x
  • Country ranking ?

    204
  • Producer ranking ?

    10
  • Decanting time

    15min
  • When to drink

    now to 2030
  • Food Pairing

    Roquefort madeleines

The Tb points given to this wine are the world’s most valid and most up-to-date evaluation of the quality of the wine. Tastingbook points are formed by the Tastingbook algorithm which takes into account the wine ratings of the world's best-known professional wine critics, wine ratings by thousands of tastingbook’s professionals and users, the generally recognised vintage quality and reputation of the vineyard and winery. Wine needs at least five professional ratings to get the Tb score. Tastingbook.com is the world's largest wine information service which is an unbiased, non-commercial and free for everyone.

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The Wine Advocate - Robert Parker - June 01, 2010

98 Points Roederer's 2002 Cristal is a fabulous wine! Originally released in 2009, it was re-released in March this yearùand was sold out in a very short time. The Cristal I tasted at Roederer in May 2018 was disgorged in 2010, after seven years sur lie. Its amazing richness and concentration makes it a forerunner of the 2015 and follows the 1999. Only two timesù2002 and 2015ùthe fruit from all 42 plots reserved for Cristal was used for the Cristal. I couldn't do any better blend than the one assembling all the 42 plots, says Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, stressing that at that time only two hectares were farmed biodynamically. As a result of the conversion to biodynamic farming, Lécaillon promised himself the production of even more beautiful, vital and balanced wines, and you can feel his satisfaction whenever he speaks of the cuvées that are yet to come such as 2012 and 2015, the latter of which he calls the new 2002. Back to history: the nose of the 2002 Cristal shows a deep, ripe and elegant fruit with aromas of white chocolate, wet chalk, wild vanilla and pepper (typical for 2002) as well as terroir-driven truffle notes. Intense and very elegant in the mouth, this is a ripe, rich and concentrated yet also pure and vital Cristal with great finesse, elegance and mineral complexity. It's a sublime Champagne right now, although it's more wine than Champagne. Tasted in Reims in May 2018.

 

San Francisco Chronicle - Jon Bonné - December 13, 2009

Recommended "...Roederer's top Champagne remains a paradigm of the form, showcasing the blending talents of cellarmaster Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon. There's an electricity to the nose: white tea, orange, salt, moss and apple skin. It's perfectly harmonious, with fresh berry and fleshy fig flavors highlighted by ripe grapefuit and an intense mineral core. And its full depth isn't quite on display yet. An extraordinary Champagne, with a long life ahead..."

 

The Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - January 2009

96+ Points "The 2002 Cristal is a gorgeous, sculpted wine of extraordinary elegance. Graceful, well-delineated aromatics lead to ripe pears, spices, flowers, minerals and mint in this precise Champagne. ...The wine remains fresh and in need of several years of cellaring before it hits its stride."

 

Wine Enthusiast - Roger Voss - December 01, 2008

98 points "This is an exceptional wine, as is the vintage. The fruits--grapefruit, crisp red apple—-are balanced with a fine yeasty character. There is a great depth of flavor, the fruits going in a pure line of freshness. ...Age this wine for at least four years."

 

Gourmet - James Rodewald - December 2008

"The Louis Roederer Champagne house seems to be on a roll. Every one of their offerings is fantastic this year: the luxe Cristal 2002..."

 

The Wine Advocate - Antonio Galloni - December 2008

96+ Points "This beautifully-sculpted Champagne possesses notable clarity but with the additional depth of fruit that is characteristic of this vintage. It is a gorgeous, seductive Cristal of the highest level."

 

 

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The Story

In 1876 when Tsar Alexander II requested that a special cuvée be created for his court Roederer duly obliged, creating what many regard to be the first prestige cuvée. 

As the political situation in Russia was somewhat unstable, Tsar Alexander feared assassination. He ordered that Champagne bottles be made of clear glass, so that he could see the bubbles and to prevent anyone from hiding a bomb within, as could easily happen with a typical dark green bottle. Roederer commissioned a Flemish glassmaker to create clear lead crystal Champagne bottles with a flat bottom. 

Originally a sweet blend, the Champagne was named “Cristal” after these distinctive clear lead crystal glass bottles.

