2008 Cristal: 100 points x 2 … and a 98 & 99 to boot!
Posted on: 06/13/18 7:54 PM
Louis Roederer’s Cristal – the crème de la crème of Champagne tête de cuvée set has many admirers for its quintessential distillation of finesse and elegance. The 2008 has been hotly anticipated for years now – with the vintage being hailed as one of the truly legendary.
Well, it’s here. And the press couldn’t be any hotter. Four words of advice: Run, don’t walk.
2008 Louis Roederer Cristal Brut
“The 2008 Cristal is a real head-turner. Powerful, ample and explosive in all of its dimensions, the 2008 takes hold of the sense and never lets up. There is a crystalline purity to the flavors that is simply remarkable. Although still a baby, the 2008 looks like it will soon take its place alongside the greatest Cristals. Today, it is breathtaking.” 98 pts. Antonio Galloni
“The 2008 Cristal will be the first vintage of this wine to be released ten years out from the vintage…The wine is flat out stunning, offering up a pure and youthfully complex bouquet of apple, lemon,warm brioche, stunningly complex, chalky minerality, a touch of orange zest, fresh almond and a floral top note redolent of lemon blossoms and mimosa. On the palate the wine is deep, full bodied,complex and utterly seamless in its balance, with a great core, laser-like focus, utterly refined mousse and a very, very long, racy, complex and seamlessly balanced finish. This is a breathtakingly beautiful wine in the making! Drink till 2095.” 99 pts. John Gilman
“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.” – 100 pts., James Suckling
“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.” – 100 pts., Wine Enthusiast
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