Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne 2018
(Champagne, France) - [VM 98+]

About the Domaine:
Louis Roederer has been synonymous with the world's great Champagnes since 1776, and it is one of the rare family owned companies, which is still managed by the Roederer family today. They are also one of the only French champagne producers to own nearly 75% of the grapes in the most desirable vineyards in the Champagne. The property is located on 450 acres in the finest villages of Montagne de Reims, Cotes des Blancs, and Valle de la Marne. Each region is selected to produce Chardonnay and Pinot Noir with the elegance needed for perfectly balanced champagne. The Louis Roederer vineyards rate an average 98% based on France's statutory 100-point classification scale..

About Cristal:
Champagne Louis Roederer's "Cristal" was created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II as the first "Prestige Cuvee" and it remains as such to this day.  These are the best grapes from the best sites in the best vintages. The 2018 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut is an exquisite, rich Champagne made from 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay, spends an average of five years sur lie, and is notable for its richness. Cristal is an all-estate Champagne, from 50 hectares of vines: the best, oldest and chalkiest parts of Louis Roederer's vineyards.  They farm these plots, which are roughly 1/3 from the Cotes de Blancs, 1/3 from the north-facing side of the Mountain de Reims and 1/3 from Ay, differently from the rest of the estate, intentionally working the land for lower yields and higher quality.

Vintage Conditions: 
The 2018 growing season was warm and dry. Cellar Master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon expanded the blend to include 45 parcels to preserve fresh minerality.

Wine Making:
The wine is crafted with no malolactic fermentation, and about 28% of the base wines are aged in wood. It is aged for 6 years on its lees and rests for a further 8 months after disgorgement.

Alcohol & Sugar:
The dosage is typically between 10 and 11 grams per liter

Varietal Composition:

57% Pinot Noir, 43% Chardonnay

Tasting Notes:

Appearance
This wine reveals a brilliant hue adorned with subtle yellow nuances bordering on amber. Its bubbles emerge with great delicacy, rising slowly and steadily.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet proves particularly expressive, first unveiling scents of fresh yellow fruits such as nectarine, blended with the liveliness of citron. Delicate floral notes reminiscent of orange blossom and pollen are added to the mix. Aeration reveals a beautiful complexity marked by hints of vanilla and smoke, along with touches of menthol, bergamot, cedar and white chocolate.

Palate
The attack highlights the marked presence of Pinot Noir, offering a texture that is at once fleshy, concentrated and full of juice. The tannic structure stands out for its great finesse, accompanied by a perfectly integrated effervescence. The mid-palate is underlined by an elegant saline touch, leading to a particularly thirst-quenching finish. The whole shines through its remarkable freshness, fruitiness and fluidity.

Ratings & Reviews

98+ Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2018 Cristal opens a new chapter for Roederer. The Cristal estate is composed of 45 parcels. In better vintages, most of the 45 parcels are used for the blend. The 2018 vintage brought with it elevated ripeness and generally low acids. Longtime Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon was forced to cast his gaze wider, to look for parcels that offered a touch of freshness. Lécaillon expanded his palette to 57 parcels. The result is a Cristal unlike any other I have tasted. Orchard fruit, dried flowers, spice, chalk and herbs." - Antonio Galloni (May 2026)