beautiful. Remarkably vivid for a wine of its age, the 1979 is simply emotional. White flowers, orchard fruit, graphite, tangerine oil, spice, dried fruit and citrus confit are some of the many notes that emerge from this spectacular, vibrant Champagne. From magnum, the 1979 is quite a bit fresher than bottle, which is hard to believe, as the bottles are magnificent. The 1979 is just a life-affirming wine. Moreover, it clearly harkens back to another era in Champagne, a time when vineyards were older and before the arrival of new clones and heavy fertilization strategies aimed at increasing production. On paper, 1979 should not have been a great year,” Lecaillon said. “It’s a super complicated vintage. When I went back to the vin clair notes from just after harvest, which I did recently, they all read ‘bitter, bitter, green, bitter.’ And then the wine ends up like this. I can’t explain it. You know, back then we used a lot of taille (second pressing), 10-15%, and it worked. Today, everyone says ‘I just bottle the cuvee, the taille is not interesting. I am using taille more and more. You know, taille is the juice you get closer to the skin, and in some years, it carries a lot of aromatics,” Lecaillon explained. “I think the future of wine is coming back to what is classic. The perfect imperfections,” he adds. This is the original disgorgement from 1985, with dosage of 12 grams per liter, typical of the era.

David Schildknecht, 98

The third Champagne in this starter flight was incredibly fresh and pungent with fantastic anise, bread and cream aromas. By far the freshest of the trio, there were still loads of acidity here; this was an infant next to the first two. Its flavors were taut and lemony; its finish stony and its acidity longer than a day with the in-laws. Bruce gleefully hailed the 1979 Louis Roederer Cristal as Champagne of the vintage. It was tough to argue

VT, 96

The 1979 Cristal remains one of my favorite vintages of this Champagne. This bottle is fully resolved, with pretty suggestions of honey, cinnamon, smoke, ash, menthol, hazelnuts and dried apricots. The bouquet remains deeply expressive and melds seamlessly into a succulent, expansive palate. Although the wine is mature, the mousse retains surprising elegance and finesse with a velvet-like softness. This bottle is an original disgorgement from around 1985/1986 and saw 13-14 grams of dosage. 25% of the wine was aged in oak. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 96

Great! Alive, balanced on the palate. On the nose a lot of oxidation. But palate is fresh and vibrant

94 points, 2026-06-10

A pristine, perfectly-kept bottle with interesting provenance - I got it from Corney & Barrow, who in turn sourced it from the cellar at Blenheim Palace. The cork extracted quite smoothly and with a reassuring hiss: thankfully there was plenty of effervescence remaining in the wine. The nose here is rather massive, with heaps of buttery toasted brioche and steely apricots, veering into impressions of orange marmalade, honey and flowers. The palate is weighty, concentrated, but also exquisitely balanced, with acidity and fruits deliciously intermeshed. Finishes with a pleasant, pithy touch of bitterness. I lack the experience with mature champagne to judge where it goes from here, but I see no reason why this couldn’t keep for another decade or more. A remarkable, memorable bottle of champagne.

98 points, 2023-12-08

Reasonable example of this wine, although showing a touch more ripeness than typical.

93 points, 2021-05-26

TobI's Firework (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): blindclose to perfection, fine bubbles, fresh, cracking aciidty, still not at his end from this perfect bottle, beginning caramell and toffee, but not too much, biscuity with lemon tarte, utterly elegant and balanced. Great power in the finish. I guessed vintage 1981 but after knowing it is 1979 Cristal could be the "only" answer.

99 points, 2020-10-18

not blindA bit tired, no bubbles, great wine but this bottle just over his peak. Aromas of the sweet wine. Creme brulee, vanilla, apricot tart, biscuit. 92

92 points, 2019-10-13

The 1978 Cristal is another drop-dead gorgeous beauty. Ample, full-bodied and intense, the 1978 is endowed with magnificent depth and overall intensity in all of its dimensions. Apricot jam, candied orange peel, creme brulee, caramel and rosewater are some of the signatures, but it is the wine’s sheer power, baritone-like depth and exotic, almost tropical profile that are most impressive. It is easy to overlook the 1978 Cristal in this tasting, but it is a wine that deserves considerable attention. The 1978 Cristal is now fully mature, but it is nevertheless profoundly beautiful today. A late-ripening year, 1978 was marked by high disease pressure, low yields and October harvest. This is the best bottle of the 1978 I have ever tasted.

