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 2009 Louis Roederer Cristal is a Champagne blend that has garnered high praise from wine critics, reflecting its exceptional quality and elegance. Made from a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, with 16% of the wine vinified in oak casks, this vintage has been aged for six years and was disgorged in March 2016 with a dosage of eight grams per liter.

Antonio Galloni from Vinous awarded the wine a score of 97, describing it as a "wine of pure and total sensuality" with no hard edges, highlighting its impeccable balance and resonant personality. Galloni emphasizes that the 2009 is "one of the most forward, sensual Cristals in recent memory," making it nearly impossible to resist.

Stephan Reinhardt from Robert Parker's Wine Advocate also gave it high marks with a score of 95+, noting its blend of Grands Crus from various regions and its biodynamic farming practices. Reinhardt describes the wine as "full-bodied, round and rich on the palate," driven by its chalky terroir and salinity, with a finish that is "pure, clean, fresh, very complex and long yet delicate and endlessly salty."

Decanter also rated the 2009 Cristal highly at 97 points, praising its "translucent, shimmering gold" color and "beautiful scents of orange blossom" that merge with the chalky terroir. Decanter highlights the wine's "purity and sublime texture," crediting non-malolactic winemaking for its freshness and long, lingering finish.

Wine Enthusiast echoed this sentiment, giving the wine another 97 points and noting its "great depth and richness" as well as a "beautiful balance between ripe fruit and crisp texture." The review suggests that the wine will deepen and become even more intense as it matures, recommending to drink now or preferably wait until 2019.

James Suckling also praised the wine with a score of 96, describing its "wonderful maturing nose of beautifully ripe golden autumn fruits" and a "rich, mouth-filling and graceful" palate. Suckling highlights the wine’s "silky acidity and a long caressing finish."

Overall, the 2009 Louis Roederer Cristal is celebrated for its balance, elegance, and complexity. It is a wine that can be enjoyed now but promises further refinement with age.