99

Antonio Galloni

Vinous

The 2004 Cristal is nuanced and classy right out of the gate. Hints of lemon confit, marzipan, tangerine oil, spice and chamomile are all suggestive of a Champagne that has arrived at its first inflection point of early maturity. The interplay of slightly more mature notes with a good deal of freshness makes for an incredibly delicious wine to enjoy now. As it turns out, I tasted the 2004 again the following day and found it even more vibrant than the bottles we served at this lunch. This remains one of my favorite vintages here. Two thousand and four was the highest-yielding vintage in Champagne at the time, yet the best wines have always been compelling. 11/2024

97

Richard Juhlin

Richard Juhlin

An unusually unpredictable vintage. Very shy in the current state, despite that the faint tones are of the more open kind. Evolves more and more and already feels classic. Drank a fantastic bottle in Thailand that presented the same exotic aroma spectrum as the surroundings. Shang-ri-La! 04/2026

97

James Suckling

James Suckling

What a stunning nose of brioche, toasted baguette and smoke this almost 20-year-old champagne has! Deep base of chalky character wrapped in Amalfi lemon and with savory and salty notes that build in intensity at the long, structured finish. Still many years ahead of it. A cuvee of 53% pinot noir and 47% chardonnay. Tasted at the Cristal vertical tasting at the champagne house on July 6th, 2023. Drink or hold. 07/2023