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  • Country ranking ?

    763
  • Producer ranking ?

    52
  • Decanting time

    15min
  • When to drink

    now to 2035
  • Food Pairing

    Marinated venison skewer with celery

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Robb Report - November 2007

Recommended "Since 1776, the distinguished Roederer family has created some of the most finely crafted Champagne in the world, most notably the famed Cristal, a creamy balanced orchestration of strength and delicacy."

Wine & Spirits - December 2006

95 Points "The precision of the flavors in this vintage of Cristal is riveting. They feel substantial, complete, youthful and extremely long even as their aromat...

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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 ...

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Vintage 1999

A difficult start to the year led to early budbreak. There were some damaging hailstorms in early May, but the frost ultimately stayed away. The summer was overall warm and thanks to the hot and dry August, the grapes looked promising for the harvest. However, a damp September challenged producers and dilution was an issue for some. The 1999 harvest that started on September 15th produced a large yield (12,989 kg/ha) of sweet grapes that resul...

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Tasting note

color

Light, Straw and Bright

ending

Medium, Pure and Lingering

flavors

Mineral, Toasty, Mushrooms and Earthy

nose

Closed, Complex and Youthful

taste

High in Acidity, Balanced, Complex, Good texture, Developing, Medium-bodied, Firm, Vigor and Dry

Verdict

Transparent and Fine

Written Notes

Intense and ripe fruity nose. Roundness, with some edge on the palate. Great personality, full-bodied and chewy, but still youthful and restrained. Concentrated fruitiness with charm but most nuances are still hidden. Home-grown apples and caramel flavours; not much autolytic aromas at this stage. This vintage should ideally be kept in the cellar at least for another five years.

  • 93p
I seldom have the opportunity of enjoying a whole bottle on my own, but when I sat down in the Continental Restaurant in Reims on a job trip and saw that this new vintage of Cristal had just been launched in secret, I was unable to resist the temptation. I sat for hours and sipped at it until I had emptied the whole bottle, and with a smile on my lips I strolled out to the magnificently illuminated cathedral in the autumn night. I can sum up my detailed impressions briefly by saying that the aroma was weak and immature while the flavour had a fairytale elegance, concentration and classicism. Time will tell where we finally end up.
  • 95p

Broad toasty nose with lovely compelxity. Dry and crisp palate with firm structure. Bit reserved mineral mouthfeel with lean and long finish.

  • 91p

Pale lemon yellow, tiny bubbles. Brioche, yeast, minerals, bakery, apples, faint citrus, tiny nutty note far back. Fresh acidity, lively mousse, lovely balance, detailed, fresh, apples and citrus, brioche, long finish. 95

  • 95p
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Information

Origin

Reims, Champagne

Vintage Quality

Excellent

Value For Money

Best buy

Investment potential

Below Average

Fake factory

None

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

Starck Brut Nature Rosé

Vintage

Vintage Blanc de Blancs

Vintage Rosé

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