not blind For a wine from this vintage in great shape. A lot of fine bubbles. Typical nougat note. Electrifying acidity. For a really big champagne could be more length and density. 94
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NYE 2019 with friends who brought this wine. This was the WOTN.
This is a wonderful expression of an aged LR Cristal. Warm and soft mouthfeel with absolutely resolved acidity which makes this wine so creamy. Paper and cardboard flavors mid palette with a finish of cedar wood and apricot nut. Simply delightful !
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Wine Workshop: An evening with Cristal (Atera - 77 Worth Street in NYC): Again a wine that's a bit more aged than some of the others. This was very similar to the color of the 85 rose. It's got lots of caramelized notes. Still a lot of acid and freshness. Touch oxidized but in that good way. In a nice spot.
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M+M's Housewarming Party (M+M. Robin Road): Mature and lovely. The nose had a lovely golden honeyed glow of fleshy stone fruit and the ripest apples lined with just the slightest hint of minerally aromas. The palate had a lovely grapey richness to it, almost like sultanas, along with poached pears and rhubarb, all glowing with a natural sweetness. The mousse had died down substantially, but a nice amount of citrusy acidity still carried the wine into a full, lip-smackingly satisfying finish, where savoury shades of white meat, spice and mineral bloomed amidst the fruit. For all that richness, this still had the transparent purity of a good Cristal. Very good indeed, and just at the right place for drinking - any longer and it may start to plateau and then fade.
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Wow. Big rich nose. Oyster shells, miso, toast, roasted nuts, roasted stone fruits. Aromas are airy and fresh despite their dark and tertiary qualities. Fresh and firm through the finish. Nice touches of spice at the end. Again, wow.
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Fantastic old Cristal still with good life in it. Drank with Wesley and Lindy served with live Maine Lobster and fresh Alaskan King Salmon. Burnt sugar, candied apricot and a very light hint of lemongrass on the nose. On the palate creme brulee, brown sugar and very creamy mousse that was very well integtrated with 45+ sec. long finish. Lindy said, " I feel a tingle in the back of my throat after first couple of sips." I think this bottle is drinking very well and was stored under optimal conditions.
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Not horrendously flawed but enough to ruin all the fun - it showed a musty, aged quality. Bottle had been well-stored since release, so I do not know what happened along the way.
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2010 Duck Dinner (Peter Pratt's Inn): What a way to kick off an event! Impressive depth. Lovely toast and nutty notes, fine bubbles, just really enjoyable to drink.
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A decadent 30th birthday for Justin Wells (Sammamish, WA): Mmm, a nice nose of brioche with that mature, doughy note that Chardonnay shows. Later Justin mentioned "white chocolate" and I totally agree. This spreads out gorgeously on the palate and finishes with an amazing note of chalk. Then about 60 seconds later your mouth explodes with a mouthwatering burst of Jolly Rancher green apple candy as the acid seems to kick back in. Really creamy and perfectly ready on the mid-palate. This drank especially well with a burger on brioche, working nicely with the fat in the burger and picking up on the toasted brioche flavors in the bun. A gorgeous way to start a great evening.
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The Brothers Hersh tempt me with Burgundy... (Seattle, WA): This was crazily fresh for a 1986. The nose wasn't terribly special, just some light yeastiness. The palate was lovely though with very fine mousse, ethereally light, dancing on the tongue, fresh and very delicate. Clean, citrusy flavors. The finish tailed off with an intriguing note of bitterness, like a hint of lemon pith.
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Nose of brioche, yeast, lots of tiny bubbles, very tasty, creamy, good acid, great complex fruit, hint of sweetness, opened nicely and improved throughout the evening, long, long, long finish.
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1/20/2023 - aquacongas wrote: 94 Points
blind
The typical scent for an aged Cristal. For this weak vintage a great stored bottle. At his peak. 94
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2/9/2022 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 94 Points
not blind
For a wine from this vintage in great shape. A lot of fine bubbles. Typical nougat note. Electrifying acidity. For a really big champagne could be more length and density. 94
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1/1/2019 - tomoem wrote: 96 Points
NYE 2019 with friends who brought this wine. This was the WOTN.
