Pronounced nose intensity with notes of toast, lemon, chalk, mineral, lemon, red apple. My third tasting with the last in 2021. From my scores, it seem like 2006 is more ready to drink now.
The color of this Champagne is medium golden. On the nose there are extremely pronounced aromas of red apple, lemon zest, honey, almond, bread dough. The acidity is high. The body is medium. The flavors on the palate are similar to the nose with the same fantastic intensity. The finish is never ending. Just great!!! The first sip was surprisingly unbalanced. But with some air the Champagne opened. Love this Champagne! Glass I used: Josephine No 2. I compared this glass with Riedel Veritas Champagne. From the the Josephine No 2 the acidity was much better integrated.
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Not what Expected. A bit weightier than the Crystals i love. Too much honey and bruised green apple. Wanted more acidity and lightness;. Have more bottles and hoping this is going thru a phase. Nothing like the 08 and 12.
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Cristal Night; 9/6/2023-9/8/2023: I opened an absolutely glorious magnum of this earlier in the summer, and since then three 750mls have all shown a bit fat and custard creamy. A champagne for sweet pastry lovers! (alas, not me)
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I liked this but did not love it. Seemed to lack crispness and focus. Rich fruit, almost honeyed, with bruised apple. If the acidity perks up, this could be great. Others liked this more than I did.
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Half Century Magnum Lunch (La Trompette) (London): From Magnum. Initially found it to have a sweet core and a light fresh profile. Some creamy aromatics. Perhaps slightly different and fresher from magnum and still think it will improve for age as it gains depth. Interesting my last note from bottle said it was more of a broad bruiser which will settle. Score remains the same and was eclipsed by the 04 Comtes and Rare 98 mags alongside. A lovely opener to the day though.
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Magnum Mike's Half Century Blow Out (La Trompette): A very generous start to proceedings. Very engaging nose. On the palate - a bit broader shouldered than previous Cristals I've tasted, some depth and almost sweetness.
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Pale, youthful. On the attack, a bit soft/creamy and a hint of sugar but then quite austere on the mid palate. Needs more time although relaxes somewhat with air. Last sip the best!
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Magnum Mike's Magnificent Half Century (La Trompette): Magnum. Obvious class on the nose, which was silky and sensual with musk and a touch of cream, and towards the end of the glass some green grass and even some biltong. Wasn't quite as exciting on the palate, which had tasty notes of creme pat and orange juice but could have benefited from a little more cut. Still a wonderful start to proceedings, though!
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From Magnum, this was drinking beautifully. Rich and powerful, creamy and layered. There’s some toasty development and plenty of bready/yeasty things. It has some preserved citrus and red fruits too. Bead is miniscule and finish seriously chalky.
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Brought this bottle along and opened it to christen our first night in our new beachhouse. Last had this wine almost 2 yrs prior. It was stunning and electrifying tonight, showing aromas of hazelnuts, patisserie, citrus, and chalky minerals. Laserlike cut, superbly refreshing and long on the finish. Drink through 2028 or so, just lovely.
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Olive Garden Party (Cristal vertical) (Chicago, IL): Very rich and ripe, and quite large-scaled again with respect to the fruit here. Feels a little old-school in style, with a sweeter complexion. However, the acidity doesn't feel as prominent and you get some nascent brioche/autolytic character as well. Red delicious apples figure prominently here, and the fruit profile is distinctly darker than the younger wines. The texture, with a slightly coarser mousse, is spot on though, and I quite enjoy this for that texture.
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Good intensity and acidity especially for this generally disappointing vintage in Champagne (except Taittinger Comte). The fruit is a bit subdued but the wine is very fine and I would drink it soon before the fruit fades even further.
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From a 1500. So delicious, long and dense. The epitome of balance. Peach and lemon, tropical fruit, nice cut. More complex than my words can convey. A wonderful wine on a wonderful evening.
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In a country where fine wine does not exist coming across this on our last night was a blessing or the cherry on top of our India trip cake. We took the chance as the bottle looked good albeit probably kept in a too humid wine fridge. Healthy wine and only the spirits in the sky know how this bottle ended up here. I think this TN is more a tale of the unexpected than a note about the wine itself which was indeed healthy, fine and elegant. Felt evolved but not sure if that’s the wine or the impact of being in India , round and lush and every bit as great as expected. That been said after 2 weeks of poor wine experiences our palate has been compromised!
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Boxing day wines at Empire: This was rather tight at first but opened up beautifully to show the typical Cristal citrus fruit. I usually find Cristal too austere for my liking but this was magnificent, think my palate leans towards Cristal in warmer vintages. Label looked like it had an older font so probably an original disgorgement?
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Excellent (though not my style). Characteristic notes of brown sugar, crème brûlée, hazelnut, citrus. Very persistent flavors, minerality, with fresh acidity balancing high residual sugar. Very delicate mousse. Ready to drink or hold. Note. Horizontal of 2004, 2006, 2009. 2006 showed most complexity and balance.
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Dinner at Pelagos, Astir Palace, Athens (Pelagos, Astir Palace, Athens): Tasted blind and we went with a lot older, frankly we thought this was poor Dom Perignon 1996. Even more interesting is the fact that we tried this 6 months ago ( Papies 97) and was a lot more bright and energetic. This was more evolved , more oxidised and in a way not representative of the wine with hindsight. On the day this was a 92-93 , well enjoyable but not the wine we know it to be so pointless to rate.
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To quote the boss “ there is very little more I could ask of a wine so maybe 98? “ and she is a tough critic of wines . Round rich and full but also superbly elegant and a classic act at age 15 and with another 15 years easily in the tank . The boss has spoken but we agreed at 96-98 so 97 and could well be higher as it ages.
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Another lost Friday afternoon gathering - mostly French (Jailbreak Brewery, Laurel, MD): Perfectly mature nose displaying sweet yellow fruit, baked apple, yellow peach, caramel, sap, brioche, white pepper and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of sweet yellow fruit, medium generous fine mousse, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long sweet yellow fruit driven finish with honey and limestone at the end. This is deep and concentrated, clearly displaying the 06 vintage character. Drinking beautifully.
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Epic Bordeaux for an Epic Birthday!; 9/1/2021-9/12/2021 (Paris & Bordeaux): A few more years and this champagne is softening into itself plus who doesn't like champagne? I am appreciating the Cristal style a lot on this trip. This is like orange blossom and a bit rounder of a mouthful while still being very fresh.
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Well, I expect more... but time will tell. light yellow On the nose: sweat, citrus and pear. On the palate: Red apples, minerals with a very integrated acid. Long finish
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1st of 5 bottles. Wife gave me this bottle 6 yrs ago for my bday. Lovely bottle of Champagne, showing notes of citrus, seashell, chalky minerals, bread yeast, patisserie, and sage. Crazy long finish, laser-like acidity, just cuts to the core of my palate like a beautifully sharpened knife. Lingers with citrus, creme brulee, salinity. Lovely, drink through 2031+.
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Cristal and Fontodi Flaccianello plus Riverain and Schrader (served blind) (Foretti's in Corona Del Mar): This is good, but it's not in the same class when measured alongside the 2008 and 2009 in the flight we did last night. The 2006 shows some sea air, white pepper and a dried herb aroma. It's got a roundness, a plump quality with a distinct pineapple fruit. Finishes withy dried lime, citrus peel and a touch syrupy in the finish.
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aroma was reserved at the beginning. but started coming out smelling of white flower, pear, yeast after aeration. Good acidity, very fresh and energetic.
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A special bottle for Easter Day. Very fine, and one can sense the power. There's a touch of toast. But right now, less impressive than the previous day's flamboyant Comtes.
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Sunday hangout (socially distanced) (Chicago, IL): From magnum. I liked this much more than the 2006 Blanc de Millénaires alongside. This had many similar characteristics -- a sappy, sweetness to the fruit which was also less creamy and autolytic than the Heidsieck (although still quite so) -- but the most distinguishing difference is the vein of acidity underpinning this wine, which gives this more freshness and drinkability.
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Pronounced nose intensity of bread, biscuit, yeast, high acidity. Very enjoyable to drink this now. The acidity is lower than 2012 Cristal vintage and its in it optimum drinking window.
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En Magnum, this wine had fine bubbles and a light color. I do not have complete notes on this one but it was clearly young and rather tight.
This Champagne was quintessentially Cristal in that it was light bodied, crisp, and yet had that beautiful balance that is hard to describe. The wine starts out crisp, shows some richness in the mid-palate, and finishes with minerals. Thus, the overall sense is of lightness and ethereal flavors.
This will benefit from 5-10 years in the cellar. I would guess 1-2 points of upside with age.
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Tasted four 2006s (Cristal, BS Nicolas Francois, Dom Perignon, Comtes de Champagne - in that ranking order); common for all is a light whitish color, freshness, crispness and citrus; Cristal "the winner" with fresh light mellow citrus, intense and fiery; long aftertaste with some vanilla; really good
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Nice but not great. Fine bubbles, nice acidity and freshness, aromas of brioche, butter, with a creamy texture. Quite dense and complex. Not oustanding but very nice though. Just not an amazing QPR but a very decent champagne.
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My best bottle of this so far. Lots of mousse and intense bubbles. Dark lemon. developed nose. Lovely apples which made us think chardonnay based, but its actually 55% pinot. Quite a substantial wine indeed, and I thought oxidative in style like a Selosse. Great champagne. From Gim
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Tung's Birthday (Monkey Year Wines) (Aoki Restaurant, Shaw House, Singapore): Fresh and lovely - this was a great way to start lunch. I really liked the nose, with its gentle wafts brioche wafting around a lifted core of green apples and lemon zest. Really alluring. The palate was absolutely lovely - clean, defined, precise, with a lovely structure of fine acidity and stony mineral running through pure flavours of fleshy white fruit laced with a sprinkle of lemon zest. Powerful and intense, yet so pure and effortless, this was a lovely wine just starting to come into its own.
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This is a heavier champagne due to lower carbonation and strong honey notes - although could have been the individual bottle. It was tasty but did not offer expected complexity.
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Wow what a wine! Its been long since we tasted a Cristal. The 2006 should be ripe I was told. Its sheer grace but atually not heavy which I like. Its still very young and need a least five more years to really shine. I need another bottle in my cellar!
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didn’t see the vintage before I tried it. Very forward and fruit laden. Lots of ripe pear and lemon tart creme. Got lots of primary stuffing. Wish it had more acidity though.
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Starting the spring on the sunny terrace with a great sparkler, lots of fine bubbles, very finesse like showing right from the start, some tropical fruit like apricot, but more aromas of creamy brown butter, warm bread, almonds and more nuts, caramel, very intense but very elegant flow beautifully balanced on the midpalate, lingering finish, enjoyed over the whole afternoon, does not change at all in the glass, so I guess this vintage will mature well over the next decade(+), ***(*-*****), around 92-94(+)
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Medium gold color. Fine bubbles that vanished in the glass a bit too quickly for my liking. Apple juice on the first nose but went away in a few minutes. Coffee, honey and nougat. Pleasant nuttiness on the finish. Very dry. Not much fruit here... I suspect a bit a oxydation. Quite good nonetheless.
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A light-to-medium golden blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, the 2006 Cristal (sampled from a well-cellared bottle) sports a very active tiny bead. Highly aromatic and flavorful, it is a medium-bodied, vibrant sparkler that is effusive of stone fruits, pears, lemon zest, bread dough, coriander and marzipan. The tactile creaminess of the mousse is beautifully balanced by the wine's acidity, an interesting tug-of-war that is pervasive from attack through lengthy finish. This is at an early stage in its drinking window. Assuming proper cellaring, it should age gracefully throughout the next decade. Drink now-2030.
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Darker color, slight oxidation here, older, walnuts, guessed a rich champagne blend, really long finish. This is showing much older than it should (storage problem?) but still very enjoyable. Capital Seafood for DD.
