Champagne Louis Roederer - Brut Cristal 2016 avec étui

Bettane & Desseauve

About the estate:

Founded in Reims in 1776, Roederer still belongs to the same family, represented today by Frédéric Rouzaud. In recent years, it has been a pioneer, being the first to gradually convert its vast 242-hectare vineyard to organic and biodynamic farming (126 hectares). Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon, an eminent cellar master and agronomist, never ceases to impress with his intimate knowledge of each parcel of the estate and the choices he makes. Cristal, an exceptional prestige cuvée, comes only from vines growing on chalky soils. The vintage wines and the heart of the non-vintage brut, now called Collection, with a number indicating the base year of the blend, come from soils that are still calcareous but more clayey. Wines intended for longer aging do not undergo malolactic fermentation, which requires the grapes to be picked at a high level of ripeness, often close to 11°C. The current wines are certainly the most remarkable ever produced, including the astonishing red and white Coteaux-Champenois, with the very exclusive Camille cuvées.

Decanter

About wine:

The 2016 Cristal represents a return to purity and classicism for this cuvée, even when taking into account the maturity and generosity of the early part of 2016. It is characteristically discreet in its youth, concealing its maturity beneath a long, chalky, and stony energy. Sweet mandarin, pale apricot, and raspberry are underpinned by slowly maturing floral honey notes and a smoky, tight charm. An airy and fluid delicacy and persistence elevate this cuvée above some of the other expressions from this year. This is an extremely promising Cristal, likely to rise to the same level as the highly sought-after 2012 and 2013 versions.

Guide Hachette des vins

About the estate:

A house founded in Reims in 1776. Louis Roederer became its owner in 1833, developed it, and acquired vineyards. In the 1870s, the house, which delivered 2.5 million bottles, had Russia as its main customer, where Tsar Alexander II asked Louis Roederer to create a prestigious champagne for him: the famous Cristal cuvée was launched (1876). With 240 hectares of vineyards (first growth or grand cru) representing two-thirds of its supplies, the company is still run by the descendants of its founders. The latest, Frédéric Rouzaud, is now at the head of a group that owns Deutz Champagnes and numerous prestigious wines, from the Médoc to Provence, Portugal to California.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About wine:

The best vintage since 2013, Cristal 2016 has proven to be magnificent. A vintage that Lecaillon describes as "difficult in the vineyards but magnificent in the cellar," which had suffered slightly in terms of reputation due to the gloomy atmosphere that prevailed during the difficult growing season, but whose results are actually impressive. The fifth edition produced entirely from certified organic fruit and with a strong Pinot Noir component, the 2016 represents the contemporary quality of Cristal, combining the concentration of 2002 with the precision and clarity 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 almonds, framed by a youthful reduction. On the palate, it is lively and electric, with a core of pure fruit, precise mousse, and a textured attack, ending with a long, salty finish.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About wine:

The 2016 vintage stands out as a great success, accurately expressing all the nobility of this vintage, appreciated by discerning connoisseurs. Cristal 2016 has a bright future ahead of it: a magnificent, complete juice, both mature and fresh, in a very Champagne spirit.

About the estate:

This is one of Champagne's finest standard-bearers. This family-owned estate is based on a vineyard comprising 420 plots, mostly Pinot Noir, 70% of which are classified as Grand Cru. Viticulture is a real priority here, particularly through the transition to biodynamic farming. Soil cultivation is becoming widespread. Only such an exceptional vineyard can explain the unique level of harmony and concentration achieved with such large volumes. It is no coincidence that the cellar master, Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, is an oenologist but also an agronomist, just like Jean-Claude Rouzaud, who built the current empire of Roederer's great international vineyards. In good faith, he entrusted the reins of the group to his son, Frédéric Rouzaud, the current president, at an early stage. Here, malolactic fermentation is only partial and random (between 25% and 50%). The juices are aged on lees in vats and oak casks to give them body.

Jancis Robinson

About wine:

Typically light, the young Cristal always seems so modest on the nose. Young fruit with a hint of vegetal and leafy notes. The length seems a little more promising, and it's a safe bet, based on older vintages, that it will improve with time. But at this stage, it still has a long way to go.

James Suckling

About wine:

It has wonderfully pure fruity aromas, such as peach, Asian pear, and golden apple, accompanied by notes of lemon cream, gingerbread, chalk, and jasmine. Sea salt and oyster shells follow one another on the palate, which is so harmonious that the ultra-fine bubbles are barely noticeable. It is both concentrated and smooth, with impressive resolution and integration of all components. Very long, salty, and creamy finish. Fantastic! 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay. Drink now or cellar.

Jeb Dunnuck

About wine:

Champagne Cristal 2016 is transparent and complex, with beautiful aromas of fresh flowers. Medium-bodied and chiseled, with a beautiful texture, well-defined salinity, and delicate notes of shortbread, it is a sparkling and electric wine with fantastic details. It has a concentrated and chalky profile, with notes of crushed stone. It will require a little patience, but it is a fantastic wine in this vintage for Cristal. Bravo.