2014 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne

Sourced from 39 plots, the 2014 Champagne Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and the remainder Chardonnay, with 32% aged in oak, and it has 7 grams per liter dosage. It is highly expressive of classic elegance and purity, revealing aromas of crushed rock, almond croissant, and perfume of citrus blossoms. The palate is hyper-refined in its mousse, with pinpoint bubbles, a subtly rounded mid-palate, an irresistible chalky texture, and energy throughout its long and floral finish. Everything about this feels perfectly tailored. (11/2022)

The 2014 Cristal is another in a long line of gorgeous wines from Roederer and long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. A dazzling, vibrant Champagne, the 2014 impresses with a stunning combination of fruit density and linear energy that brings to mind a hypothetical blend of 2012 and 2008. At times, the bubbles feel totally wrapped up in waves of creamy, resonant fruit to the point the mousse is barely perceptible, especially with aeration. The flavors are bright and finely sculpted, leaning very much into the citrus, floral and mineral end of the spectrum. (AG) (2/2022)

This vivid Champagne shows up-front and linear definition, thanks to rapierlike acidity, with finely meshed flavors of ripe black cherry and mandarin orange fruit, raw almond, anise and cardamom spice as well as a touch of honeycomb, which all unfurl and expand on the fine, creamy palate. Sleek acidity continues through to the finish, with additional racy character provided by a streak of minerally saline and chalk, which gains momentum through the midpalate and rings out on the well-cut, lasting finish. *Top 100 Wines of 2022, Collectible* (AN) (6/2022)

Still young, with toast aromas and shining white-fruit flavors, the latest release of Cristal is just setting out. A dry, tight core of intense flavors are shot through with minerality from the pure chalk soil of the 45 individual parcels in the blend. *#1 Top 100 Cellar Selection* (RV) (7/2022)

By 2014, all of the grapes made for Cristal were being farmed biodynamically and certified organic since 2012. So alive on the nose, bursting with citrus and white fruit and floral aromas as well as some buttery toast nuances. Lemon meringue pie, summer strawberries and citrus tang on the palate - full with such a density to the texture, filling and persistent with tiny bubbles from start to finish. This has such a ‘cool’ element with minerality and a sense of tension that gives excitement and nicely offsets the more rich, round elements. Electric, clean and sharp, a thriller. (GH) (6/2023)

Tons of Amalfi lemon and chalky minerality here plus ripe pear and oyster shell. Quite generous and very expressive on the front- and mid-palates, but the finish is quite sleek and steely. As impressive as this is now it will grow considerably with further bottle age. A cuvee of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, of which a third was fermented in oak. (7/2023)

The 2014 Cristal is a terrific effort that transcends the vintage. Bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of ripe citrus fruit, nectarine, white flowers, freshly baked bread and subtle hints of honeycomb, it's medium to full-bodied, vinous and fleshy, with an exuberant core of fruit that's girdled by racy acids, resulting in a wine that's simultaneously chiseled and demonstrative, meaning that early appeal doesn't come at the expense of the requisite tension for long-term cellaring. Concluding with a long, aromatic and intensely chalky finish, it is a brilliant Champagne that will offer a broad drinking window. (WK) (2/2022)

The 2014 vintage of Cristal is another masterpiece in the making. The bouquet is young and utterly refined, wafting from the glass in a mix of apple, white peach, lemon, chalky minerality, patissière, white lilies and just a touch of citrus zest. On the palate the wine is pure, refined and full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit, beautifully complex soil tones, snappy acids, seamless balance and a long, nascently complex and utterly precise finish. This is quite a bit more tightly-knit structurally than the 2013 Cristal was a year ago, and this is clearly a vintage that is built for the cellar. It will be a stunning wine in due course, but it does not possess the same level of temptation as the 2013 to drink it on the early side! (3/2022)

Tiny bead. Seriously impressive tension in this bottle whose flavour (but not mousse) is explosive. It starts tight and taut, opens out to breadth of fruit on the mid palate, and then offers a positive fan of flavour on the bone-dry finish, all the time titillating every taste bud. Firm and a delightfully serious wine. 18.5+/20 points (JR) (3/2022)

The 2014 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne is composed of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from estate vineyards. Only the best, mid slope, old-vine sites are selected for this estate within an estate, and all the farming is done organically. One third comes from sites on the Mountain of Reims, another from the Marne Valley and the last third from the Côte des Blancs. The 2014 is 32% fermented in wood and dosed at just 7 grams per liter. (Gary Westby, K&L Champagne Buyer) *Organic*