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Very young, took 2 hours to open. Should be left in the cellar for another 10 years, however, very interesting wine. Low to no bubbles. Very vinous. Orange peel, flowery, bruised apples. Very intense, stands up to brie with truffles, great with smoked salmon.
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This must have been a weak bottle. A disturbing cardboard tone on the nose. Packed with fruit and still enjoyable but not on a prestige champagne level.
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Had this at breakfast at Garret in Estoril Portugal. Incredibly mature now, great creamy full mouth feel with apricot and other tropical fruits, brioche and just all around well rounded and drinking exceptionally.
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Nose showed slightly better than the palate, but overall lack of complexity - felt the ripeness and sweetness on the palate, but not layered even with more air. Read many reviews from critics and they all rated Cristal’s 2006 vintage quite positively, I wonder if the wine was kind of close down that night.
To me Cristal is more a “festive” wine due to its appearance, but rather expensive for the quality and lack of complexity.
2006 vintage is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from grand cru vineyards across the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs, the wine is matured in the cellars for five years before disgorgement.
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First experience with Cristal. Lots of citrus, and lemon flavors on the deep and complex nose with a hint of candied apple and slightly oxidative notes. Meyer lemon flavors on the palate with tiny bubbles, herbs, and creamy texture. Good finish.
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Excellent! Still young, it needs a bit of time to fully open up, but this bottle is a beauty. White flowers, Meyers lemon, French brioche, custard, hints of minerality. Plenty of refreshing acidity here, creamy and very refined mousse, mouth-filling, and rich. Extremely long. A bit higher dosage than currently in fashion.
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Still very young but acidity is wonderfully in balance. Light gold, has energy, you want to drink this! Beautiful fine bubbles, delicate nose of golden apple, lemon, brioche but ultimate freshness. Lovely now but should get a lot more interesting in a few years time and merit an even higher score! Thank you Martin!
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2006 LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL- 55% Pinot Noir. 45% Chardonnay; dosage near 9 gpl; with a proper chill, it had a yellow gold colour, was mellow and perhaps a bit tight and therefore understated at first, but in time, it had inviting aromas and distinct spicy and mineral laced pear, lemon and lime notes; to help out, there were accents of toast, ginger and smoke; an underlying vein of vibrant acidity prevailed throughout; with even more time, it expanded and all the nuances were even greater expressed; even then, it did not have the bigness and richness of the 09`; I liked it for that unexpected degree of elegance; make no mistake, this has a lot going for it, is still very youthful and requires many years before reaching maturity; I think we were just teased for where this will land later on.
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NDG 2002 Clos de Vougeot Dinner (Summer Pavilion, Ritz Carlton, Singapore): En Magnum - this was very different from the 2002 Paillard NPU we had together, gentler, more elegant, but equally impressive in its own way. There was a lovely nose here as well - cream, white flowers, white fruit and gentle chalky, stony mineral notes. Lovely stuff. The palate was a lot more youthful and tighter than the nose would lead one to expect, with tons of bright, juicy, mouthwatering acidity and a fine but vigorous mousse draped around a core of pure, slightly sweet white fruit laced with sour lemons, flowers and and then a nice, long mineral finish. Still a baby, but this should age really nicely.
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There is something about Cristal 2006. It is chisled marble flecked with gold, with a little white peach. It IS pure. I have drunk 2009, 2011 Rosé, 2008 BdB, and plenty of NV from the Roederer stable lately, they are all plush and inviting, and super delicious in their own ways. This Cristal stands alone as a chisled stone sentinel, a haunting stone sentinel.
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Pre-Christmas Sunday Lunch Gathering of Friends (Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Light hay gold. Muted nose trending to the brioche end of the spectrum, saline and ozone. Palate is refreshingly briny sea breeze, crushed oyster shells, minerals on the flinty side. Really zippy and refreshing. Young but gorgeously refreshing and will put on weight with 3-5 years’ age. Has come on a lot since I last drank it two years ago. 92 for now.
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Nicht mein Lieblingsjahrgang, aber neben dem DP einer der besten Vertreter seiner Zunft. Untypische Austernnote. Dazu Marille und Mandarine. Fehlt Länge und Tiefe zu diesem Zeitpunkt. 93+
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Strålende lunsj på Il Centro Priocca * I dag. Dagens valg falt på Louis Roederer Cristal 2006. Tilnærmet null utvikling. Likevel åpenbarer det seg muligens den reneste vinen som er å oppdrive i glasset foran meg. Fantastisk delikat mousse. En vektløs intensitet som man kun finner i de beste fra Burgund. “Som et silkeslør i vinden” skyter fruen inn - 100% enig der. Et pirrende og balansert syrespill. Dette er en uendelig vakker og elegant vin - en sann ballerina. Snerten meget lang finish som brer seg ut dansende på tåspissene. Skulle gjerne drukket dette hver dag... Fersk stjernevin som gir masse glede nå hvis du bruker litt tid på den. Vil bygge seg opp og levere store opplevelser i fremtiden. 94-95p for denne gang.
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Dinner at Brian's (Moonbeam View): Lovely stuff. The nose was very much in line with what I have come to expect from a modern Cristal - expressive and attractive, with aromas of sweet cream, nuts and yeast alongside sweet ripe fruit and a lick of florals. All very pretty. It was obviously youthful on the palate, very juicy and cirtrussy, with a finely vigorous mousse and a great sense of tension and purity running through its core of apples and mineral, all this laced with plenty of lemony freshnnes as the wine glided into a nutty finish. Already showing a nice complexity and poise, but this obviously needs many years yet before hitting peak. A really nince wine though!
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Deep golden color. A little musty on the front. Classic Champagne character with toasted almonds, baked bread and honey. Plenty of minerality and acid. Young but great.
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Never had Cristal before and in classic offline style that seems to happen around here when everyone gets feeling pretty good, an impulse decision is made and the cork is pulled. For this night, it was this bottle. About 10 of us drank the wine and I sat with mine in a large burg stem and let it open up. Once most of the gas had bubbled out, I was left with what was a terrific still wine. Just complex, citrusy and very complete tasting. The serving them of this was a little warm and aside from the air I gave to my glass, this drank without any flaws to me. I know this is expensive, it drinks like a finely crafted wine, for sure.
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Paul and Ashley's Champagne Party (Paul and Ashely's House): I really liked this wine but it divided the group. If you like grower champagne then this is for you. Like a fully rounded out champer with a higher dosage then probably not. I really like it. Extremely acid driven from start to finish, aggressive and unrelently. Pungent lemon, tart lime, and strong peel notes. Angular came to mind as I was swirling it around in my puckered mouth.
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I have to say this is exceedingly good. This is chiseled and focused. Everything is in place and in perfect pitch. The fruit is whitish, clean, and pure. I detect a laser beam of mineral and a neat trace of earth, riding the laser beam. It is young, but opens up with every sip. I wish the bottle was a magnum, so I would have had more time to let it unfold. As it was, I was way too selfish to let it sit around and open up more. Awesome. I must add that I am on a really good hot streak with Roederer this last week. 2009 Rose, and BdB yesterday were superb as well. Can't wait to try the Cristal in the 2009 version.
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2016 Annual K&L Tasting (K&L San Francisco Store): K&L Champagne Event, poured from a magnum, nose of lemon, apple, pear, great mousse, tiny bubbles, floral nose, same on the palate, big body, tremendous Champagne, needs 5 years to peak, should open up over time and reward patience, crisp, good acid, my WOTT, long, flavorful finish. My 70th birthday week and tasted 3 times-I am worth it!!!!!!!!!!
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K&L Champagne Tent Tasting (K&L, San Francisco): En magnum. Elegant nose, well put together, pear, Apple; palate again has wonderful mousse, great pear and apple fruit, elegant, well knit together, light bodied but has depth; long finish. Superb. 93-95+
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Youthful but glorious. It had super fine aromas and flavours of white peach, aniseed and bread. Bead is tiny and it is creamy and direct in the mouth. It finishes dry and shows outstanding persistence.
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...sometimes things live up to their type. Wouldn't say that is a value wine by any means...but it has it all: complexity, energy, balance and infinte class. Delicious!
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Not big and showy, very delicate nose. So taut and highly strung at the moment. Very much lemon and green apple at the moment with hints of the future peeking thorugh with some toast and brioche. It has a backbone and a long long future and the score will increase...
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Chalk, minerals, and citrus on the nose. Intense chalk and piercing acid on the palate. High toned, vibrant, and youthful. Time should serve it very well. Delicious! 94-95.
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From the fridge, and on immediate opening it stank of biscuits and butter. 15 mins later, more brioche, cream and almonds. 15 mins later again the sweetness and crushed lemons came out. Multi faceted, multi dimensional and a bit like going on a magical mystery tour with several stops of discovery. Young , yet almost wise and mature at the same time. Outstanding
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Lemon, apples, smooth fizz. Maybe with some time in glass this did show a little weight, a bit of yeasty/caramel but for me this was pure white fruit led. At first impression I associated it with a "fizzy premier cru chablis" and slowly moved down the country until I arrived at St Veran after two hours. Nice but not complex or interesting and where were the pinots?
I probably don't deserve wines like this if this is the best I can do.
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10th Anniversary wine in Santorini. Between my limited knowledge of Champagne and the price tag, expecting a low QPR-type experience. In fact, a very fine experience. Nice nose of white flowers, orchid, orange peel and walnut. In the mouth, smooth and creamy but not heavy, maintaining a nice citrus, floral character and persistent finish. Rich and elegant, the latter which I was not expecting, especially at this primary stage. Look forward to seeing its complexity evolve over another 10 years. Substance is all there to reward cellaring. Will pick up another bottle and see...
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Just much too young and so not totally worth the extra mark-up at this point (especially in a restaurant setting), but I do love how very soft and smooth this is. Enjoyable with sashimi appetizer.
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Notes of apple, florals, almond and dough with a muddled, dirty overtone. Fine bead with flavors of apple, dough and vanilla cream with a lemon/lime citrusy component in the finish.
I've got limited experience with Cristal, having tasted it only half a dozen times or so, but I've yet to be impressed. Give me any other tete du cuvee.
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Opened by Allred at Anvil. Muddled nose of clay and dough. Palate had a hit of lymon and green apple. Palate was much better than the nose, or this would have perhaps scored a few points higher.
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Served chilled from magnum. Good to go now. Nose of sliced apple and pear. Ideal food champagne with bracing minerality, earthiness and full body. If a date, this was a 25 year old beauty pageant contestant dressed to impressed and impress she does, until dawn.
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I realized again that I find it harder to say why I like certain champagnes better than other (as compared to red wine or even white). Clear indication is how eager I am to pour myself more. Clearly a noble one with lovely length and nothing distracting from A to Z. Maybe a bit young, still.
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"Good not great" kind of champagne for my taste; fairly lactic and brioche which I'm personally not wild about though the quality is there. Some nice citrus top notes, fine mousse.
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Drank for wife's birthday. So soft. Such fine bubbles. Toasted cereals. Some wood, slightly musty. A very nice champagne. The delicacy of the bubbles was a delight
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Scent: Deep and complex aromas of apple, plum, lemon, caramel and a bit of bread.
Taste: apple, plum, lemon, caramel, tons of bread and even a hint of chocolate in the background.
Comment: My personal favorite of all champagnes. Louis Roederer surpasses once again themselves. Will be interesting to see if 07 can reach the same quality.
