Cristal Brut Millésimé 2018 Champagne Louis Roederer

Roederer Louis

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Product number: n32504

Cristal Brut Millésimé 2018
Champagne Louis Roederer

Rating in the 100-point quality scale: 98

CHF 175.00

Prices excl. 8,1% VAT plus shipping costs

Availability: 96 bts. available | content: 75 cl

Wine available as single bottles can be found here

Ratings & tasting notes

98

Antonio Galloni

Vinous

The 2018 Cristal is a Cristal unlike any other I have tasted. Orchard fruit, dried flowers, spice, chalk and herbs are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass. Floral and savory overtones are quite distinctive. Lécaillon reduced oak ferments, racked very quickly after fermentation and used all his best Chardonnay lots for Cristal, so much so that there is no Blanc de Blancs. He bottled earlier than normal and chose a crown capsule with a liner that allows less oxygen transfer than the norm here. Taken together, those choices paid off handsomely. In tasting, the 2018 is positively stunning. Its linear energy and brilliance are a bit reminiscent of the 2014, but its flavor profile is completely different from any Cristal I can remember tasting. Dosage is 7 grams per liter.

97

James Suckling

James Suckling

A very structure Cristal with aromas of white pepper, bread dough, pie crust, pear tart and a hint of flint. Full-bodied with bitter grapefruit, apricot and lemon flavors. The bubbles turn fine and driving, giving it length and intensity. From organically grown grapes. Will age nicely. Drink or hold. 07/2026

98

Lisa Perrotti-Brown

The Wine Palate

The 2018 Cristal is a blend of 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay with 7 grams per liter of dosage. No malolactic was performed and 28% of the base wines were vinified in French oak. Still very youthful, it emerges slowly from the glass with delicate scents of crunchy yellow apples and juicy pears, giving way to an undercurrent of honeysuckle, chalk dust, and white pepper with a hint of allspice. The palate has impressive orchard fruit richness accented by subtle nuances of floral notes and baking spices, and offset by a crisp backbone and very fine, persistent bubbles, finishing long and chalky. Although 2018 was a riper vintage, Chef de Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon has been very clever with harvest dates and winemaking, maintaining freshness and vivacity while capturing the opulence of the year. The result is magnificent. 08/2026

Description

Louis Roederer, founded in 1776 and operating under its current name since 1833, is one of the few major Champagne houses that has remained independent and family-owned to this day. With approximately 250 hectares of its own vineyards, the house is firmly committed to sustainable and biodynamic viticulture. Cristal embodies the unique combination of precision, purity, and the great chalk terroirs of Champagne. Grapes from 57 carefully selected plots in the Rivière, Montagne, and Côte regions were used for the 2018 Cristal. These include such renowned crus as Verzenay, Aÿ, Avize, Cramant, and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Many of the vines are over 25 years old and are cultivated entirely organically. The 2018 vintage was warm, dry, and exceptionally sunny. Following a wet winter and an unpredictable spring, the summer brought intense heat and an extraordinary amount of sunshine. The harvest in late August and early September yielded healthy, ripe, and remarkably concentrated grapes. The cuvée consists of 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay. Malolactic fermentation is deliberately omitted to preserve freshness and vibrancy. 28% of the wine is aged in wood, adding depth and complexity to the blend. With a dosage of 7 g/l, the Cristal remains remarkably precise and dry. In the glass, it glows a golden yellow with fine, even bubbles. The nose is open and multi-layered: nectarine, citron, and orange blossom give way to vanilla, smoke, bergamot, cedar, and a hint of white chocolate. On the palate, the full strength of the vintage comes through: juicy, concentrated, and full-bodied, supported by a delicate, almost silky structure. This is complemented by a salty edge and remarkable freshness. A Cristal with great substance, yet without any heaviness—and with great aging potential.

Country:	France
Region:	Champagne
Producer/appellation:	Roederer Louis
Wine type:	Champagner
Year:	2018
Content:	75 cl
Organic/bio dynamic:	No