David Schildknecht, 97

Another pretty, mature Champagne, the 1978 Cristal is all about texture at this stage. Orange jam, honey and wild flowers are some of the notes that open up in the glass.

Antonio Galloni, 93

A 1978 Louis Roederer Cristal was a rare treat; it is a vintage that has mostly been consumed and not collected, but it held up well. It was much more mature than the '82, a sign of the '82s quality, and ready to go. There was still some light spritz here, and mature carob and caramel flavors. Rob called it 'clean,' although I found a bit of back alley water to it along with garden flavors.

VT, 92

The 1978 Cristal was the most advanced of these wines. Sweet and unctuous at first, it lost steam in the glass fairly quickly.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 92

One of the best Cristals I have tasted. Just supple yet rounded, with sharp acidity and creamy finish. All dancing around on the palate. White fruit and spice. Very very balanced. 95-96

95 points, 2020-09-30

@ Restaurant Vineum in Rotterdam: Sweet fully mature nose displaying toffee, dried fruit and hints of sherry. On the palate no bubbles left but some strong acidity and freshness, changing in the glass into complex aged flavors with truffle, baked apple and toasted brioche. Impressive and a great treat!

94 points, 2016-10-30

Small tasting glass @ VINEUM during service, so a brief note. Amazing this 38 year old Champagne. Tasted twice, once directly from the bottle after opening and a very small glass at the end of the evening. This gained more complexity with time and air. Very special to get to taste this!

94 points, 2016-10-14

Mature and Maturing Bordeaux (Oslo): Mature smell, almost tropical fruit, apricots; vinous and very complex, a slight sweetness, yellow fruit, lemon-candy, caramel. A very good bottle.

98 points, 2012-10-19

Big surprise! Expectations weren't all that high for this bottle served alongside the mighty 1976. But this certainly held it's own with it's darker tones of walnuts, coffee, dried tomatoes and tobacco among the more usual lemon candy and white flowers.Hedonistic mouthfeel but still elegant. Impressive! Completely mature but not a hint of oxidation or other signs of heading down hill. Drink now or keep forever.

97 points, 2011-10-08

One of the surprises in this tasting, the 1977 Cristal is shockingly beautiful. Delicate and gracious in the glass, the 1977 is a bit slow out of the gate, but then gains freshness and focus with air. Candied orange peel, hazelnut, dried flowers and dried herbs give the 1977 its striking aromatic lift. Wonderfully alive and nuanced in every way, the 1977 is formidable tonight. I don’t see the 1977 developing much from here, but it is undeniably gorgeous right now. Above all else, the 1977 offers superb persistence and mind-blowing finesse. In a word: sublime.

David Schildknecht, 98

taste of raisins, autumn, yellow and brown apples. No bubbles left. In terms of taste, a wine that has gone a little past its peak.

83 points, 2022-11-12

Rousseau 2009 Horizontal Tasting: Golden with some youthful flashes of lighter colour. Nougat, ginger, citrus peel, oyster shell and earth - plenty of complexity. Very rich fruit still there on the palate combined with great acidity gives it beautiful length. Superb!

94 points, 2013-09-21

The hot vintage notwithstanding, the 1976 Cristal comes across as remarkably lifted and light on its feet, with a gorgeous sense of translucence to play off the rich, deep fruit. Fully mature but also with enough freshness and energy to drink well for a number of years, the 1976 has it all. Wild flowers, mint, honey sage and orange peel are some of the many notes that shape the wine. Although splitting hairs at this level, for my taste, the 1976 is a bit heavy and ripe. There is no mystery. The 1976 gives up all of its (considerable) charms easily. That is not a bad thing, but I find a bit more elegance and nuance in some of the other vintages in this tasting. One of the most celebrated Champagne vintages of the 1970s, 1976 is remembered for very hot conditions that resulted in short growing season and a very early harvest.