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thoroughly enjoyed it, it is full flavor but light great bubble structure, no real fruit nose, but great with russian caviar, Just could not keep my hands off even though it should lay around for a nother couple years. We had a taste test with a 94 DOM. Cristal was superior, but not a good test, the Dom cork did not expand after opening. just can't buy Dom at Costco,
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At first very effervescent, but settles to an incredibly fine mouse. Yeasty but delicate nose. On the palate quite dry almost austere, wonderful lemon and citrus notes, pure and clean but not awfully long. Good stuff and not above the ordinary
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The sheer quality of this stuff shines through, within seconds from popping the cork the nose changes from " quiet" to very loud. Fresh peaches, toast and biscuits. I am a fan of this style so appreciate it is not to everyones taste, i think it will get better and better up to 2020. Probably drank it too soon and should have waited for the wine to warm up a bit. 28 of us gave it an average of 9/10
Opened to ring in the New Year. I now understand the love of this wine. This is definitely as good as it gets. Amazing structure and lingering pineapple, quince, and apple. Many, many years left to enjoy. Seldom, is there anything this expensive, that is actually worth it, this is.
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Popped and poured on New Year’s Eve. No formal notes (or score), but this is very good. Nice nose, effervescence, flavor, and finish. Is it a bit overpriced for the quality? Perhaps. But who cares about that when the point is a nice celebratory Champs? On that front, the Cristal delivered in spades.
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Beautiful marzipan and bread yeast notes on the nose and also some aged cheese. I think a bit young yet - rather zippy bubbles. Still, got some backbone to it. Would have liked to have had it with dinner but I suspect it is a little light for that. Part of a mostly American food and wine night so we probably did not give this bottle its due.
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A whoppingly expensive 96/100 (4.4/5.0) from me. It's a fine champagne, with a rich colour, yeasty nose, and big quality beads and finish. In fact, it is the nicest champagne I have recently had. But at $450 in a Sydney restaurant, it just wasn't that good for that price. I'm therefore deducting 20% and dropping this to a 94 and 4.0 for being hugely over priced.
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Ya know, I was expecting more. Finally got around to trying this stuff and it was just....boring. The nose was kind of off-putting. Straw but also rubber and old socks. The bubbles are a bit over the top - kind of TOO fizzy, having a bit of a spaz attack. Palate was really simple. Mineral, anise, maybe banana. But despite the overly vigorous bubbles, it just fell flat with me (see what I did there??). Boring. Short finish. Drinkable for sure, but nowhere near worth the cost.
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Wine Gang 'Ultimate Champagne' (Basement, 67 Pall Mall): A rather cheesy nose.cleaner on the palate. Dosage quite evident. Just feels uncharacteristically clumsy for Cristal. Does seem to pull together with air, but... ****
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Have been drinking this a glass a time over 6 days. Champagne stopper/fridge. On the 6th day it is perhaps even better than the first 3!!. Has mellowed its high acid tone entry and now the great breadth of the fruit in the middle palate fans out for a great champagne experience. Apple, a little cumquat, just great.
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Tight out of the blocks as expected, but this quickly showed its brilliance. Very fresh, lively acidity and stunning fruit extract. Pure, with a great mix of elegance and power. Very well put together and complex. Prefer this over the 2002. Easy 95+
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Greg's Birthday Dinner (Otto e Mezzo, Alexandra House, Central, Hong Kong): Silvery gold. Muted, very muted nose: quite metallic, not much complexity and very closed. Palate is very roasted but highly acidic. Not particularly enjoyable, which is a big contrast to when I drank it a year ago and found it very more-ish. Maybe just too young and in a sullen patch.....but definitely not worth restaurant asking prices.
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Light yellow hue with tiny bubbles in the flute, the Cristal 2006 is terribly inviting with notes of pear, pineapple, tropical fruit and creme patissiere. The texture on the palate is round and soft, creamy and caressing feel of marzipan, poire belle helene and creme brulee. The finish is long with an after taste you want to keep forever.
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Still painfully young. It showed a dry, beautiful and elegant palate with peaches, apricots, grapefruit, brioche, floral, flint and citrus notes. The texture was sublime and extremely smooth. The finish was pretty lasting with a taut line of acidity. Lots of potential but I found it slightly thin for a champagne of this caliber and unexceptional at this stage. One for cellaring.
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So elegant and subtle, touch of spice, spring flowers, stone fruit Mineral, restrain, elegant, nutty, such depth of aromas in very shy way, but so royal at the same time
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en ganska blyg näsa på detta vin, lätt spritsig och ung doft med kola päron, piggelin och krut. Smaken är ganska lätt, krutig, gröna äpplen, och röda äppelskal. Lite gummi. På tok för ungt och behöver nog rejält med tid för att visa upp sig ordentligt 95> för dagens provning med potential att växa yttligare.
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Känns väldigt slutet både i doften och smaken. I doften päron, citrus, aningen honung, gummi, stendamm och annan mineral. I smaken rätt mycket tyngd och djup med massor av kalkig mineral, röda äpplen, grape, citrus och även här aningen honung. Kommer säkert att bli riktigt bra med tiden men visar sig just nu inte från sin bästa sida.
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Nose is a bit shy, showing rubber, white flowers, touch of gunpowder, lemon drops, pear and sweet exotic ripe fruits. Palate is young and undeveloped, not very expressive at this stage, showing chalky minerals, clean fruit (mainly red apples with some lemons and grapefruit), medium+ acidity, with a fine elegance. Still a baby that needs another minimum 5 years to put on some flesh before fully ready to enjoy. (92 – 95)
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light yellow On the nose, sweat, pear icecream, (piggelin), pear and rubber. On the palate, red apples, gun powder with a very integrated acid. medium + finish
A wine that I expect much more from. But it is still in its youth and need to lay down for at least 10 years. Will grow during that time to something more interesting. Do not touch for many years.
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Very pale, usual active mousse. Delicate, bright, refreshing. A bit of complexity on the citrus flavors. Aperitif style. Dry for Cristal. Very nice but does not scream luxury champagne, needs to fill out.
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I've said it before, and will say it again. This is a solid champagne, but uninspiring, and better champagnes are out there at more modest prices. Had the 2004 comtes along side with it an this was totally out shined by the comtes.
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Birthday Dinner 2015 (Mitzo): Wonderful. Roederer has been hitting the ball out of the park with the last few vintages of Cristal, and this was another fine example. It had such a nice nose – very appley, but also enlivened by fresh, cirtusy lemon scents, and accompanied by some yeast, a little cream and sweet floral hints. A really pretty bouquet. The palate was absolutely lovely too. It had the typically clean, refined feel of a young Cristal, with a lovely creamy mousse and gently refreshing acidity forming a velvety robe around pure, sweetly fruited flavours of green strawberries and powdery red apple flesh, all infused with a gentle flush of warm spice through into a long, elegant finish. This was so beautifully integrated that it was delicious even in its youth, but it certainly has the balance and depth to age wonderfully for a long time to come. Beautiful stuff – this was really enjoyable. 55% Pinot Noir / 45% Chardonnay
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Certainly not the most refined Cristal, this is still a very good wine. Nose of lemon peel, apple, light hay smoke, and wet rocks. Relatively smooth in the mouth despite youthful acid and citrus.
Has had this on several occations, and my conclusion each time has been: put away for a decade and drink the regular Roederer vintage instead as it is just a better drink right now. The quality of the mousse however is just world class, smooth, precise and seem to just disappear in the mouth.
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Pretty, layered bouquet and palate of sweet and tart apples, limestone, brioche - layered like those layered pudding/gelatin cup desserts, with the brioche at the bottom of the cup. Depth, then, and finesse. Much more delicate than I expected. From ~18USD glass on second day (courtesy of in-store promotion)!
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A very impressive Cristal vintage and a wonderful example that some champagnes can be absolutely delicious, even without much maturity. I have always considered Cristal to taste a bit more exotic than other champagnes, and that is a great feature.
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Light yellow, pale in colour. Sadly, i cannot help but being disappointed with this showing. Yes, it is too young, and yes it will improve, but i did expect more from it already at this stage. the best glass was the last, and 3 hours after popping the cork and with 20 minutes in the glass to warm up, the nose becomes fragrant with lime, lemon, granny smith apple, pastry dough, and a good yeasty element ,although still very restrained. Palate is light, more lime and pastry, ending with a crisp and mineral cut. Does not feel or taste like 60% pinot noir in this blend, it could have persuaded me to be a BdB! if i had more, i would wait another 5 years hoping it will fundamentally change, the showing tonigh was not worthy of the name or the pricetag
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Christmas Champagne Tastings 2014: Tasted alongside the Dom 2004. This was clearly superior. Very charming nose full of apples, biscuits and some christmas spices. If there is any negative thing to say, then it is that the wine might be a bit too polished and sweet (high dosage?), but I would happily have emptied the bottle myself.
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Charming wine from beginning to end. Brilliance with depth, creamy yet lively, complex but still showing great freshness. This will certainly gain more complexity with age, but it is very clean, elegant and enjoyable now.
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Champagne - 100 Vintage and NV Champagne; 12/15/2015-12/15/2020: During a vintage Champagne tasting at a Merchant. Nose of apple, mint, some yeast, mineral. Nice and subtle, also on the perlage. This is good but could not reach the best bottles of today.
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Bubble Bash 2014 (Pier A Harbor House): Such an elegant champagne. Pours a pale golden straw color with very thick long legs. The floral nose is smoky at first, then comes granny smith apples, lemon peel, ginger, wet stones and toasted marzipans. Smells very Burgundian. Very fine mousse with microscopic bubbles. On the palate, the wine is concentrated but effortless with a mineral-dominated backbone. Notes of orange zest, spices, mint, cinnamon, bacon brioche and caramel. Very creamy in the finish with moderate acidity to keep things fresh and focused. Such an incredibly balanced wine but needs time for sure, just like some other white grand cru Burgundies.
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Crush's Annual Champagne Gala 2014 (Crush Wine & Spirits, Midtown Manhattan.): Nose is smokey, apple, lemon, ginger, herbs, stones - and some thing cool, almost menthol. Suzanne C says 'very winey'. The palate is sharp with lemon, this is like white burg, big, spicy, not too complex. Long lemon finish. Nose - 4.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5-5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16-17/20.
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2014 K&L Champagne Tasting (K&L San Francisco Store): K&L Champagne Tasting-SF. Lovely rich delicate nose of toast, yeast, lemon zest, and wet slate, more of the same on the palate, tasty, elegant, crisp, needs 5 years to peak, medium/big body, very long flavorful finish and aftertaste.
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K&L Champagne Tent Tasting (K&L, San Francisco): Yeasty, toasty, nice balance and character on the nose; palate had great acidity, balance, citrus. A great but young champagne overall. 93++
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Lemony pale yellow color. Quite rich and pretty toasty nose with nuanced aromas of bready autolysis, some roasted chestnuts, a little bit of savory honey and hints of toffee and butterscotch. The nose os quite seductive, and even though it feels more savory than sweet, there is still an almost dessert-wine quality to it. The wine is dry, firm and structured on the palate, but the wine still comes across as rather delicate and light-bodied instead of big and burly. There are savory flavors of autolytic toast and nuttiness, ripe red apples, some sharp citrus fruit notes, a little bit of spicy and slightly bitter apple peel and a sweeter nuance of brioche. The mousse feels very fine and creamy with really small bubbles, yet it comes across as very persistent. The acidity is moderately high, i.e. high enough to keep the wine fresh and structured, but not high enough to make the wine appear as racy. The finish is extremely long, fresh and complex with juicy flavors of apples both tart and sweet, some fresh citrus notes of lime and grapefruit, a little bit of complex nuttiness and a touch of autolysis.
A lovely vintage of Cristal that is showing very nicely right now, but shows a lot of promise for the future. Overall the wine comes across as remarkably elegant and complex with layers upon layers of flavors, ranging from tart and savory fruits to sweeter and more ripe nuances to attractive toasty autolytic nuances to almost oxidative, nutty complexity. The wine feels very much alive, both in the nose and on the palate. A true classic and a perfect example why this particular wine is so highly esteemed. No need to pop any bottles open during the next decade, perhaps even for two.