In 1909, the House of Louis Roederer was regarded as the “Official Purveyor of Champagne to the Imperial Court of Russia” – a business coup that was later reversed following the deposition of the Tsar during the 1917 Revolution. Prohibition in the US caused additional financial difficulties during the early 20th century. However, the house survived these setbacks and today Louis Roederer remains an independent, family-owned business, managed by Roederer’s descendant, Frédéric Rouzaud.

The composition of Cristal is approximately 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay. The grapes used in the wine come from only the finest vineyards in Grand Cru villages. Lecaillon talks about the crucial role that vineyards play in quality:

“A majority of our most recent development has been in vineyard operations. We have strict limits set for crop yields and we're using vines that are 25 years old on average. We evaluate the grapes coming from our own vineyards very critically. We try to improve the vineyards that aren't performing well and keep the ones that are at the highest level of quality.

The grapes from our own vineyards produce wines with an alcohol content that’s an average of 1% higher than those produced with purchased grapes. There’s less tart malic acid in our own grapes. Even though we strive for the highest possible acidity, it’s absolutely necessary that this is accompanied by a ripe fruitiness. We belong to the five-percent minority of Champagne's producers who do not use malolactic fermentation to reduce wine acidity. The range of aromas is accentuated by the high-acid structure, much in the same way a salad dressing brings out the aromas in the food.

“And we stopped using cloned vines - we're only using the vine offspring from our own vineyards to ensure natural diversity. In the 1950s, -60s and -70s cloning was far too simple a solution for such a complex thing." Chef de Cave Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon explained

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Wine Information

HARVESTING:
An extraordinary year that brought together all the factors that make for a great Champagne year : constantly warm temperatures without excessive heat or sun preceded by a markedly mild winter; a reduction in rainfall (about 20%) during the growth cycle; cool nights and a cold dry north-easterly wind from August to September. These exceptionally favourable conditions
combined meant that the grapes matured perfectly and their fl avours were nicely concentrated.
Harvesting started 12 September for the Chardonnays with an average sugar concentration superior to 11% natural alcohol.

PRODUCTION:
In 1876, Tsar Alexander II was already a great fan of Louis Roederer’s champagne and he asked
Louis Roederer to «go one step further» and produce, for his own personal consumption,a unique wine in quality and bottle. Louis Roederer off ered to create an exceptional white crystal bottle to house the best selection from the 7 finest vineyards of his estate.
Cristal was only produced in the “great” years when the ripeness of the Chardonnay and Pinot noir enabled a subtle, precise balance. Cristal is the region’s most prestigious Champagne.

STYLE:
Precise, silky, balanced, and harmonious with a powerful, rich body, great purity and an incredible ability to age.

ELABORATION:
55% Pinot noir - 45% Chardonnay - 20% of wines matured in oak casks with weekly batonnage
– No malolactic fermentation. Cristal is produced using harvests from the fi nest vineyards of Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs. These wines undergo an average of 5 years maturation in cellars and rest 8 months after disgorgement to perfect its
maturity. Dosage of between 8 and 10 g/l is adapted to each vintage

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Vintage 2002

A cold winter and a mild late spring cued for a perfect June allowing early and fast flowering. Outstanding weather conditions prevailed and the season went on without dramatic turns. Rains in August raised concerns regarding gray rot, but finally sunshine and dry conditions throughout September resulted in an abundant crop of largely healthy fruit (11,930 kg/ha). Dehydration due to wind further aided in achieving perfect ripeness and additional concentration. This, and the cool nights, helped in retaining fresh acidity and, despite the ripeness (10.3% potential alcohol), the wines did not suffer from heaviness or a lack of life. A near-perfect vintage, which produced balanced Champagnes consistently around the region. The best show an impeccable combination of freshness, power, structure and finesse. However, some have matured aromatically quicker than expected and are already past their peak. 2002 produced an abundance of spectacular champagnes, such as Dom Pérignon (the entire range), Krug Vintage and Clos du Mesnil, Piper-Heidsieck Rare, Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Ruinart Dom Ruinart and Dom Ruinart Rosé, Salon Le Mesnil and Taittinger Comtes de Champagne, to name a few.

