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Louis Roederer, Champagne Brut Cristal, 2016

Sparkling Wine from Champagne, France
by Louis Roederer
$359.99
Use code 10OFF to get 10% off 12+ bottles
Roederer puts 2016 in the company of 2002, 2008 and 2012, only longer, more precise and more concentrated. The weather explains why. A cool, wet spring gave way to a hot, dry summer and a sunny run-up to harvest, which gave the Pinot Noir intense fruit and a silky texture, while the Chardonnay came in chiselled and saline. The blend is 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay from 32 plots in seven Grand Cru villages, from Verzenay, Verzy and Aÿ to Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant. Just under a third of the wines saw oak, none went through malolactic fermentation, which keeps the wine taut, and the dosage is a restrained 7 g/L. Cristal started in 1876 as a commission for Tsar Alexander II, and Roederer still makes it only in years when the grapes reach perfect ripeness. The name usually gets the attention, but in 2016 the wine itself is the reason to open the bottle. Serve well chilled, and given how concentrated it is, there's no rush.

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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."

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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.

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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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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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