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A Taste of Louis Roederer Champagne (K&L Wine Merchants(Redwood City, CA)): Very pale gold color with with plentiful, active, pin prick sized bubbles. On the nose it shows layered aromas. Initially there is lemon, orange and roasted nut aromas, followed by apple, peach, ginger and mineral aromas. On the palate, it's focused, and suave with an exceedingly creamy delicate mousse and pear, apple, citrus zest flavors with spicy top note, and an alluring chalky minerality. Long finish. Blend: 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay
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Certainly not the best of the prestige cuvees, but for a year that appears to be quite mediocre, this was quite alright. Very nice, long finish that had powerful concentration. I dislike that Roederer rushes its champagne to market and doesn't give it more time either on the lees or in the bottle. Maybe with more time this will be great, but it's certainly not drinking as well as the 2004 Dom Perignon is now. Indeed, I found the 2007 Roederer vintage to be better. 93+
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Super high acidity, lemon flavors. Gorgeous bubbles and some chablis-like floral and mineral qualities. Very good but I'd prefer dom or a vintage piper which are richer. This would probably do best with food.
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Numerous, ultra fine beads. Pale yellow gold in the glass. Tight citrus nose with white flowers and hazelnuts. Plenty of acidity with a tight palate with plenty of citrus, nuts and mandarin peel. Long, elegant length.
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White gold with tell-tale signs of great champagne tiny pin prick bubbles that enhance the drink rather than sear your senses. Pear, apple and Danish pastries on the nose with some caressing, acidity refreshing without becoming mouthwash. Deep and tight flavours and is clearly superior to the 2005, this is the vintage to load up on and enjoy over the next 20 years.
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Crush's Champagne Gala 2013 (Crush Wine & Spirits, Midtown Manhattan): Goldish straw. Big, clean, saline nose; cream and class but totally primary. Palate is much the same -- rich, good acid, but closed up tight. Good length and terrific, filigree mousse. Needs time but the components are there.
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Crush's Annual Champagne Gala 2013 (Crush Wine & Spirits, Midtown Manhattan.): Sweet and creamy nose - almost candied. 2nd glass: lemon, ginger, spice, brown. Lots of lemon. great material behind, but pretty dumb now. The guy pouring said that this had just been shipped and might be experiencing bottle shock. Judgement deferred.
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3/31/2024 - LIE-user wrote: 90 Points
Rather salty, dominant acidity. Not my favorite premium champagne.
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3/1/2024 - RED AND BLACK Likes this wine: 94 Points
I think people are right in saying the 06 Cristal is really good and now it drinks perfect. Long life in my view but wonderful balance right now
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12/29/2023 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 96 Points
Pronounced nose intensity with notes of toast, lemon, chalk, mineral, lemon, red apple. My third tasting with the last in 2021. From my scores, it seem like 2006 is more ready to drink now.
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12/28/2023 - Floral wrote: flawed
Corked :(
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12/26/2023 - Lanzelot Likes this wine: 95 Points
The color of this Champagne is medium golden. On the nose there are extremely pronounced aromas of red apple, lemon zest, honey, almond, bread dough. The acidity is high. The body is medium. The flavors on the palate are similar to the nose with the same fantastic intensity. The finish is never ending. Just great!!! The first sip was surprisingly unbalanced. But with some air the Champagne opened. Love this Champagne! Glass I used: Josephine No 2. I compared this glass with Riedel Veritas Champagne. From the the Josephine No 2 the acidity was much better integrated.
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12/15/2023 - vinkeger wrote: 95 Points
Ikke mye puff ved åpning. Litt urovekkende.
Men ingen grunn til bekymring. Bra mousse i munn.
Wow, sykt hvor ung denne fortsatt er. Helt primær! Nesa er som en hvit kasjmirfrakk. Hvit frukt, kaffe, sherry. Myk, luksuriøs og ren.
I munn er den likedan. Ikke svær, ikke opulent - bare så presis og ren. Vinen speiler flaska - så smooth og latterlig kvalitet. Som en diamantring.
Sitter bra, men er sikkert ikke den lengste og mest konsentrerte Cristal.
Mindre ripe og yngre enn jeg hadde forventet av en 06.
Fort gjort å bli avhengig av dette.
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10/27/2023 - grub94 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not what Expected. A bit weightier than the Crystals i love. Too much honey and bruised green apple. Wanted more acidity and lightness;.
Have more bottles and hoping this is going thru a phase. Nothing like the 08 and 12.
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9/7/2023 - ubercuvee wrote:
Cristal Night; 9/6/2023-9/8/2023: I opened an absolutely glorious magnum of this earlier in the summer, and since then three 750mls have all shown a bit fat and custard creamy. A champagne for sweet pastry lovers! (alas, not me)
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7/10/2023 - gregg g wrote:
I liked this but did not love it. Seemed to lack crispness and focus. Rich fruit, almost honeyed, with bruised apple. If the acidity perks up, this could be great. Others liked this more than I did.
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6/22/2023 - Rupert wrote:
This still isn't really firing - it's full, reasonably rich, but its a bit monolithic.
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6/18/2023 - Mbad77 wrote: 93 Points
Half Century Magnum Lunch (La Trompette) (London): From Magnum. Initially found it to have a sweet core and a light fresh profile. Some creamy aromatics. Perhaps slightly different and fresher from magnum and still think it will improve for age as it gains depth. Interesting my last note from bottle said it was more of a broad bruiser which will settle. Score remains the same and was eclipsed by the 04 Comtes and Rare 98 mags alongside.
A lovely opener to the day though.
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6/17/2023 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Magnum Mike's Half Century Blow Out (La Trompette): A very generous start to proceedings. Very engaging nose. On the palate - a bit broader shouldered than previous Cristals I've tasted, some depth and almost sweetness.
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6/16/2023 - DAN BAILEY wrote:
Pale, youthful. On the attack, a bit soft/creamy and a hint of sugar but then quite austere on the mid palate. Needs more time although relaxes somewhat with air. Last sip the best!
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6/16/2023 - NickA Likes this wine: 93 Points
Magnum Mike's Magnificent Half Century (La Trompette): Magnum. Obvious class on the nose, which was silky and sensual with musk and a touch of cream, and towards the end of the glass some green grass and even some biltong. Wasn't quite as exciting on the palate, which had tasty notes of creme pat and orange juice but could have benefited from a little more cut. Still a wonderful start to proceedings, though!
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5/25/2023 - asparagus Likes this wine: 95 Points
04, 06 and 09 mini vertical. This was halfway between the solar 2009 and the lean 2004. A lovely cristal, which had everything going for it.
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4/15/2023 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
From Magnum, this was drinking beautifully. Rich and powerful, creamy and layered. There’s some toasty development and plenty of bready/yeasty things. It has some preserved citrus and red fruits too. Bead is miniscule and finish seriously chalky.
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3/30/2023 - drrobvino wrote: 96 Points
Brought this bottle along and opened it to christen our first night in our new beachhouse.
Last had this wine almost 2 yrs prior. It was stunning and electrifying tonight, showing aromas of hazelnuts, patisserie, citrus, and chalky minerals.
Laserlike cut, superbly refreshing and long on the finish. Drink through 2028 or so, just lovely.
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3/30/2023 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Olive Garden Party (Cristal vertical) (Chicago, IL): Very rich and ripe, and quite large-scaled again with respect to the fruit here. Feels a little old-school in style, with a sweeter complexion. However, the acidity doesn't feel as prominent and you get some nascent brioche/autolytic character as well. Red delicious apples figure prominently here, and the fruit profile is distinctly darker than the younger wines. The texture, with a slightly coarser mousse, is spot on though, and I quite enjoy this for that texture.
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1/28/2023 - dream Likes this wine: 92 Points
Good intensity and acidity especially for this generally disappointing vintage in Champagne (except Taittinger Comte). The fruit is a bit subdued but the wine is very fine and I would drink it soon before the fruit fades even further.
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1/12/2023 - WST Likes this wine:
From a 1500. So delicious, long and dense. The epitome of balance. Peach and lemon, tropical fruit, nice cut. More complex than my words can convey. A wonderful wine on a wonderful evening.
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1/7/2023 - Papies wrote:
In a country where fine wine does not exist coming across this on our last night was a blessing or the cherry on top of our India trip cake. We took the chance as the bottle looked good albeit probably kept in a too humid wine fridge. Healthy wine and only the spirits in the sky know how this bottle ended up here.
I think this TN is more a tale of the unexpected than a note about the wine itself which was indeed healthy, fine and elegant. Felt evolved but not sure if that’s the wine or the impact of being in India , round and lush and every bit as great as expected. That been said after 2 weeks of poor wine experiences our palate has been compromised!
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12/26/2022 - melvinyeowq wrote: 94 Points
Boxing day wines at Empire: This was rather tight at first but opened up beautifully to show the typical Cristal citrus fruit. I usually find Cristal too austere for my liking but this was magnificent, think my palate leans towards Cristal in warmer vintages. Label looked like it had an older font so probably an original disgorgement?
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12/25/2022 - Andrea1975 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent (though not my style). Characteristic notes of brown sugar, crème brûlée, hazelnut, citrus. Very persistent flavors, minerality, with fresh acidity balancing high residual sugar. Very delicate mousse. Ready to drink or hold. Note. Horizontal of 2004, 2006, 2009. 2006 showed most complexity and balance.
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11/19/2022 - steinersing wrote: 93 Points
Good substance, a little broad - perhaps time to drink
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9/7/2022 - Papies wrote:
Dinner at Pelagos, Astir Palace, Athens (Pelagos, Astir Palace, Athens): Tasted blind and we went with a lot older, frankly we thought this was poor Dom Perignon 1996. Even more interesting is the fact that we tried this 6 months ago ( Papies 97) and was a lot more bright and energetic. This was more evolved , more oxidised and in a way not representative of the wine with hindsight. On the day this was a 92-93 , well enjoyable but not the wine we know it to be so pointless to rate.
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7/17/2022 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 96 Points
Terrific bottle. Very creamy and smooth. I enjoyed this more than the 2008 Cristal I opened earlier this year.
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5/18/2022 - LB88 wrote: 92 Points
Nice mature, drinking
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3/4/2022 - ASMB Likes this wine: 93 Points
Can’t explain it, but this bottle is incredibly different than last one tasted.
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2/9/2022 - darrennelson12 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Good bottle .. enjoyed it more than the 2004 we had recently. Apple notes, nice bubbles .. quite enjoyable throughout
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2/8/2022 - clayfu wrote:
en Mag - Ripe round soft fruit, small bubbles, big flavor, big bottle. Great joy. Not the most precise Cristal but still tasty and enjoyable.
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1/21/2022 - Papies wrote: 97 Points
To quote the boss “ there is very little more I could ask of a wine so maybe 98? “ and she is a tough critic of wines .
Round rich and full but also superbly elegant and a classic act at age 15 and with another 15 years easily in the tank . The boss has spoken but we agreed at 96-98 so 97 and could well be higher as it ages.
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1/16/2022 - dnicewicz Likes this wine: 96 Points
Outstanding bottle - excellent structure , toasted and sea spray notes but still refreshing. This is in an excellent spot
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1/4/2022 - Jammy Wine wrote: flawed
Late release. Unfortunately TCA
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12/31/2021 - schway wrote: 96 Points
Doesn’t get much better
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10/22/2021 - ASMB Likes this wine: 98 Points
Drinking incredibly well. Fantastic bottle.
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9/10/2021 - dcwino wrote: 95 Points
Another lost Friday afternoon gathering - mostly French (Jailbreak Brewery, Laurel, MD): Perfectly mature nose displaying sweet yellow fruit, baked apple, yellow peach, caramel, sap, brioche, white pepper and limestone. Excellent concentration, layers upon layers of sweet yellow fruit, medium generous fine mousse, perfect amount of acidity and mineral, and a long sweet yellow fruit driven finish with honey and limestone at the end. This is deep and concentrated, clearly displaying the 06 vintage character. Drinking beautifully.
