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Louis Roederer, Champagne Brut Cristal, 2016

Sparkling Wine from Champagne, France
by Louis Roederer
$349.99
Use code 10OFF to get 10% off 12+ bottles

What is this wine?
Louis Roederer’s Cristal Brut 2016 is the estate’s iconic prestige cuvée, first created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia. A blend of approximately 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from Grand Cru vineyards across the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, and Côte des Blancs, the 2016 vintage was crafted entirely from estate-grown fruit and aged over six years on the lees. Produced with Roederer’s hallmark precision and minimal dosage (around 7 g/L), it exemplifies Champagne’s intersection of power, elegance, and minerality.

Why get this wine?
Cristal is one of the world’s most celebrated Champagnes, revered for its balance of richness and purity. The 2016 vintage stands out for its energy and poise despite a challenging growing season—thanks to meticulous biodynamic vineyard management and rigorous selection. It combines ripe orchard fruit and chalky tension with extraordinary finesse, making it both immediately captivating and cellar-worthy for decades.

What does this wine taste like?
Precise and layered, with aromas of lemon confit, white peach, hazelnut, and chalk. The palate is creamy yet taut, revealing citrus, brioche, and mineral depth. Long, saline, and endlessly refined.

When should you drink this wine?
Drink now for its vibrancy or cellar through 2045 to reveal greater depth and complexity. Perfect with oysters, lobster, or caviar. Serve well-chilled.

Shipping

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Antonio Galloni

96 points

"The 2016 Cristal is bright, aromatic and nicely lifted. Citrus peel white flowers, mint and a touch of chamomile all grace this understated, wonderfully refined edition of Cristal. Light on its feet and super-refined, the 2016 is exquisite in its understated beauty. I can’t wait to see how the 2016 ages and won’t be surprised it gains a bit of weight in bottle, as Cristal so often does. The blend is 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay, so a touch more Chardonnay than the norm. Of the 45 parcels that make up the Cristal domaine, just 32 were used for the blend. Verzy and Verzenay dominate the Pinots, then Aÿ. Avize takes the lead in the Chardonnays, followed by Mesnil and Cramant." —Vinous

Robert Parker

97 points

"The 2016 Cristal is a taut, incisive rendition of this benchmark bottling, unwinding in the glass with youthfully reserved aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, wet stones and subtle hints of sweet, buttery pastry. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and racy, it's almost as electric as the brilliant 2013, with serious concentration, a pure core of fruit, chalky structuring dry extract and a long, intensely mineral finish. Given its tightly wound profile, my advice is to forget it in the cellar for a few years and work on the more open, outgoing 2014 in the meantime." —Robert Parker

Decanter

97 points

"Cristal 2016 represents a return to purity and classicism for this cuvée, 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 cuvée 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."

Wine Spectator

96 points

"This leads with pronounced minerality on the nose, but then a bright burst of tangerine, blood orange and Meyer lemon flavors on the palate hold sway, joined by rich hints of crème de cassis, toast point, pastry cream and crystallized honey. Showing beautiful integration and a refined, lacy mousse, this is compact and statuesque, with a sense of restraint and the hint of more to come, while at the same time offering lovely expression in the glass today. Fresh and focused on the persistent finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay."

Wine Enthusiast

98 points

"This iconic Champagne, first made in the 19th century for the Tsar of Russia, shows its typical stunning balance and poise between richness and concentration. It has a pure white fruit and honeysuckle aroma and tight, tangy fresh fruit flavors. Just ready to drink, the wine will age well, for at least 20 years."

More about Louis Roederer

Champagne's most independent house, still family-owned for 241 years and counting. Roederer's guiding principle remains what Louis himself believed: great Champagne depends on terroir, tradition, and vision. They own their vineyards, control their production, and prove Champagne can be an art form.

Wine Details

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Tasting Notes & Food Pairings

Perfect Pairings

Seafood, soft cheeses, cured fish, champagne biscuits, delicate pastries

Tasting Profile

Fine bubbles with brioche and apple notes, balanced acidity, complex mineral character, elegant dry finish with subtle fruit complexity.

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Map of main subregions of the Champagne wine region.

Champagne

Champagne boasts some of the world’s greatest luxury brands with Krug, Cristal and, of course, Dom Perignon. But it’s also home to hundreds of small dynamic producers—farmers who grow their own grapes (often organically) and make (often with natural methods) tiny amounts of pure and absolutely delicious wine that reflect the individual personalities of their villages and terroirs. Toast with these wines, for sure. But also treat them like the great wines they are: taste, drink, explore!

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