2006 Louis Roederer Cristal

Champagne Blend - 750ML
Reg: $389.00
$299.94
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REVIEWS

DC 97 VN 97 JS 96 JG 95 WA 95 WE 95 WS 95 JL 93 W&S 92
DC 97

Decanter, September 2014

Fantastic from the start. A colossal power of beautiful rumbling Pinot maturity. It’s like chewing on the ripest grapes from Aÿ and Verzenay. At the same time ultra stylish: unmistakable Cristal essence of peach and mango...
VN 97

Vinous, December 2023

The 2006 Cristal is a rich, explosive wine that captures all of the natural radiance of this warm year. Ample and full-bodied, the 2006 is one of the more extroverted recent Cristals. As such, it will drink well now, even...
JS 96

jamessuckling.com, August 2023

Deep maturing nose with plenty of ripe pear and apricot, plus a whiff of smoke. This is a big and powerful champagne with notes of spice and grapefruit alongside some red berry fruit from pinot noir. Long chalky finish...
JG 95

View From The Cellar, June 2014

The 2006 Cristal is comprised of a blend of fifty-five percent pinot noir and forty-five percent chardonnay, with twenty percent of the vins clairs having been barrel-fermented for this vintage. Despite the 2006...
WA 95

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, December 2018

The 2006 Cristal shows rich and ripe (tropical) fruit on the nose along with delicate brioche notes. Round and textured on the palate, this is a generous but fresh, fine and salty Cristal with a very long and greatly...
WE 95

Wine Enthusiast, December 2013

Although it is still young, this vintage of Cristal promises great things. There’s an impressive balance between ripe fruit and crisp acidity, rich and food friendly, but also a fine apéritif. Apricot and grapefruit...
WS 95

Wine Spectator, November 2013

This elegant version shows beautiful texture and a sense of finesse despite the underlying power of vibrant acidity and smoky minerality. The palate offers a finely layered mesh of blackberry, poached pear, almond pastry...
JL 93

TheWineCellarInsider.com, December 2015

The brioche, citrus and marzipan nose is catchy. The effervescence is refined, but at the end of the day, this is light from start to finish. Read more...
W&S 92

Wine & Spirits, December 2014

A full-figured vintage of Cristal, this has broad lemon custard flavors and a robust structure that feels youthfully severe. There’s a fruity mushroom tone to the flavors, like chicken of the woods. This needs several...

WINE DETAILS

Color & Type Sparkling
Varietal Champagne Blend
Country France
Region Champagne
Vintage 2006
Size 750ML
Percent alcohol 12%
Closure Cork

In 1845, at a time when majority of winemakers were buying the grapes rather than cultivating their own, Louis Roederer took a visionary approach. Wanting to master every aspect of the wine’s creation, he acquired several Grand Cru vineyards in Verzenay. Since then, every Louis Roederer vintage originates exclusively from their own vines. Its tete-de-cuvee, Louis Roederer Cristal, is among the finest Champagnes in the world.

The estate, which originally comprised 100 hectares acquired in 1850, now extends over 240 hectares, carefully chosen from the best terroirs of the Montagne de Reims, the Cote des Blancs, and the Vallee de la Marne. The estate cultivates 3 traditional grape varieties: Chardonnay for its minerality, finesse, and elegance; Pinot Noir’s solid constitution which adds structure to the blends and prepares the wine for aging; and Pinot Meunier whose adaptability brings harmony and softness to certain cuvees.

The Louis Roederer House has remained an independent, family-owned company and is now managed by Frederic Rouzaud, who represents the seventh generation of the lineage.

Roederer’s most famous wine was created in 1876 to satisfy the demanding tastes of Tsar Alexander II. Particularly fond of the House’s wine, the emperor asked Louis Roederer to reserve the best cuvee for him every year. To distinguish this cuvee, this exceptional champagne came in a flat-bottomed, transparent lead-crystal bottle. The new brand was named after this precious material, which is particularly transparent and luminous.

Produced only during the best vintage years, when the Chardonnay (around 40%) and Pinot Noir (around 60%) grapes have attained perfect maturity, Cristal is aged for 6 years in Louis Roederer’s cellars and left for a further 8 months after degorgement.

Cristal is a remarkably balanced and refined champagne whose length is inimitable. It has a silky texture and fruity aromas, complemented by a powerful mineral quality with white fruit and citrus notes. Cristal is a wine that keeps well: it can be aged for over twenty years without losing its freshness and character.

The 2006 Louis Roederer Cristal is a magnificent Champagne that embodies the epitome of elegance and sophistication. With a blend of fifty-five percent Pinot Noir and forty-five percent Chardonnay, this Champagne showcases the best of both varietals. The 2006 vintage is known for its precociousness, but in this Cristal, there is no sign of premature development. Instead, it offers a deep, youthful, and serious bouquet that captivates the senses.

Upon pouring, the Cristal reveals a pale yellow color with a refined effervescence that creates a beautiful mousse. The nose is enchanting, with notes of apple, delicate tangerine, brioche, fresh almond, and a touch of orange peel. The aroma is complemented by a classic limestone minerality and a floral topnote reminiscent of white lilies.

On the palate, the 2006 Cristal is deep, full-bodied, and complex. It displays impeccable balance, with a great core of fruit and laser-like focus. The refined mousse and crisp acidity enhance the overall structure of the wine, leading to a superb length and grip on the pure and primary finish. The barrel fermentation adds a hint of roundness to the wine, without overpowering its classically racy style.

Renowned wine critic John Gilman praised the 2006 Cristal, noting its deep, full-bodied nature, complex flavors, and superb balance. James Suckling was equally impressed, describing the Champagne as powerful, mouth-filling, and flavorsome, with a long, chalky bread, and biscuit finish.

The 2006 Louis Roederer Cristal is a wine that promises great things, even in its youth. It showcases a remarkable balance between ripe fruit and crisp acidity, making it suitable for both enjoyment as an apéritif and pairing with food. With apricot and grapefruit flavors, considerable minerality, and the potential to age gracefully, this Champagne is a true gem that will continue to evolve and delight for years to come.