Louis Roederer Cristal 1974

What the critics scored the 1974

One critic score is on record: 98/100, June 2017.

By score the 1974 ranks 2nd of 39 (tied with 1969, 1970, 1977 and 2018) scored Louis Roederer Cristal vintages, 2.1 points above their review-weighted 95.9.

The 1970s by score: 1970 98.0, 1973 94.0, 1974 98.0, 1975 94.0, 1976 95.0, 1977 98.0, 1978 93.2 and 1979 97.3. The 1974 shares the decade's top score.

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.

What drinkers rate it

91.5 out of 100 from 2 drinker ratings, the most recent in March 2025.

That is 6.5 points below the critics' score.

Drinker rank: 37th of 44 (tied with 1993). The most-rated vintage has 559 ratings.

2 written notes, March 2016 to March 2025, rating it 90 to 93.

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.

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/

When to drink the 1974

2017 to 2027: 10 years, opening 43 years after the harvest.

Open at our 2026 snapshot, with 1 year to run.

Window length rank, longest first: 24th of 33 (tied with 1973, 1977 and 1982).

The 1974 against its neighbours

The 1974 beside its 4 nearest recorded years.

Here, by score, it places 1st of 5 (tied with 1970).