David Schildknecht, 96

The 1976 Cristal offered an additional level of ripeness and sweetness and depth, with notes of candied apricots and figs.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 96

The Cristal, on the other hand, was ready to go, still closer to infancy than maturity but very bready, toasty and nutty. Long and fat, the Cristal was incredibly toasty

VT, 94

Very mature oxidized notes with ripe flavors of orange/apricot and a lovely sweetness and depth. Plenty of mousse and acidity left here. A really satisfying aged Champagne.

93 points, 2017-06-01

Light oxidation on the nose, but holding together well. Sweet apple and apricot palate. Moderate complexity but this is showing well for its age with life still left.

93 points, 2017-05-30

World's Greatest - Night II (Daniel): Interestingly the nose on the '76 is the freshest of the flight ('82, '79, '76) and has flowers and white peach in addition to the developed caramel tones. Fresh nectarine and mandarin on the palate. Bright and juicy. Curiously this is showing younger than both '82 and '79. This is the wine I would want to buy out of all of these, if this is indicative, but this is likely a great bottle. Big mouthful of juicy white peach. Mmm.

94 points, 2017-05-12

Golden creaminess. A younger bottle than the '82 or '79 and had not yet developed its full character.

94 points, 2017-05-12

The 1975 Cristal is sublime. The bubbles have largely subsided. What remains is an utterly, exquisite Champagne. Concentrated, powerful and vinous, for its age and vintage the 1975 simply has it all. Orange marmalade, spices and dried flowers add intrigue throughout. The 1975 is a very pretty wine, but it loses some intensity with air. Any remaining bottles are best enjoyed over the next few years.

David Schildknecht, 94

The 1975 Cristal was sweet, pure and ethereal in its suggestions of pears and spices.

Lisa Perrotti-Brown, William Kelley, 94

The 1975 Cristal opens with layered aromas of orange marmalade, dried flowers, honeyed caramel and a hint of nutty rancio, all underscored by a soft citrus thread. On the palate it’s richly oily and unctuous, with low acidity and virtually no mousse, offering a contemplative, almost Burgundian depth and a long, warming finish. I find it a profoundly mature Champagne, exquisitely complex but with a subdued sparkle that may surprise anyone expecting brisk effervescence.

94 points, 2025-07-29

Pale amber color lots of roasted almonds honey hazelnut and orang zest sweet caramel. Full bodied with just a little very fine bubbles and a very long velvety finish.

96 points, 2021-06-05

Perfectly mature champagne. Spherical in the mouth with nothing out of place. The richness of the fruit slightly out paces the acidity at this point. Flavors are wonderful yellow fruits, roasted nuts, cream, and spun sugar. Not getting better, but will hold for some time.

96 points, 2012-07-09

One of the most extraordinary wines in this vertical, the 1974 Cristal exudes class and balance. It is yet another wine that has aged beautifully. Nothing is out of place. Deep, rich and voluptuous in the glass, the 1974 is explosive and intense, with a level of pure pedigree that is impossible to miss. Even after all these years, the 1974 is powerful, dense and super-concentrated, much like the 1976, but with more freshness and none of the heaviness found in that wine. Tasting the 1974, it is hard to believe that rain and rot were both challenges during harvest. Cristal seems to have come through just fine. Incidentally, 1974 also marks the debut of Cristal Rose.

David Schildknecht, 98

We spent Saturday evening opening what can only be described as a once-in-a-lifetime bottle. Sat at Chez Fifi, we had been eager to give the 1974 Cristal a go after it had been hailed the revelation of what was otherwise a meager vintage. That accolade was evident from the get-go as an explosive nose of yeast, potpourri, pepper, cardamom, manzanilla sherry and creme brulee had us excited for the palate. Immediately sensing a tinge of acidity still hanging on, we were met with an upfront dominated by baked red apples and hazelnut notes. The mid-palate presented some freshness in the form of florality and minerality before a mature backend packed with baking spices and brioche. Was this at its peak? No. But did this show off Cristal's ability to age in a vintage that wasn't necessarily heralded? Absolutely. A great use of Saturday evening.