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9/8/2021 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Epic Bordeaux for an Epic Birthday!; 9/1/2021-9/12/2021 (Paris & Bordeaux): A few more years and this champagne is softening into itself plus who doesn't like champagne? I am appreciating the Cristal style a lot on this trip. This is like orange blossom and a bit rounder of a mouthful while still being very fresh.
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8/26/2021 - Patrik H Likes this wine: 92 Points
Well, I expect more... but time will tell.
light yellow
On the nose: sweat, citrus and pear.
On the palate: Red apples, minerals with a very integrated acid.
Long finish
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7/8/2021 - Mbad77 wrote: 93 Points
Needs to age. Quite broad, powerful and not ready but should age nicely and be really interesting soon.
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7/2/2021 - drrobvino wrote: 96 Points
1st of 5 bottles. Wife gave me this bottle 6 yrs ago for my bday.
Lovely bottle of Champagne, showing notes of citrus, seashell, chalky minerals, bread yeast, patisserie, and sage.
Crazy long finish, laser-like acidity, just cuts to the core of my palate like a beautifully sharpened knife.
Lingers with citrus, creme brulee, salinity. Lovely, drink through 2031+.
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6/25/2021 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Cristal and Fontodi Flaccianello plus Riverain and Schrader (served blind) (Foretti's in Corona Del Mar): This is good, but it's not in the same class when measured alongside the 2008 and 2009 in the flight we did last night. The 2006 shows some sea air, white pepper and a dried herb aroma. It's got a roundness, a plump quality with a distinct pineapple fruit. Finishes withy dried lime, citrus peel and a touch syrupy in the finish.
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6/21/2021 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 93 Points
Monthly Boys' Wine Night - Champagne & Old Bordeaux (Island Room, Hong Kong Country Club, Shouson Hill, Hong Kong): First of a case. Light hay gold. This has opened up a lot since I last drank it in 2017....it has filled out on the nose with a brioche end of the spectrum, but still retaining saline and ozone. Palate has a lovely texture and is quite open by Cristal standards. Very precise.....fine and long.
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6/13/2021 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
Good balance, notably even less acidity than the Selosse on its side, uncommon for Cristal. Well-made at baseline, but no surprise either. 93
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6/13/2021 - vetty wrote: 93 Points
aroma was reserved at the beginning. but started coming out smelling of white flower, pear, yeast after aeration. Good acidity, very fresh and energetic.
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5/14/2021 - Fosgrove Likes this wine: 95 Points
Stunning. Quality wine with bubbles. Rich but fresh.
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4/4/2021 - dbkitc wrote: 94 Points
This is just delicious champagne. A Goldilocks kind of bottle - everything is just perfect. Drinking very well now. Thanks, Chuck. (94)
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4/4/2021 - Rupert wrote: 92 Points
A special bottle for Easter Day. Very fine, and one can sense the power. There's a touch of toast. But right now, less impressive than the previous day's flamboyant Comtes.
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3/21/2021 - acyso wrote: 93 Points
Sunday hangout (socially distanced) (Chicago, IL): From magnum. I liked this much more than the 2006 Blanc de Millénaires alongside. This had many similar characteristics -- a sappy, sweetness to the fruit which was also less creamy and autolytic than the Heidsieck (although still quite so) -- but the most distinguishing difference is the vein of acidity underpinning this wine, which gives this more freshness and drinkability.
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2/17/2021 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 95 Points
Toast, lemon, chalk, mineral, high acidity
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2/13/2021 - Sean Tay Likes this wine: 93 Points
Pronounced nose intensity of bread, biscuit, yeast, high acidity. Very enjoyable to drink this now. The acidity is lower than 2012 Cristal vintage and its in it optimum drinking window.
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1/30/2021 - fclarity wrote: 94 Points
En Magnum, this wine had fine bubbles and a light color. I do not have complete notes on this one but it was clearly young and rather tight.
This Champagne was quintessentially Cristal in that it was light bodied, crisp, and yet had that beautiful balance that is hard to describe. The wine starts out crisp, shows some richness in the mid-palate, and finishes with minerals. Thus, the overall sense is of lightness and ethereal flavors.
This will benefit from 5-10 years in the cellar. I would guess 1-2 points of upside with age.
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12/31/2020 - Miceri Likes this wine: 97 Points
Tasted four 2006s (Cristal, BS Nicolas Francois, Dom Perignon, Comtes de Champagne - in that ranking order); common for all is a light whitish color, freshness, crispness and citrus; Cristal "the winner" with fresh light mellow citrus, intense and fiery; long aftertaste with some vanilla; really good
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12/19/2020 - Rupert wrote: 94 Points
Fine texture, butter and lemon, a light grip - young but open, and just so refined.
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12/10/2020 - Vinum Deorum wrote: 92 Points
Nice but not great. Fine bubbles, nice acidity and freshness, aromas of brioche, butter, with a creamy texture. Quite dense and complex. Not oustanding but very nice though. Just not an amazing QPR but a very decent champagne.
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10/31/2020 - LWI wrote: 94 Points
Blind. A lot of brioche, nice small bubbles, big bodied, very fine complexity, enduring, some yogurt, apple peel finish, medium dosage.
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10/23/2020 - Mikeh89 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Amazing as always
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9/9/2020 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 94 Points
My best bottle of this so far. Lots of mousse and intense bubbles. Dark lemon. developed nose. Lovely apples which made us think chardonnay based, but its actually 55% pinot. Quite a substantial wine indeed, and I thought oxidative in style like a Selosse. Great champagne. From Gim
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8/6/2020 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
Tung's Birthday (Monkey Year Wines) (Aoki Restaurant, Shaw House, Singapore): Fresh and lovely - this was a great way to start lunch. I really liked the nose, with its gentle wafts brioche wafting around a lifted core of green apples and lemon zest. Really alluring. The palate was absolutely lovely - clean, defined, precise, with a lovely structure of fine acidity and stony mineral running through pure flavours of fleshy white fruit laced with a sprinkle of lemon zest. Powerful and intense, yet so pure and effortless, this was a lovely wine just starting to come into its own.
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7/14/2020 - robferguson1 wrote: 93 Points
Nice
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6/13/2020 - Gott vin wrote: 97 Points
Näst bästa ever. Grym
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6/4/2020 - Brolawa wrote: 91 Points
This is a heavier champagne due to lower carbonation and strong honey notes - although could have been the individual bottle. It was tasty but did not offer expected complexity.
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6/3/2020 - Lord Rodney wrote: 94 Points
Wow what a wine! Its been long since we tasted a Cristal. The 2006 should be ripe I was told. Its sheer grace but atually not heavy which I like. Its still very young and need a least five more years to really shine. I need another bottle in my cellar!
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4/16/2020 - clayfu wrote:
didn’t see the vintage before I tried it. Very forward and fruit laden. Lots of ripe pear and lemon tart creme. Got lots of primary stuffing. Wish it had more acidity though.
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3/26/2020 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 92 Points
This was seriously big. Full bodied. Licorice. Long aftertaste. Drank for E birthday. Gift from Gim
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3/14/2020 - fc1910 Likes this wine: 93 Points
Starting the spring on the sunny terrace with a great sparkler, lots of fine bubbles, very finesse like showing right from the start, some tropical fruit like apricot, but more aromas of creamy brown butter, warm bread, almonds and more nuts, caramel, very intense but very elegant flow beautifully balanced on the midpalate, lingering finish, enjoyed over the whole afternoon, does not change at all in the glass, so I guess this vintage will mature well over the next decade(+), ***(*-*****), around 92-94(+)
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2/7/2020 - hprphf wrote: 93 Points
Acker 2020/02: 4.5L. Deep, woody, complex, fine acidity. 93
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2/7/2020 - Burgundy Al wrote: 91 Points
Wines for the Acker Merrall Bicentennial Auction (The Pool - New York NY): Small glass, brief note. Rich and near tropical to start, then leaner towards finish. Good weight and length, good now.
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1/18/2020 - Andrea1975 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Excellent, as usual.
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1/7/2020 - The_big_boss Likes this wine: 91 Points
Big bubbles, big taste. Abit closed. Felt young and for me almost no age notes yet. Wait 5+ years. I know bottle was stored properly.
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1/3/2020 - Krugalex Likes this wine: 91 Points
Medium gold color. Fine bubbles that vanished in the glass a bit too quickly for my liking. Apple juice on the first nose but went away in a few minutes. Coffee, honey and nougat. Pleasant nuttiness on the finish. Very dry. Not much fruit here... I suspect a bit a oxydation. Quite good nonetheless.
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1/1/2020 - Snowryeder Likes this wine: 93 Points
Beautiful nose, tiny bubbles. Pears, nuts & apples. Good acidity. Mature.
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12/25/2019 - franinnyc Likes this wine: 91 Points
Dry dry dry as a bone. My first cristal. Maybe this is their style?
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12/23/2019 - La Cave d'Argent Likes this wine: 96 Points
A light-to-medium golden blend of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay, the 2006 Cristal (sampled from a well-cellared bottle) sports a very active tiny bead. Highly aromatic and flavorful, it is a medium-bodied, vibrant sparkler that is effusive of stone fruits, pears, lemon zest, bread dough, coriander and marzipan. The tactile creaminess of the mousse is beautifully balanced by the wine's acidity, an interesting tug-of-war that is pervasive from attack through lengthy finish. This is at an early stage in its drinking window. Assuming proper cellaring, it should age gracefully throughout the next decade. Drink now-2030.
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11/25/2019 - peternelson wrote: 92 Points
Darker color, slight oxidation here, older, walnuts, guessed a rich champagne blend, really long finish. This is showing much older than it should (storage problem?) but still very enjoyable. Capital Seafood for DD.
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11/11/2019 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Complex aromatics of brioche, baked apple, honeysuckle and chalk. It is rich, layered, creamy and long. Classy Champagne that is drinking very nicely.
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9/28/2019 - Yassine23 Likes this wine:
Very young, took 2 hours to open. Should be left in the cellar for another 10 years, however, very interesting wine. Low to no bubbles. Very vinous. Orange peel, flowery, bruised apples. Very intense, stands up to brie with truffles, great with smoked salmon.
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9/13/2019 - esh44 wrote:
This particular bottle was pretty tight and closed off. Didn't show a whole lot.
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8/18/2019 - SommStags Likes this wine:
Drank surprising well given that it is only a 2006. While this will certainly get better with age, don't see why you need to wait as this is good now.
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7/16/2019 - Elvis1969 wrote: flawed
This must have been a weak bottle. A disturbing cardboard tone on the nose. Packed with fruit and still enjoyable but not on a prestige champagne level.
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7/4/2019 - BillyT wrote: 94 Points
Had this at breakfast at Garret in Estoril Portugal. Incredibly mature now, great creamy full mouth feel with apricot and other tropical fruits, brioche and just all around well rounded and drinking exceptionally.
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1/5/2019 - grapenomad wrote: 90 Points
Clean flavors, high acidity, no sweetness, could use a longer aftertaste.
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12/22/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Holiday Champagne Gala (Park Ridge Country Club): Small glass, brief note. Big and rich sweet fruit with very enticing textural elements and mousse. Good+ weight and length.
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12/18/2018 - Ms. Bubblehead wrote:
Nose showed slightly better than the palate, but overall lack of complexity - felt the ripeness and sweetness on the palate, but not layered even with more air. Read many reviews from critics and they all rated Cristal’s 2006 vintage quite positively, I wonder if the wine was kind of close down that night.
To me Cristal is more a “festive” wine due to its appearance, but rather expensive for the quality and lack of complexity.
2006 vintage is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from grand cru vineyards across the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs, the wine is matured in the cellars for five years before disgorgement.
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12/16/2018 - Burgnick wrote: 89 Points
Ripe and sweet. For me, the wine lacked precision and acidity, but the minerality was the highlight.