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Tasting note

color

Light, Green-Yellow and Bright

ending

Long, Pure, Lingering and Bitter

flavors

White fruits, Mint, Mineral, Buttery, Citrus and Licorice

nose

Pure, Refined, Seductive and Youthful

recommend

Yes

taste

High in Acidity, Low alcohol content, Low tannin, Perfectly balanced, Multi-dimensional, Concentrated, Youthful, Medium-bodied, Modest, Refined, Focused, Vivid and Dry

Verdict

Transparent and Intelligent

Written Notes

Cristal is produced using only the finest vintages from crus guaranteed to originate from the Louis Roederer vineyard.  The wine is left to mature on yeast for an average of five years and spends a minimum period of eight months in the cellar after disgorgement.

A bit closed nose but with layers of roasted nuts, yellow apples, deep and very seductive, Japanese pear, hints of butter, curry and brioche. Perfect Cristal nose but still  not completely open. Full bodied, full throttle palate with ripe yellow apples, ripe citrus, Japanese pear, hints of nuts, ripe peach, cane sugar, brioche, white flowers. Very rich mid palate but at the same time very vibrant and long with an amazing grip and lots of mineral notes on the never ending finish. Amazing!

  • 98p
My expectations were not entirely fulfilled since this wine plays in exactly the same league as the ordinary vintage wine and the Blanc de Blancs this time. Sublime and aristocratic of course, but not as full-bodied as the vintage wine. Wonderfully feminine elegance just a month later. Hoey and fantastic today. A bit closed in 2012 so wait.
  • 96p
A brilliant champagne. It offered a tiny bit of honey, suggesting it is slowly developing but this is at a snail's pace. There is also spice and citrus. It is a wonderfully complex fizz, offering bright acidity and perfect balance. And such finesse! What a stunning wine, as you'd expect from the top wine from one of the great Houses in a superb year. 98.
  • 98p

Pale lemon yellow. Apples, lemons, brioche, minerals, detailed and layered, intense nose. Fresh acidity, apples, minerals, brioche, detailed and layered, intense and long. Stunning. 96

  • 96p

Good looking normal size bottle. Colour is gold, and looking clear and mature. On the nose it is mature. The taste is and dry, warming, and average in acidity, medium-bodied, with unbalanced structure, tired and the palate is modest. On the palate it is layered and has white fruits, bread, dried-fruit and licorice flavours. The finish is medium long and a bit too bitter .. This wine is an easy-drinking and uninteresting. I paid around 200-500€ a bottle. Perfectly stored bottles are still very worthy and will last well for another 1-5 years and decant at least 45min before tasting. Too expensive for quality. I do not recommend it.

  • 87p

The 2002 Cristal is now entering its first plateau of maturity, which makes it a terrific Champagne for drinking now. Hints of apricot, brioche, lemon confit, honey, hazelnut, baked apple tart and spice give the 2002 striking layers of nuance. Rich and generous, the 2002 show plenty of the natural opulence of the year and yet retains terrific freshness as well. As always, Cristal is a blend of Pinot from Ay, Verzenay, Verzy and Beaumont sur Vesle, and Chardonnay from Mesnil, Cramant and Oger. Dosage is 9 grams per liter. This is the original 2010 disgorgement. What a wine.

  • 97p

A dry, warm year with outbreaks of heavy rain. August was a month of extremes, with rain followed by scorching temperatures then violent thundery intervals. An anticyclone at the start of September gave way to rain towards 8 September followed by fine weather that lasted throughout the harvest. The vintage was marked by the outstanding quality of the grapes, registering a degree of alcohol content rarely achieved in Champagne. These conditions allowed the harvest to begin on 12 September in the Côte des Blancs, 13 September in the Marne Valley, and 16 September in the Montagne de Reims. Disgorged January 2010.


First bottle of this was rejected. Second bottle: And even this is a bit oxidised. Deep gold. Very mature nose. I would guess it had been oak fermented from the nose. Big and broad. It almost seems low in acidity. Nourishing finish. This bottle seems prematurely aged. Score for second bottle: 16.5, Drink 2008-2012. Third bottle (not chilled): tighter and fresher on the nose but still big and notably savoury/yeast extract.

  • 91p

The 2002 Cristal is one seriously big, huge even, Champagne, and while this cuvee normally shows a seamless, elegant style, the 2002 vintage’s fruit profile dominates this wine. Toasted bread, oak spice, orchard fruits and toasted nuts give way to a full-bodied, mouthfilling, rich 2002 that stays light, graceful and elegant on the palate, with good to moderate acidity. It’s beautiful today, yet has two more decades of longevity.

