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 Champagne blend consisting of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, produced in the Champagne region of France. This vintage is notable for having 20% of its vins clairs barrel fermented, contributing to its distinct character and complexity. The wine is sealed with a cork and has an alcohol content of 12.0%.

John Gilman, writing for View From The Cellar, awarded the 2006 Cristal a score of 95, describing it as "deep, youthful and very serious," with a bouquet featuring apple, tangerine, brioche, fresh almond, and limestone minerality. He noted the wine’s "laser-like focus" and "utterly refined mousse," predicting it will reach its peak earlier than the 2005 vintage but remains a "very beautiful bottle of Champagne."

James Suckling, also scoring it 95, highlighted the wine’s "deep maturing nose" and "long chalky finish." He described it as "big and powerful," with flavors of ripe pear, apricot, and red berries from the Pinot Noir, asserting it will drink well now or could be held for future enjoyment.

Robert Parker's Wine Advocate echoed similar sentiments, also giving it a score of 95. Stephan Reinhardt praised its "rich and ripe (tropical) fruit on the nose" and "very long and greatly finessed finish," emphasizing its generous yet fresh character.

Wine Spectator, awarding another 95 points, called it an "elegant version" with a "beautiful texture and sense of finesse," despite its underlying vibrant acidity and smoky minerality. The review mentioned flavors like blackberry, poached pear, and almond pastry.

Vinous provided one of the highest scores, 97, and described the 2006 Cristal as "rich, explosive," and "ample and full-bodied." The wine was noted for its density and character, with a dosage of 9 grams per liter, balancing its natural radiance and extroverted nature.

Wine Enthusiast also praised the wine with a 95-point score, noting its "impressive balance between ripe fruit and crisp acidity." The review highlighted its versatility as both a fine apéritif and food-friendly wine, with flavors of apricot and grapefruit.

Decanter, with another top score of 97, lauded the wine’s "colossal power" and "unmistakable Cristal essence" of peach, mango, and pineapple. The review compared it favorably to the 2002 vintage but with a clearer Pinot touch.

Jeff Leve from The Wine Cellar Insider scored it 93, pointing out its "brioche, citrus, and marzipan nose" and refined effervescence, though he found it "light from start to finish."

Wine & Spirits gave it a score of 92, emphasizing its "broad lemon custard flavors" and "robust structure," suggesting it needs several years to mature to fully release its mineral structure.

Overall, the 2006 Louis Roederer Cristal has received consistently high praise for its balance, complexity, and aging potential, making it a distinguished choice among Champagne connoisseurs.