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12/9/2018 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 92 Points
Middle of the range, overall somewhat subdued. Fewer layers on the palate than I prefer
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11/2/2018 - Paul S wrote: 92 Points
Brian's Birthday Dinner (Ampang Kitchen): Similar notes to last time. Delightful, but young and primary, with many years to go.
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10/21/2018 - glou.sf Likes this wine: 94 Points
First experience with Cristal. Lots of citrus, and lemon flavors on the deep and complex nose with a hint of candied apple and slightly oxidative notes. Meyer lemon flavors on the palate with tiny bubbles, herbs, and creamy texture. Good finish.
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8/26/2018 - Gjpass wrote: 92 Points
- Light gold color with medium pearls.
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5/22/2018 - wineduggery Likes this wine: 93 Points
Needs an hour to open up, and shows best at a moderate temperature. I prefer the flavor profile of the 09 Cristal, but this is still delightful.
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5/13/2018 - Andrea1975 wrote: 95 Points
Excellent! Still young, it needs a bit of time to fully open up, but this bottle is a beauty. White flowers, Meyers lemon, French brioche, custard, hints of minerality. Plenty of refreshing acidity here, creamy and very refined mousse, mouth-filling, and rich. Extremely long. A bit higher dosage than currently in fashion.
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5/6/2018 - dchain Likes this wine: 93 Points
Still very young but acidity is wonderfully in balance. Light gold, has energy, you want to drink this! Beautiful fine bubbles, delicate nose of golden apple, lemon, brioche but ultimate freshness. Lovely now but should get a lot more interesting in a few years time and merit an even higher score! Thank you Martin!
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3/22/2018 - Blake Brown Likes this wine:
2006 LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL- 55% Pinot Noir. 45% Chardonnay; dosage near 9 gpl; with a proper chill, it had a yellow gold colour, was mellow and perhaps a bit tight and therefore understated at first, but in time, it had inviting aromas and distinct spicy and mineral laced pear, lemon and lime notes; to help out, there were accents of toast, ginger and smoke; an underlying vein of vibrant acidity prevailed throughout; with even more time, it expanded and all the nuances were even greater expressed; even then, it did not have the bigness and richness of the 09`; I liked it for that unexpected degree of elegance; make no mistake, this has a lot going for it, is still very youthful and requires many years before reaching maturity; I think we were just teased for where this will land later on.
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2/19/2018 - ThalesGaspar Likes this wine: 96 Points
Outstanding champagne! Great balance between citric and nutty flavours, intense bouquet and long smooth finish. Perfectly integrated.
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2/12/2018 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
NDG 2002 Clos de Vougeot Dinner (Summer Pavilion, Ritz Carlton, Singapore): En Magnum - this was very different from the 2002 Paillard NPU we had together, gentler, more elegant, but equally impressive in its own way. There was a lovely nose here as well - cream, white flowers, white fruit and gentle chalky, stony mineral notes. Lovely stuff. The palate was a lot more youthful and tighter than the nose would lead one to expect, with tons of bright, juicy, mouthwatering acidity and a fine but vigorous mousse draped around a core of pure, slightly sweet white fruit laced with sour lemons, flowers and and then a nice, long mineral finish. Still a baby, but this should age really nicely.
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1/17/2018 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine:
There is something about Cristal 2006. It is chisled marble flecked with gold, with a little white peach. It IS pure. I have drunk 2009, 2011 Rosé, 2008 BdB, and plenty of NV from the Roederer stable lately, they are all plush and inviting, and super delicious in their own ways. This Cristal stands alone as a chisled stone sentinel, a haunting stone sentinel.
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12/17/2017 - Goldstone Likes this wine: 92 Points
Pre-Christmas Sunday Lunch Gathering of Friends (Pok Fu Lam, Hong Kong): Light hay gold. Muted nose trending to the brioche end of the spectrum, saline and ozone. Palate is refreshingly briny sea breeze, crushed oyster shells, minerals on the flinty side. Really zippy and refreshing. Young but gorgeously refreshing and will put on weight with 3-5 years’ age. Has come on a lot since I last drank it two years ago. 92 for now.
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12/11/2017 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nicht mein Lieblingsjahrgang, aber neben dem DP einer der besten Vertreter seiner Zunft. Untypische Austernnote. Dazu Marille und Mandarine. Fehlt Länge und Tiefe zu diesem Zeitpunkt. 93+
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10/27/2017 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
Some Wine Tasted at the Zachys Auction; 10/27/2017-10/28/2017 (Charlie Palmer Steak - Washington, DC): Small glass, brief note. An intriguing combination of rich, tropical fruit with crisp structure. Very good textures. Good now, clearly needing a few years in the cellar, but not criminal to enjoy this young.
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10/7/2017 - hajoha wrote: 95 Points
Strålende lunsj på Il Centro Priocca * I dag.
Dagens valg falt på Louis Roederer Cristal 2006.
Tilnærmet null utvikling.
Likevel åpenbarer det seg muligens den reneste vinen som er å oppdrive i glasset foran meg.
Fantastisk delikat mousse.
En vektløs intensitet som man kun finner i de beste fra Burgund.
“Som et silkeslør i vinden” skyter fruen inn - 100% enig der.
Et pirrende og balansert syrespill.
Dette er en uendelig vakker og elegant vin - en sann ballerina.
Snerten meget lang finish som brer seg ut dansende på tåspissene.
Skulle gjerne drukket dette hver dag...
Fersk stjernevin som gir masse glede nå hvis du bruker litt tid på den.
Vil bygge seg opp og levere store opplevelser i fremtiden. 94-95p for denne gang.
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8/22/2017 - RunarN Likes this wine: 91 Points
Brilliant
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8/12/2017 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 90 Points
Wines of Good Hope: Summer 2017; 7/29/2017-9/14/2017 (River's Inlet, British Columbia): [Mag] Young and a little screechy. More chalk than cream at this point. Definitely prefer the '06 DP stylistically.
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7/9/2017 - Paul S wrote: 93 Points
Dinner at Brian's (Moonbeam View): Lovely stuff. The nose was very much in line with what I have come to expect from a modern Cristal - expressive and attractive, with aromas of sweet cream, nuts and yeast alongside sweet ripe fruit and a lick of florals. All very pretty. It was obviously youthful on the palate, very juicy and cirtrussy, with a finely vigorous mousse and a great sense of tension and purity running through its core of apples and mineral, all this laced with plenty of lemony freshnnes as the wine glided into a nutty finish. Already showing a nice complexity and poise, but this obviously needs many years yet before hitting peak. A really nince wine though!
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6/23/2017 - MAXIMUM SATISFACTION wrote: 94 Points
Deep golden color. A little musty on the front. Classic Champagne character with toasted almonds, baked bread and honey. Plenty of minerality and acid. Young but great.
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6/14/2017 - Frank Murray III wrote:
Never had Cristal before and in classic offline style that seems to happen around here when everyone gets feeling pretty good, an impulse decision is made and the cork is pulled. For this night, it was this bottle. About 10 of us drank the wine and I sat with mine in a large burg stem and let it open up. Once most of the gas had bubbled out, I was left with what was a terrific still wine. Just complex, citrusy and very complete tasting. The serving them of this was a little warm and aside from the air I gave to my glass, this drank without any flaws to me. I know this is expensive, it drinks like a finely crafted wine, for sure.
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6/12/2017 - brigcampbell wrote:
Paul and Ashley's Champagne Party (Paul and Ashely's House): I really liked this wine but it divided the group. If you like grower champagne then this is for you. Like a fully rounded out champer with a higher dosage then probably not. I really like it. Extremely acid driven from start to finish, aggressive and unrelently. Pungent lemon, tart lime, and strong peel notes. Angular came to mind as I was swirling it around in my puckered mouth.
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4/24/2017 - dbkitc wrote: 95 Points
Terrific bubbles. Seamless with no element dominating. Wonderful depth and texture. Will drink well for many years. Thanks, Chuck. (95)
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12/31/2016 - Miceri Likes this wine: 98 Points
Light light yellow; very fresh, tons of mousse, lovely acidity, citrus, white flowers, long tasty aftertaste; excellent!
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12/24/2016 - Charlie Carnes Likes this wine:
I have to say this is exceedingly good. This is chiseled and focused. Everything is in place and in perfect pitch. The fruit is whitish, clean, and pure. I detect a laser beam of mineral and a neat trace of earth, riding the laser beam. It is young, but opens up with every sip. I wish the bottle was a magnum, so I would have had more time to let it unfold. As it was, I was way too selfish to let it sit around and open up more. Awesome. I must add that I am on a really good hot streak with Roederer this last week. 2009 Rose, and BdB yesterday were superb as well. Can't wait to try the Cristal in the 2009 version.
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11/21/2016 - KeithSurg wrote: 94 Points
Big Champagne that has everything. Richness, spice, soft yeasty nose, long finish with a refreshing taper.
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10/23/2016 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 95 Points
2016 Annual K&L Tasting (K&L San Francisco Store): K&L Champagne Event, poured from a magnum, nose of lemon, apple, pear, great mousse, tiny bubbles, floral nose, same on the palate, big body, tremendous Champagne, needs 5 years to peak, should open up over time and reward patience, crisp, good acid, my WOTT, long, flavorful finish. My 70th birthday week and tasted 3 times-I am worth it!!!!!!!!!!
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10/23/2016 - aagrawal wrote: 94 Points
K&L Champagne Tent Tasting (K&L, San Francisco): En magnum. Elegant nose, well put together, pear, Apple; palate again has wonderful mousse, great pear and apple fruit, elegant, well knit together, light bodied but has depth; long finish. Superb. 93-95+
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10/6/2016 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Youthful but glorious. It had super fine aromas and flavours of white peach, aniseed and bread. Bead is tiny and it is creamy and direct in the mouth. It finishes dry and shows outstanding persistence.
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9/30/2016 - derek.hara@sbcglobal.net Likes this wine: 93 Points
...sometimes things live up to their type. Wouldn't say that is a value wine by any means...but it has it all: complexity, energy, balance and infinte class. Delicious!
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9/26/2016 - barolo300 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Not big and showy, very delicate nose. So taut and highly strung at the moment. Very much lemon and green apple at the moment with hints of the future peeking thorugh with some toast and brioche. It has a backbone and a long long future and the score will increase...
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9/19/2016 - bajayngo wrote:
Lots of chalk and mineral on the entry, integrated lemon, piercing acids, slight mint with a razor sharp finish.
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9/15/2016 - PE Wine Cellar wrote:
Gift personal side
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9/13/2016 - Motz wrote: 94 Points
Chalk, minerals, and citrus on the nose. Intense chalk and piercing acid on the palate. High toned, vibrant, and youthful. Time should serve it very well. Delicious! 94-95.
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7/26/2016 - PE Wine Cellar wrote:
Set up in TG's office bar
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7/26/2016 - PE Wine Cellar wrote:
Set up in TGs office bar
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7/23/2016 - Eclipse1 Likes this wine: 93 Points
From the fridge, and on immediate opening it stank of biscuits and butter. 15 mins later, more brioche, cream and almonds. 15 mins later again the sweetness and crushed lemons came out. Multi faceted, multi dimensional and a bit like going on a magical mystery tour with several stops of discovery. Young , yet almost wise and mature at the same time. Outstanding
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7/4/2016 - nsellen wrote:
Lemon, apples, smooth fizz. Maybe with some time in glass this did show a little weight, a bit of yeasty/caramel but for me this was pure white fruit led. At first impression I associated it with a "fizzy premier cru chablis" and slowly moved down the country until I arrived at St Veran after two hours. Nice but not complex or interesting and where were the pinots?
I probably don't deserve wines like this if this is the best I can do.