This is a wonderful expression of an aged LR Cristal. Warm and soft mouthfeel with absolutely resolved acidity which makes this wine so creamy. Paper and cardboard flavors mid palette with a finish of cedar wood and apricot nut. Simply delightful !
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12/4/2018 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Wine Workshop: An evening with Cristal (Atera - 77 Worth Street in NYC): Again a wine that's a bit more aged than some of the others. This was very similar to the color of the 85 rose. It's got lots of caramelized notes. Still a lot of acid and freshness. Touch oxidized but in that good way. In a nice spot.
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10/27/2017 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
M+M's Housewarming Party (M+M. Robin Road): Mature and lovely. The nose had a lovely golden honeyed glow of fleshy stone fruit and the ripest apples lined with just the slightest hint of minerally aromas. The palate had a lovely grapey richness to it, almost like sultanas, along with poached pears and rhubarb, all glowing with a natural sweetness. The mousse had died down substantially, but a nice amount of citrusy acidity still carried the wine into a full, lip-smackingly satisfying finish, where savoury shades of white meat, spice and mineral bloomed amidst the fruit. For all that richness, this still had the transparent purity of a good Cristal. Very good indeed, and just at the right place for drinking - any longer and it may start to plateau and then fade.
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9/4/2017 - viniferatu Likes this wine:
Wow. Big rich nose. Oyster shells, miso, toast, roasted nuts, roasted stone fruits. Aromas are airy and fresh despite their dark and tertiary qualities. Fresh and firm through the finish. Nice touches of spice at the end. Again, wow.
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5/21/2016 - Corgi wrote: 94 Points
Dried apricots. Rich, nougats...
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4/29/2014 - AirborneRegnar wrote: flawed
Doa
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12/1/2012 - AirborneRegnar Likes this wine: 94 Points
Fantastic old Cristal still with good life in it. Drank with Wesley and Lindy served with live Maine Lobster and fresh Alaskan King Salmon. Burnt sugar, candied apricot and a very light hint of lemongrass on the nose. On the palate creme brulee, brown sugar and very creamy mousse that was very well integtrated with 45+ sec. long finish. Lindy said, " I feel a tingle in the back of my throat after first couple of sips." I think this bottle is drinking very well and was stored under optimal conditions.
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4/11/2011 - lepetitchateau wrote: flawed
Not horrendously flawed but enough to ruin all the fun - it showed a musty, aged quality. Bottle had been well-stored since release, so I do not know what happened along the way.
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11/11/2010 - Vinomarcus wrote: 91 Points
2010 Duck Dinner (Peter Pratt's Inn): What a way to kick off an event! Impressive depth. Lovely toast and nutty notes, fine bubbles, just really enjoyable to drink.
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11/21/2007 - Eric wrote:
A decadent 30th birthday for Justin Wells (Sammamish, WA): Mmm, a nice nose of brioche with that mature, doughy note that Chardonnay shows. Later Justin mentioned "white chocolate" and I totally agree. This spreads out gorgeously on the palate and finishes with an amazing note of chalk. Then about 60 seconds later your mouth explodes with a mouthwatering burst of Jolly Rancher green apple candy as the acid seems to kick back in. Really creamy and perfectly ready on the mid-palate. This drank especially well with a burger on brioche, working nicely with the fat in the burger and picking up on the toasted brioche flavors in the bun. A gorgeous way to start a great evening.
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11/25/2005 - Eric wrote: 91 Points
The Brothers Hersh tempt me with Burgundy... (Seattle, WA): This was crazily fresh for a 1986. The nose wasn't terribly special, just some light yeastiness. The palate was lovely though with very fine mousse, ethereally light, dancing on the tongue, fresh and very delicate. Clean, citrusy flavors. The finish tailed off with an intriguing note of bitterness, like a hint of lemon pith.
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12/1/1994 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of brioche, yeast, lots of tiny bubbles, very tasty, creamy, good acid, great complex fruit, hint of sweetness, opened nicely and improved throughout the evening, long, long, long finish.
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