93 points, 2025-03-01

Nose: Plum, Dark intercalated waffle with a light touch of caramel in the background.Taste: Slightly taste of the waffle, nut with an end tone of lemon.Comment: Overall a very good cristal. Well worth buying, well worth storing. (I guess I had the luck to recieve a very good ex of this champagne.)https://champagnesamlingen.wordpress.com/2016/03/12/cristal-1974/

90 points, 2016-03-12

The 1973 Cristal is rich, sumptuous and lush on the palate. Fully mature and yet marvelously intense, the 1973 possesses remarkable depth for a wine of its age. The 1973 has a little less of everything than the finest wines in this tasting, but its balance is tremendous.

David Schildknecht, 94

Fairly flat bottle but what it lacked in bubbles it more than made up for in quality as a still wine. Deep gold in colour with very fine lees still at the bottom of the bottle so if not stood well could be a little cloudy. Searing acidity balances a sherry-like (probably the age) sweetness wrapped by a lovely core of fruit that holds it all together in perfect harmony. Would stand toe-to-toe with any GC white of the best pedigree.

95 points, 2020-03-10

not blindnearly no bubbles, typical nougat note, not oxidized but over his peak. At least from this bottle. 92

92 points, 2024-01-18

A small gathering of friends - 71 Cristal, 08 Dom, 90 DRC GE, 01 Rayas, 90 Monfortino and etc. (Officina - Washington D.C.): Beautiful fully mature nose displaying decadent yellow fruit, apricot, apple cooked with a pinch of cinnamon, peach, toffee, coffee, ginger candy and orange peel. Absolutely gorgeous palate, beautifully layered sweet yellow fruit, sensual and fluid, still noticeable fine mousse, bright acidity and a seamless long slightly dry sweet yellow fruit driven finish. Although this particular bottle displays a lot of beautiful tertiary notes and fully mature, it is still quite lively. It is important to note that I love old Graves or white burgundies. A memorable Champagne but don’t look for freshness here.

98 points, 2019-07-21

Alzero + misc (Terkels place): Most likely a defective bottle that at one or more points in time has been stored in a warm place.The color is light brown.Nose is filled with "brown" smells, mushrooms, brown apples and caramel.The palate is mostly dark/rotten apples but still quite pure in its flavors. Short aftertaste with some apple-juice acidity. Very little mousse.Overall impression is that it is just old and tired :-)

75 points, 2010-10-12

The 1970 Cristal is a wine from another era. It was the last Cristal fermented in oak and also the last Cristal aged on the cork. For those reasons, the 1970 is really a window into the style of the 1960s. The aromas alone are captivating. Silky and nuanced, with phenomenal balance, the 1970 offers extraordinary poise and class to burn. What a treat it is to taste the 1970 from a pristine bottle. Even after going back to some of the younger vintages in this tasting the 1970 holds its place as one of the top wines of the night. There is something emotionally thrilling about the 1970 that is hard to capture with words, but it’s all there in the glass. Readers lucky enough to taste the 1970 are in for a real treat. I can only hope I will get another opportunity someday.

David Schildknecht, 98

There were still two more wines, actually champagnes, left in the evening. The train was about to leave the station, so Big Boy had to send it off in style, beginning with a 1969 Louis Roederer Cristal. This bottle was un-fucking-real, full of coconut and coffee aromas, fresh like a Sunday morning bread basket. Sorry, I couldn't take many notes at the time, but it was one of the best bottles of champagne that I have ever had

VT, 98

No bubbles left. Light amber colour. Lovely fruit, slightly stewed. Nutty nuances, umami too.A real privilige to taste this, absolutely. To me, more interesting than tasty though.

93 points, 2026-06-06

Ard, David and Robert's birth year vintage tasting and lunch (Bolomey Wine Imports, Amsterdam, NL): Italian import label. Good level. Deep colour, lots of depot, initially dull and slightly maderised but still harmonious, develops well in the glass, noticeable dosage has kept it alive, gentle bitters, blunt finish. A less than perfect bottle.

