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Champagne Brut Cristal 2013 75cl

AOC | Champagne | France
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Critics scores
98 Robert Parker
I've revisited Roederer's 2013 Cristal four times since I reviewed it in April of this year—including several times from my own cellar—and I had to admit that even my lavish praise didn't do it full justice. Combining the cool-vintage cut of 2008 with the more completely mature fruit of 2012, the 2013 Cristal might well be said to represent the perfect combination of the two from a purist's perspective. The wine unwinds in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, almond paste and citrus oil, followed by a medium to full-bodied, seamless and multidimensional palate that's intense but weightless, with racy acids, a pinpoint mousse and a long, penetrating finish. Drink the 2008 Cristal on its own, and you're unlikely—to put it mildly—to have any complaints; but compare it directly with the 2013 and you'll see Roederer's rapid progress in the vineyards writ large.
Producer
Louis Roederer
Louis Roederer, one of the last great independent Champagne houses, was founded in 1776 and has, unusually for the region, remained in the founding-family for over two centuries. The Reims property owns over 240-hectares of Grand Cru vineyards, planted to the traditional three Champagne grape varieties: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The estate uses a plot-by-plot cultivation, this technique guarantees that the specific characteristics of each cru are preserved until the blending process, ensuring traceability. The famous Cristal brand was originally created in 1876 at the request of Alexander II, today, it is a worldwide status symbol that is consistently the most deeply flavored Champagnes available. In addition to the world’s most prestigious cuvée, the house crafts a multi-vintage Brut Premier that ranks far superior when compared to other vintage Champagnes (Louis Roederer Vintage, Vintage Rosé, Blanc de Blancs and Brut Nature). Recently, the family, in partnership with Philippe Starck, has released a Brut Nature in 2006. This special cuvée consists of personalized viticulture and biodynamic cultivation methods that come together to create their signature most free spirited Champagne.