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7/1/2016 - Vino_Veritas Likes this wine: 95 Points
10th Anniversary wine in Santorini. Between my limited knowledge of Champagne and the price tag, expecting a low QPR-type experience. In fact, a very fine experience. Nice nose of white flowers, orchid, orange peel and walnut. In the mouth, smooth and creamy but not heavy, maintaining a nice citrus, floral character and persistent finish. Rich and elegant, the latter which I was not expecting, especially at this primary stage. Look forward to seeing its complexity evolve over another 10 years. Substance is all there to reward cellaring. Will pick up another bottle and see...
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6/29/2016 - Pacherant Likes this wine: 93 Points
sweet notes, Pretty. Long. Good acidity
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6/28/2016 - MC2 Wines Likes this wine:
Just much too young and so not totally worth the extra mark-up at this point (especially in a restaurant setting), but I do love how very soft and smooth this is. Enjoyable with sashimi appetizer.
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6/22/2016 - AllRed wrote: 90 Points
Notes of apple, florals, almond and dough with a muddled, dirty overtone. Fine bead with flavors of apple, dough and vanilla cream with a lemon/lime citrusy component in the finish.
I've got limited experience with Cristal, having tasted it only half a dozen times or so, but I've yet to be impressed. Give me any other tete du cuvee.
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6/22/2016 - thelostverse wrote: 92 Points
Opened by Allred at Anvil. Muddled nose of clay and dough. Palate had a hit of lymon and green apple. Palate was much better than the nose, or this would have perhaps scored a few points higher.
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6/14/2016 - RayOB wrote: 91 Points
Drank at 67
Nice but still not showing at its best. Will try again in a couple of years.
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5/29/2016 - dharrison93 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Served chilled from magnum. Good to go now. Nose of sliced apple and pear. Ideal food champagne with bracing minerality, earthiness and full body.
If a date, this was a 25 year old beauty pageant contestant dressed to impressed and impress she does, until dawn.
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5/28/2016 - canan wrote: 94 Points
Champagne BYO (@ Terkel): Floral and stringent with lots of salt-water. Still extremely young.
Lovely intensity and a great wine.
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5/11/2016 - mikita77 Likes this wine: 93 Points
I realized again that I find it harder to say why I like certain champagnes better than other (as compared to red wine or even white). Clear indication is how eager I am to pour myself more. Clearly a noble one with lovely length and nothing distracting from A to Z. Maybe a bit young, still.
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5/5/2016 - englishman's claret wrote: 92 Points
"Good not great" kind of champagne for my taste; fairly lactic and brioche which I'm personally not wild about though the quality is there. Some nice citrus top notes, fine mousse.
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3/26/2016 - _water.into.wine_ Likes this wine: 93 Points
Drank for wife's birthday.
So soft. Such fine bubbles. Toasted cereals. Some wood, slightly musty. A very nice champagne. The delicacy of the bubbles was a delight
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2/20/2016 - StiGGe Likes this wine: 94 Points
Scent: Deep and complex aromas of apple, plum, lemon, caramel and a bit of bread.
Taste: apple, plum, lemon, caramel, tons of bread and even a hint of chocolate in the background.
Comment: My personal favorite of all champagnes. Louis Roederer surpasses once again themselves. Will be interesting to see if 07 can reach the same quality.
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2/14/2016 - Luvtwowine Likes this wine: 95 Points
thoroughly enjoyed it, it is full flavor but light great bubble structure, no real fruit nose, but great with russian caviar, Just could not keep my hands off even though it should lay around for a nother couple years. We had a taste test with a 94 DOM. Cristal was superior, but not a good test, the Dom cork did not expand after opening. just can't buy Dom at Costco,
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2/9/2016 - ManhattanBeach Likes this wine: 93 Points
Royal Opera House and Decanter Magazine Wine Gala Dinner (Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London): Real vinosity, depth (not weight) and energy. Served with lobster boudin, shaved salsify, lobster cream, although I had some kind of ravioli.
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2/8/2016 - moreplease Likes this wine: 94 Points
At first very effervescent, but settles to an incredibly fine mouse. Yeasty but delicate nose. On the palate quite dry almost austere, wonderful lemon and citrus notes, pure and clean but not awfully long. Good stuff and not above the ordinary
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2/1/2016 - mwanasheria Likes this wine: 93 Points
Crisp and fresh, yet very fruity with apple, pineapple, gooseberry. Nice.
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1/22/2016 - giba ochman wrote: 93 Points
Good champs, with great potential, like 2002. Hold for 5-10 years and this one will delivery strong sensory memories. (94-96)
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1/21/2016 - mreinitz wrote:
This is one of the wines I had on order at Premier Cru. They went out of business and took my money with them.
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1/14/2016 - Eclipse1 Likes this wine: 91 Points
The sheer quality of this stuff shines through, within seconds from popping the cork the nose changes from " quiet" to very loud. Fresh peaches, toast and biscuits. I am a fan of this style so appreciate it is not to everyones taste, i think it will get better and better up to 2020. Probably drank it too soon and should have waited for the wine to warm up a bit. 28 of us gave it an average of 9/10
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1/10/2016 - steinersing wrote: 93 Points
quite enjoyable after a bit of air. precise.
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1/2/2016 - egor5005 wrote:
Fg
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1/1/2016 - g money Likes this wine: 99 Points
Opened to ring in the New Year. I now understand the love of this wine. This is definitely as good as it gets. Amazing structure and lingering pineapple, quince, and apple. Many, many years left to enjoy. Seldom, is there anything this expensive, that is actually worth it, this is.
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12/31/2015 - whitmanlholt Likes this wine:
Popped and poured on New Year’s Eve. No formal notes (or score), but this is very good. Nice nose, effervescence, flavor, and finish. Is it a bit overpriced for the quality? Perhaps. But who cares about that when the point is a nice celebratory Champs? On that front, the Cristal delivered in spades.
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12/31/2015 - jdporter3 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Beautiful marzipan and bread yeast notes on the nose and also some aged cheese. I think a bit young yet - rather zippy bubbles. Still, got some backbone to it. Would have liked to have had it with dinner but I suspect it is a little light for that. Part of a mostly American food and wine night so we probably did not give this bottle its due.
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12/19/2015 - rootbeer wrote:
Fantastic
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12/17/2015 - Jeff Leve wrote: 93 Points
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.
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12/15/2015 - Wozza Likes this wine: 96 Points
A whoppingly expensive 96/100 (4.4/5.0) from me. It's a fine champagne, with a rich colour, yeasty nose, and big quality beads and finish. In fact, it is the nicest champagne I have recently had. But at $450 in a Sydney restaurant, it just wasn't that good for that price. I'm therefore deducting 20% and dropping this to a 94 and 4.0 for being hugely over priced.
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12/11/2015 - partylikeakennedy wrote: 87 Points
Ya know, I was expecting more. Finally got around to trying this stuff and it was just....boring. The nose was kind of off-putting. Straw but also rubber and old socks. The bubbles are a bit over the top - kind of TOO fizzy, having a bit of a spaz attack. Palate was really simple. Mineral, anise, maybe banana. But despite the overly vigorous bubbles, it just fell flat with me (see what I did there??). Boring. Short finish. Drinkable for sure, but nowhere near worth the cost.
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12/8/2015 - Rupert wrote:
Wine Gang Ultimate Champagne Evening (67 Pall Mall, London): Hints of richness on the nose, but not distinctive yet - it's all just hints
[It is possible the glasses were tainted]
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12/8/2015 - SimonG wrote: 91 Points
Wine Gang 'Ultimate Champagne' (Basement, 67 Pall Mall): A rather cheesy nose.cleaner on the palate. Dosage quite evident. Just feels uncharacteristically clumsy for Cristal. Does seem to pull together with air, but... ****
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11/26/2015 - Asmiller wrote: 94 Points
Damn, it's good to be a gangsta....
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11/7/2015 - the player wrote: 90 Points
Very shut down, not sure this champagne will live up to its hype.
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10/31/2015 - Mark Wojt Likes this wine: 97 Points
Have been drinking this a glass a time over 6 days. Champagne stopper/fridge. On the 6th day it is perhaps even better than the first 3!!. Has mellowed its high acid tone entry and now the great breadth of the fruit in the middle palate fans out for a great champagne experience. Apple, a little cumquat, just great.
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10/7/2015 - Robert Pavlovich Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tight out of the blocks as expected, but this quickly showed its brilliance. Very fresh, lively acidity and stunning fruit extract. Pure, with a great mix of elegance and power. Very well put together and complex. Prefer this over the 2002. Easy 95+
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9/25/2015 - canan wrote: 94 Points
BYO European Wine (Restaurant Kul): Deep and full flavors but still very young. Impressive acidity and plenty of room to improve.
Adorable wine.
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9/19/2015 - Goldstone wrote: 88 Points
Greg's Birthday Dinner (Otto e Mezzo, Alexandra House, Central, Hong Kong): Silvery gold. Muted, very muted nose: quite metallic, not much complexity and very closed. Palate is very roasted but highly acidic. Not particularly enjoyable, which is a big contrast to when I drank it a year ago and found it very more-ish. Maybe just too young and in a sullen patch.....but definitely not worth restaurant asking prices.
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9/12/2015 - TuanHH Likes this wine: 97 Points
Light yellow hue with tiny bubbles in the flute, the Cristal 2006 is terribly inviting with notes of pear, pineapple, tropical fruit and creme patissiere. The texture on the palate is round and soft, creamy and caressing feel of marzipan, poire belle helene and creme brulee. The finish is long with an after taste you want to keep forever.
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7/11/2015 - Nicholas81 wrote: 92 Points
Still painfully young. It showed a dry, beautiful and elegant palate with peaches, apricots, grapefruit, brioche, floral, flint and citrus notes. The texture was sublime and extremely smooth. The finish was pretty lasting with a taut line of acidity. Lots of potential but I found it slightly thin for a champagne of this caliber and unexceptional at this stage. One for cellaring.
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6/28/2015 - Clos & Cru Likes this wine: 93 Points
So elegant and subtle, touch of spice, spring flowers, stone fruit
Mineral, restrain, elegant, nutty, such depth of aromas in very shy way, but so royal at the same time
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6/12/2015 - MWiking wrote: 95 Points
en ganska blyg näsa på detta vin, lätt spritsig och ung doft med kola päron, piggelin och krut.
Smaken är ganska lätt, krutig, gröna äpplen, och röda äppelskal. Lite gummi.
På tok för ungt och behöver nog rejält med tid för att visa upp sig ordentligt
95> för dagens provning med potential att växa yttligare.
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6/11/2015 - FamilyLarsson wrote: 93 Points
Känns väldigt slutet både i doften och smaken.
I doften päron, citrus, aningen honung, gummi, stendamm och annan mineral. I smaken rätt mycket tyngd och djup med massor av kalkig mineral, röda äpplen, grape, citrus och även här aningen honung. Kommer säkert att bli riktigt bra med tiden men visar sig just nu inte från sin bästa sida.
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6/11/2015 - Ramberg wrote: 92 Points
Nose is a bit shy, showing rubber, white flowers, touch of gunpowder, lemon drops, pear and sweet exotic ripe fruits.
Palate is young and undeveloped, not very expressive at this stage, showing chalky minerals, clean fruit (mainly red apples with some lemons and grapefruit), medium+ acidity, with a fine elegance.
Still a baby that needs another minimum 5 years to put on some flesh before fully ready to enjoy.
(92 – 95)
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6/11/2015 - Patrik H Likes this wine: 94 Points
light yellow
On the nose, sweat, pear icecream, (piggelin), pear and rubber.
On the palate, red apples, gun powder with a very integrated acid.
medium + finish
A wine that I expect much more from. But it is still in its youth and need to lay down for at least 10 years. Will grow during that time to something more interesting. Do not touch for many years.
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5/23/2015 - sdr Likes this wine: 91 Points
Very pale, usual active mousse. Delicate, bright, refreshing. A bit of complexity on the citrus flavors. Aperitif style. Dry for Cristal. Very nice but does not scream luxury champagne, needs to fill out.