90 points, 2026-05-31

Despite being a vintage 1969 Champagne, it shows remarkably well with no unpleasant oxidative notes. Overall, it presents a nice nose, excellent balance, and lively acidity.

96 points, 2025-02-24

"No Country for Old Champagne" (Chicago, IL): Seems like this fell off a bit with air, but there were a few early moments where this was absolutely splendid. More of a caramel complexion here, with again plenty of old-school Baroque sweetness. There's a slightly mushroomy note as well, which kind of adds interest but also muddies the otherwise clean, sweet fruit.

93 points, 2024-12-30

not blindEverything was perfect but it could be more bubbles. Clear colour, not too much nougat and dried fruits, spicy, lemon fruits, hint of butterscotch and great refreshing acidity. 96

96 points, 2022-01-01

I couldn't believe how good it was. 1967? Even Big Boy was in shock that this was '6 star' Champagne. It was so fresh, so racy and so good in that Cristal way. Butterscotchy goodness combined with endless acidity and structure for a near religious experience.

VT, 96

We needed a palate cleanser, and it was a spectacular one, a 1966 Louis Roederer Cristal. Caramel oozed out of the glass like Scarlett Johansson out of a limousine. Ray took my daydream away from me with brittle, more burnt, cooked caramel, and I immediately saw his four best high school buddies getting out of the limo after her. Bruce gushed, the best vintage of the best decade in Champagne. Bread crusts, honey, orange rind and hazelnut (Pat) resulted in an orgy of aromas. It was pure vanilla sex going down the hatch, and it was so good it caused Big Boy to ramble about the 1911 and 28 Pol Roger for about ten minutes. It was a short speech by the usual standards

VT, 97

One of the few Champagne bottles I had to open with a cork screw…. Bernsteil color some sweet sherry, almond and nut notes. Full bodied with some creamy very fine bubbles and excellent length. The Cristal did show after 1 hour better than freshly opened. Great experience

94 points, 2026-03-01

Wine Tasted at Acker Auction (Marea - New York NY): Tasting, brief note. Slightly sweet apple and pear that was fresher than I'd have expected at this age, with better fruit, despite almost no remaining effervescence. Yum, thanks, John!

92 points, 2015-02-21

not blindA lot of fine bubbles, nougat notes, fresh, milk chocolate, dries fruits, some honey. Lovely aged champagne. Never drink a Cristal too young if you want to get the whole movie. The elegance remains but you get bunch of aromas. 96

96 points, 2022-02-19

Regular bottle in good coulor and filling. iodine in nose but mint chocolate, dry apricots and figs in the palate, good acidity structure. just over his peak. Nice mousseux but maybe a hint of acidity lack. 95-96

96 points, 2019-01-18

The bottle was mot in perfect shape (low level; C/D-stand). I bought this bottle because of the good colour. It is so much easier with old Cristal because of the crystal clear bottle.Perfect golden colour. This wine had some sediment in the bottle.Still some bubbles left.Nuts, toast, caramel, brown sugar, mushroom and honey.Lovely mouthfill! Elegant structure based on the mineral, nice acidity, lovely flavours. Long elegant finish.If this wine had a better mousse and more bubbles it would have been a top Champagne.

94 points, 2015-04-04

A rare treat to taste this one, raisin, cognac type of aromas, fudge, overripe plums, figs. Awesome.

94 points, 2012-01-11

Smoky, orange aromatics. Amazing freshness on the palate with sweetness that builds.

96 points, 2019-10-05

2nd Champagne Club; 11/4/2019-11/5/2019 (Les Crayeres Reims): not blindWOWWWWWWWW. Incredible. One of my most impressive champagnes I’ve ever had. once in a lifetime wine experiences. Biscuit, marcipan, some hints of vanilla, orange zest, yuzu. Delicate, elegant, sublime finish for the whole night. 100

100 points, 2019-11-04

A 1959 Horizontal Across Champagne, Burgundy and Bordeaux (Le Cinq Restaurant, George Cinq Four Seasons, Paris): Awesome wine. Incredible complexity, caramel flavors and acidity. No bubbles left, just a beautifully complex white wine.

98 points, 2019-06-14