Average rating 4.9/5 stars across all Google and external reviews
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Bought directly from Louis Roederer's UK agent MMD, the bottles are stored in bond at London City Bond Eton Park, in ideal conditions at a constant 13°C. For same-day deliveries, small quantities are kept in our office cellar, where the temperature is maintained between 11–13°C. We source all our bottles directly from the Maison or their official UK office, eliminating the risk of poor storage. This is crucial, as champagne quality is highly sensitive to heat: temperatures above 18°C accelerate maturity significantly, which compromises quality.
Bottles Available:
9 × 75cl from 20th Aug We keep some stock in our London Warehouse. Large volumes take 24 hours from our out of London warehouse.
As the largest independent family-managed Champagne producer, Louis Roederer rank amongst the region's absolute finest. Established in 1776, the House today is managed by seventh generation family member Frédéric Rouzaud alongside long-time Chef de Cave and Champagne legend Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. They own an astounding 242 hectares of vineyards many in chalk rich Grand Cru villages covering two-thirds of their grape requirements. Roederer have become pioneers in biodynamic farming & by 2012 all 78 hectares the “Cristal Estates” are farmed using biodynamic methods. By 2021 Roederer have 115 hectares certified organic. All the grapes in Cristal & other vintage cuvee’s come from their own vineyards. The estate is made up of 410 plots which are fermented separately in one of the 450 stainless steel tanks in their Reims cellars. In 2020 Roederer replaced Brut Premier with “Collection” allowing each years non-vintage blend to be identified and “re-engineering” the non-vintage cuvee to maintain freshness in the light of global warming on the Champagne region. Today Cristal is, widely recognised as the world's most awarded prestige cuvée champagne.
In 1876, Russia's Tsar Alexander II, a long-time lover of Louis Roederer wines, asked the producer to create a special cuvée for his personal use which was unique in both its style and bottle design. Dissatisfied with standard champagne bottles that concealed the beautiful colour and effervescence from the eye, he requested that his personal cuvée be served in transparent crystal glass bottles, easier to spot poison and with a flat bottom to foil the insertion of explosives by would-be assassins. Thus, Louis Roederer selected the best vines from seven Grand Crus on his estate and Cristal, the first prestige cuvée, was born. Today some 45 plots make up the "Cristal Estates" and each vintage can sometimes be made up of all plots or as is normal often a few plots don't make the final blend.
Late release 2005 is an original disgorgement and kept in the cellars in Reims to age longer post disgorgement before release.
Weather: The 2005 vintage was unpredictable and full of contrasts. The weather was mostly warm with little rain, however a heatwave in August followed by a cool and rainy September moderated initial anticipation. In the end, a drastic selection in the vineyard ensured a limited volume of exceptional quality and indeed, 2005 was an extremely short vintage.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru (Detailed map)
Grape Varieties: 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 6 years
Post-Disgorgement Ageing: 8 years
Disgorged: 2012
Dosage: 10 g/l
Drink: Now to 2050+
Champagne in clear bottles must be stored in complete darkness, it spoils quickly if exposed to any light source. Cristal is supplied in yellow wrapping (not shown in photo) do not remove it and ideally place in a box. Read More
Tasting Note: Bright yellow hue with a soft and delicate effervescence. Intense bouquet in which the white fruit has evolved over the course of time to develop sweet, buttery and roasted notes such as vanilla and fresh pastries. Powerful notes of mocha and smoke remind us of the wine's 14 years of bottle age. This wine has retained its freshness and elegance as well as the round, juicy character of the 2005 vintage. The palate is structured by a pleasant bitterness which results in a saline sensation and intensifies the ethereal finish.
As the largest independent family-managed Champagne producer, Louis Roederer rank amongst the region's absolute finest. Established in 1776, the House is currently managed by seventh generation family member Frédéric Rouzaud alongside long-time Chef de Cave and Champagne legend Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. Today, Champagne Louis Roederer own an astounding 240 hectares of vineyards in the very best locations that cover two-thirds of their grape requirements and are pioneers in biodynamic farming, having converted a total of 50% of its holdings to accommodate production using biodynamic methods. Their portfolio begins with Brut Premier, one of Champagne's most seductive non-vintage cuvées and ends with Cristal, perhaps the world's most recognised prestige cuvée champagne.
Top quality grapes are the cornerstone of Roederer's style and account for their characteristic purity and elegance. Their portfolio begins with Brut Premier, one of Champagne's most seductive non-vintage cuvées and ends with Cristal, perhaps the world's most recognised prestige cuvée champagne. Created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia, the iconic Cristal is the essence of Roederer, matched only in decadence and luxury by its pink equivalent, Cristal Rosé.
Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon 1999 - Current | Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon has been the Chef de Cave at Louis Roederer since 1999, making him one of the youngest to hold the position in Champagne. He joined the company in 1989 and has played a significant role in shaping the house's style and approach to winemaking, particularly in the area of organic and biodynamic practices. He was instrumental in the transition of Louis Roederer to biodynamic farming, which now covers a large portion of their vineyards. Lécaillon's background in viticulture and oenology from the École Nationale Supérieure d'Agronomie in Montpellier, France, has been instrumental in his success. His work has had a significant impact on the renowned Cristal cuvée. Lécaillon's work at Roederer Estate in Tasmania and Anderson Valley, California, has provided him with a broad understanding of winemaking in different regions. Since taking the position, he has become the youngest Chef de Cave in Champagne.
Expert Reviews
18/20
Jancis Robinson MW
“Magnum. So powerfully scented that it perfumed the room on opening. Meaty, savoury nose. Not at all sweet. Bone dry and upright somehow. Very appetising - not at all rich. A seriously good aperitif champagne though not one of the most concentrated Cristals. Impressive persistence though.”
95/100
Josh Reynolds
“(L036332A109909): Bright yellow-gold. Heady floral-accented citrus and orchard fruits on the nose, with smoky mineral and floral overtones adding complexity. Velvety and chewy in texture, offering deep, juicy orange and poached pear flavors and suave honey and chamomile nuances. Blends precision with power, finishing with a distinct mineral quality and excellent persistence.”
92 → 95/100
Essi Avellan MW
“Pale lemon colour. Round and ripe yet fresh nose with stone fruits, spice, lemon and mild herb notes. Soft palate without the usual driven spine of Cristal, fluffy mousse and yet a good acidity for the vintage. Long with some bitter notes. Much more open than the 2006 today and with very little rot characters, however not as pure and precise as Cristal at its best. One of the stars of this difficult year. Cristal for mid-term drinking. ”
A memorable evening at Louis Roederer earlier this year saw us taste the new vintage releases from 2013, preview Cristal 2012 and Cristal Rosé 2012, and sample the upcoming magnum launches from the Cristal Vinothèque programme. This one's not to be missed!
A fascinating article detailing the often too difficult task of discerning information about a specific bottle of non-vintage champagne was recently published by Jancis Robinson MW on her website. She argues in favour of producers making information more available.
Earlier this year, we tasted a range of 2018 vins clairs with winemakers at fifteen different houses in Champagne. Thanks to exceptional weather throughout the year, some have been calling it 'the vintage of the century' and expectations are already sky-high. But just how much potential does 2018 have?
Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon recently presented a fascinating masterclass at 67 Pall Mall entitled 'Fighting for Freshness', in which he explained the challenges facing winemakers as they battle to cope with riper grapes and higher alcohol levels in a warming climate.
Not many are as excited as Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon about 2018s potential, a year he describes as having "the density of 2002 and the precision of 2008." During our visit, we also tasted the latest Cristal Vinothèque's and a mind-blowing pair of Cristal magnums.
Last week's Louis Roederer Cristal Vertical Tasting compared every vintage of Cristal produced this century, from 2000-2009. Guests also tasted the two latest vintages of Cristal Rosé, and Cristal 2006 from both bottle and magnum. Read the full write-up here.
Legendary Chef de Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon took us on a remarkable tour of the 2017 vintage, sharing trials on organic and biodynamic farming. We also tasted a mesmerising range of champagnes, including Cristal Vinothèque 1995.
Our Prestige Cuvée vs Vintage Champagne tasting with Jancis Robinson MW at 67 Pall Mall on Wednesday evening was a roaring success. Read our review, see the results and browse the pictures.
Is there a better way to spend a Sunday evening than dinner with Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon at the Louis Roederer family mansion? We tasted new Cristal 2008 and the exclusive late-release Cristal Vinothèque 1995.
Jancis Robinson MW, accompanied by The Finest Bubble journeyed to Champagne at the end of August to visit nine champagne houses. Read her in depth report.
Last week, the Gold and Silver medal results for the 2017 CSWWC were announced. We discuss the noteworthy winners and exciting future releases entered and highlight the best performing Houses and vintages.
In the first of our Vins Clairs 2016 articles, we recount our visit to Louis Roederer to taste the 2016 base wines. Chef de Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon had a lot to say about both the present and the future...
An experience worthy of sharing, very recently I journeyed to France with Louis Roederer to explore the magnificent vineyards and all things Louis Roederer. Find out more