  • 96p

A re-release of the original 2010 disgorgement. Super fine, super fresh and super savory aromas of chalky stones with hints of flowers, white almonds, lemon peel and grapefruit. The palate has intense, mouth-filling, lemon-curd flavor. Very powerful, very concentrated and very expressive. Smooth finish that’s full of life, leaving a bright, white cherry note. Drink in 2022.

  • 98p

A glorious, precise, intense Cristal with lifted acidity. This champagne is incredibly youthful with lovely purity and minerality. Long, persistent length.

 

  • 96p
The first time the full 50 ha of estate vineyards reserved for Cristal grapes were used for Cristal. For Cristal we only use +25 years old vines. Cristal vineyards are in total 100 ha. 40 lieu-dit sites with mid-slope orientation.
  • 93p
2002 Cristal A bit closed nose but with layers of roasted nuts, yellow apples, deep and very seductive, Japanese pear, hints of butter, curry and brioche. Perfect Cristal nose but still not completely open. Full bodied, full throttle palate with ripe yellow apples, ripe citrus, Japanese pear, hints of nuts, ripe peach, cane sugar, brioche, white flowers. Very rich mid palate but at the same time very vibrant and long with an amazing grip and lots of mineral notes on the never ending finish. Amazing! Tasted four times with consistent notes. 2017-2032+ 97p.
  • 97p
Light yellow straw colour. Intense, lightly smoky with great citrus support nose. Gently smoky nose and very fresh white flowers. Right now dominates fresh flowery-mineral-smoky notes with a dash of howthorn and very ripe citrus fruits. Very fresh and elegant in the mouth. Massive concentration, but everything built on elegance. Great fruity finish with excellent wrap of tingled minerality. So fresh and youthful!! And fruits are not tired at all- they are massive and exploiding!! Endless finish and great complexity. Seems even younger than recenly atsted Mgn. 96+
  • 96p
Load more notes

Information

Origin

Reims, Champagne

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Value For Money

Good

Investment potential

Very Good

Fake factory

Be Cautious

Other wines from this producer

Blanc de Blancs

Brut Nature Rosé

Brut Nature Starck

Brut Premier

Carte Blanche Demi-Sec

Carte Blanche Sec

Collection 241

Collection 242

Collection 243

Collection 244

Coteaux Champenois Le Mesnil-sur-Oger Hommage à Camille

Cristal Rosé

Cristal Rosé Vinothèque

Cristal Vinothèque

Rosé Brut

Vintage

Vintage Blanc de Blancs

Vintage Rosé

Inside Information

During the tasting, Cristal 2002 of Roederer unveils a bouquet of a great richness revealing gradually the intensity of its aromas. Quaffable flowery notes, married to carefully toasted nuts, cacao and candied citrus fruits aromas, show the sophistication of this particularly racy cuvée. On the palate, Cristal 2002 is broad and caresses the palate with its unctuousness. This champagne reveals fragrances of riped fruits accompanied by quaffing notes of caramel, viennoiserie and white chocolate. The whole is completed by freshness on a nice bitterness, giving to the wine an exquisite crunchy sensation.

 

Roederer's 2002 Cristal is a fabulous wine! Originally released in 2009, it was re-released in March this year—and was sold out in a very short time. The Cristal I tasted at Roederer in May 2018 was disgorged in 2010, after seven years sur lie. Its amazing richness and concentration makes it a forerunner of the 2015 and follows the 1999. Only two times—2002 and 2015—the fruit from all 42 plots reserved for Cristal was used for the Cristal. "I couldn't do any better blend than the one assembling all the 42 plots," says Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, stressing that at that time only two hectares were farmed biodynamically. As a result of the conversion to biodynamic farming, Lécaillon promised himself the production of even more beautiful, vital and balanced wines, and you can feel his satisfaction whenever he speaks of the cuvées that are yet to come such as 2012 and 2015, the latter of which he calls "the new 2002." Back to history: the nose of the 2002 Cristal shows a deep, ripe and elegant fruit with aromas of white chocolate, wet chalk, wild vanilla and pepper (typical for 2002) as well as terroir-driven truffle notes. Intense and very elegant in the mouth, this is a ripe, rich and concentrated yet also pure and vital Cristal with great finesse, elegance and mineral complexity. It's a sublime Champagne right now, although it's more wine than Champagne. Drink 2018-2050.

Score: 98Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate (237), June 2018

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