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5/12/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 93 Points
Nose of lemon peel, fresh hay, and light hay smoke. Showed a sweetness on the palate this evening as it was served along much older wines.
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5/11/2015 - Lakefarm wrote: 91 Points
I've said it before, and will say it again. This is a solid champagne, but uninspiring, and better champagnes are out there at more modest prices. Had the 2004 comtes along side with it an this was totally out shined by the comtes.
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4/16/2015 - Paul S wrote: 94 Points
Birthday Dinner 2015 (Mitzo): Wonderful. Roederer has been hitting the ball out of the park with the last few vintages of Cristal, and this was another fine example. It had such a nice nose – very appley, but also enlivened by fresh, cirtusy lemon scents, and accompanied by some yeast, a little cream and sweet floral hints. A really pretty bouquet. The palate was absolutely lovely too. It had the typically clean, refined feel of a young Cristal, with a lovely creamy mousse and gently refreshing acidity forming a velvety robe around pure, sweetly fruited flavours of green strawberries and powdery red apple flesh, all infused with a gentle flush of warm spice through into a long, elegant finish. This was so beautifully integrated that it was delicious even in its youth, but it certainly has the balance and depth to age wonderfully for a long time to come. Beautiful stuff – this was really enjoyable. 55% Pinot Noir / 45% Chardonnay
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4/5/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 92 Points
Certainly not the most refined Cristal, this is still a very good wine. Nose of lemon peel, apple, light hay smoke, and wet rocks. Relatively smooth in the mouth despite youthful acid and citrus.
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3/21/2015 - Lakefarm wrote: 91 Points
Has had this on several occations, and my conclusion each time has been: put away for a decade and drink the regular Roederer vintage instead as it is just a better drink right now. The quality of the mousse however is just world class, smooth, precise and seem to just disappear in the mouth.
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3/6/2015 - steinersing wrote: 91 Points
tight and persistent acidity, not a lot of mineral notes compared to other vintages
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2/28/2015 - RayOB wrote: 91 Points
A Matter of Taste: London Edition (Saatchi Gallery, Chelsea): Very young and sill very acidic. Nice but not worth the price.
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2/24/2015 - Champagne88 wrote: 93 Points
I continue to find this only so-so.
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2/15/2015 - Necowine wrote: 90 Points
Pretty, layered bouquet and palate of sweet and tart apples, limestone, brioche - layered like those layered pudding/gelatin cup desserts, with the brioche at the bottom of the cup. Depth, then, and finesse. Much more delicate than I expected. From ~18USD glass on second day (courtesy of in-store promotion)!
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2/11/2015 - Sunny10 wrote: 92 Points
too green in the moment, will be a great wine.
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1/30/2015 - Darth Angelus Likes this wine: 96 Points
A very impressive Cristal vintage and a wonderful example that some champagnes can be absolutely delicious, even without much maturity.
I have always considered Cristal to taste a bit more exotic than other champagnes, and that is a great feature.
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12/31/2014 - mattias_hansen@hotmail.com wrote: 90 Points
Light yellow, pale in colour. Sadly, i cannot help but being disappointed with this showing. Yes, it is too young, and yes it will improve, but i did expect more from it already at this stage. the best glass was the last, and 3 hours after popping the cork and with 20 minutes in the glass to warm up, the nose becomes fragrant with lime, lemon, granny smith apple, pastry dough, and a good yeasty element ,although still very restrained. Palate is light, more lime and pastry, ending with a crisp and mineral cut. Does not feel or taste like 60% pinot noir in this blend, it could have persuaded me to be a BdB! if i had more, i would wait another 5 years hoping it will fundamentally change, the showing tonigh was not worthy of the name or the pricetag
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12/28/2014 - BilboBaggins Likes this wine: 93 Points
Christmas Champagne Tastings 2014: Tasted alongside the Dom 2004. This was clearly superior. Very charming nose full of apples, biscuits and some christmas spices. If there is any negative thing to say, then it is that the wine might be a bit too polished and sweet (high dosage?), but I would happily have emptied the bottle myself.
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12/25/2014 - Appellation Likes this wine: 92 Points
Yep, this is a good one. Crispy clean and cold in the bucket. Biscuit nose and toasty finish. Its all there in this one. full value.
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12/20/2014 - Tavastgatan wrote: 94 Points
Yeah, quality here. Very young of course but also very good. Refined, pure with some depth.
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12/16/2014 - petitblanc wrote: 95 Points
Charming wine from beginning to end. Brilliance with depth, creamy yet lively, complex but still showing great freshness. This will certainly gain more complexity with age, but it is very clean, elegant and enjoyable now.
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12/13/2014 - Collector1855 wrote: 94 Points
Champagne - 100 Vintage and NV Champagne; 12/15/2015-12/15/2020: During a vintage Champagne tasting at a Merchant. Nose of apple, mint, some yeast, mineral. Nice and subtle, also on the perlage. This is good but could not reach the best bottles of today.
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12/4/2014 - emzee.mc wrote: 94 Points
Bubble Bash 2014 (Pier A Harbor House): Such an elegant champagne. Pours a pale golden straw color with very thick long legs. The floral nose is smoky at first, then comes granny smith apples, lemon peel, ginger, wet stones and toasted marzipans. Smells very Burgundian. Very fine mousse with microscopic bubbles. On the palate, the wine is concentrated but effortless with a mineral-dominated backbone. Notes of orange zest, spices, mint, cinnamon, bacon brioche and caramel. Very creamy in the finish with moderate acidity to keep things fresh and focused. Such an incredibly balanced wine but needs time for sure, just like some other white grand cru Burgundies.
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12/4/2014 - drwine2001 wrote:
Grand Champagne Tasting (The Wine Club, San Francisco): Elegant, well balanced, medium dosage, good texture, long, powerful finish. Outstanding bottle.
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12/4/2014 - lolo66 wrote:
had a quick taste. very pleasant. seamless.
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12/3/2014 - Seth Rosenberg Likes this wine: 93 Points
Crush's Annual Champagne Gala 2014 (Crush Wine & Spirits, Midtown Manhattan.): Nose is smokey, apple, lemon, ginger, herbs, stones - and some thing cool, almost menthol. Suzanne C says 'very winey'. The palate is sharp with lemon, this is like white burg, big, spicy, not too complex. Long lemon finish. Nose - 4.5/6, Palate - 5.5/6, Finish - 5-5.5/6, Je ne Sais Quoi - 1-1.5/2 = 16-17/20.
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10/26/2014 - Ken G Likes this wine: 92 Points
Very good. If was a gift from a friend, and we very much enjoyed the thoughtfulness and flavor.
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10/20/2014 - Purple Tooth wrote: 91 Points
Fresh and briny, with jubilant bubbles. Very nice, but not moving.
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10/19/2014 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 94 Points
2014 K&L Champagne Tasting (K&L San Francisco Store): K&L Champagne Tasting-SF. Lovely rich delicate nose of toast, yeast, lemon zest, and wet slate, more of the same on the palate, tasty, elegant, crisp, needs 5 years to peak, medium/big body, very long flavorful finish and aftertaste.
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10/19/2014 - aagrawal wrote: 93 Points
K&L Champagne Tent Tasting (K&L, San Francisco): Yeasty, toasty, nice balance and character on the nose; palate had great acidity, balance, citrus. A great but young champagne overall. 93++
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9/17/2014 - forceberry wrote: 94 Points
Lemony pale yellow color. Quite rich and pretty toasty nose with nuanced aromas of bready autolysis, some roasted chestnuts, a little bit of savory honey and hints of toffee and butterscotch. The nose os quite seductive, and even though it feels more savory than sweet, there is still an almost dessert-wine quality to it. The wine is dry, firm and structured on the palate, but the wine still comes across as rather delicate and light-bodied instead of big and burly. There are savory flavors of autolytic toast and nuttiness, ripe red apples, some sharp citrus fruit notes, a little bit of spicy and slightly bitter apple peel and a sweeter nuance of brioche. The mousse feels very fine and creamy with really small bubbles, yet it comes across as very persistent. The acidity is moderately high, i.e. high enough to keep the wine fresh and structured, but not high enough to make the wine appear as racy. The finish is extremely long, fresh and complex with juicy flavors of apples both tart and sweet, some fresh citrus notes of lime and grapefruit, a little bit of complex nuttiness and a touch of autolysis.
A lovely vintage of Cristal that is showing very nicely right now, but shows a lot of promise for the future. Overall the wine comes across as remarkably elegant and complex with layers upon layers of flavors, ranging from tart and savory fruits to sweeter and more ripe nuances to attractive toasty autolytic nuances to almost oxidative, nutty complexity. The wine feels very much alive, both in the nose and on the palate. A true classic and a perfect example why this particular wine is so highly esteemed. No need to pop any bottles open during the next decade, perhaps even for two.
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8/13/2014 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 94 Points
A Taste of Louis Roederer Champagne (K&L Wine Merchants(Redwood City, CA)): Very pale gold color with with plentiful, active, pin prick sized bubbles. On the nose it shows layered aromas. Initially there is lemon, orange and roasted nut aromas, followed by apple, peach, ginger and mineral aromas. On the palate, it's focused, and suave with an exceedingly creamy delicate mousse and pear, apple, citrus zest flavors with spicy top note, and an alluring chalky minerality. Long finish. Blend: 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay
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6/10/2014 - BradE wrote:
My second bottle of the 06, and I remain a bit of a skeptic. Maybe time will change my opinion, but this vintage hasn't moved me so far.
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6/2/2014 - Champagne88 wrote: 93 Points
Certainly not the best of the prestige cuvees, but for a year that appears to be quite mediocre, this was quite alright. Very nice, long finish that had powerful concentration. I dislike that Roederer rushes its champagne to market and doesn't give it more time either on the lees or in the bottle. Maybe with more time this will be great, but it's certainly not drinking as well as the 2004 Dom Perignon is now. Indeed, I found the 2007 Roederer vintage to be better. 93+
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5/2/2014 - Iceman611 wrote: 92 Points
Super high acidity, lemon flavors. Gorgeous bubbles and some chablis-like floral and mineral qualities. Very good but I'd prefer dom or a vintage piper which are richer. This would probably do best with food.
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3/20/2014 - Goldstone wrote: 89 Points
Dinner with Ann Colgin (Crown Wine Cellars, 18 Deep Water Bay Drive, Shouson Hill, Hong Kong): My first outing with this vintage. Very light. Dances on the tongue. Very more-ish. Seems like a vintage to drink young rather than to keep.
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1/26/2014 - Yme wrote:
Numerous, ultra fine beads. Pale yellow gold in the glass. Tight citrus nose with white flowers and hazelnuts. Plenty of acidity with a tight palate with plenty of citrus, nuts and mandarin peel. Long, elegant length.
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12/31/2013 - dchain wrote: 94 Points
White gold with tell-tale signs of great champagne tiny pin prick bubbles that enhance the drink rather than sear your senses. Pear, apple and Danish pastries on the nose with some caressing, acidity refreshing without becoming mouthwash. Deep and tight flavours and is clearly superior to the 2005, this is the vintage to load up on and enjoy over the next 20 years.
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12/5/2013 - Matt Neel Likes this wine:
Crush's Champagne Gala 2013 (Crush Wine & Spirits, Midtown Manhattan): Goldish straw. Big, clean, saline nose; cream and class but totally primary. Palate is much the same -- rich, good acid, but closed up tight. Good length and terrific, filigree mousse. Needs time but the components are there.
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12/5/2013 - Seth Rosenberg wrote:
Crush's Annual Champagne Gala 2013 (Crush Wine & Spirits, Midtown Manhattan.): Sweet and creamy nose - almost candied. 2nd glass: lemon, ginger, spice, brown. Lots of lemon. great material behind, but pretty dumb now. The guy pouring said that this had just been shipped and might be experiencing bottle shock. Judgement deferred.
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