2015 Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut

Community Tasting Note

csimm wrote:

94 Points

Friday, April 26, 2024 - This was a much better showing with this bottle than the one I had a few months ago. This was a bit more relaxed, slightly oxidative, but with notable concentration. Blind, I initially thought this was a 2015 Churchill due to their similar profiles and displays of fruit (once revealed). With its delineated linear bead and white/higher-riding yellow fruit, the Cristal was notably fuller than the Churchill. With air, it became more complex, which is where the subtle oxidative notes started to percolate.

I favor the 2013 Cristal (and 2008, though that has been a bit hit/miss for me - though a 2008 we also had during this tasting was very compelling). The 2015 will likely be a very good wine after a few more years in bottle, but I suspect it will never be a top reflection of the brand.

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4 comments have been posted

Comment posted by NickA:

4/26/2024 2:37:00 PM - Thanks for this. Any views on top 2015 Champagne (my daughter's birth year)?
Comment posted by csimm:

4/26/2024 3:20:00 PM - Hi Nick. In my opinion, 2015 is still a question mark for Champagne and how it will all shake out. It’s unfortunately not the strongest vintage. Cristal is a wine I think will flesh out eventually, and is probably one of the top big houses even in 2015. Pol Roger Churchill in 2015 is super solid. Like Cristal, it’s a full step behind the 2013 and 2012 vintages, but Churchill is very consistent across most vintages (including 2015) and is worth buying. Roses de Jeanne (Cedric Bouchard) made some excellent 2015s - Boloree and Bechalin especially - but they can be pricey. Other big houses haven’t released their wines yet (Dom, Krug, etc), so we shall see. Philipponnant Goisses is usually solid too, but I haven’t had 2015.
Comment posted by NickA:

4/26/2024 3:32:00 PM - Thanks for that. I have a few Bollinger GA, a couple of Vilmart CdC, and one bottle of Cristal, but generally keeping my powder dry - as you say, it's early days really. At least she will have plenty of reds :-)
Comment posted by csimm:

4/27/2024 10:26:00 AM - Definitely better choices for reds in 2015!