Louis Roederer Cristal 2005 (750ML)

97 WE / 96 JS / 95 W&S / 18 JR

The iconic Roederer Champagne, Cristals latest release, brings a perfect balance of richness and age worthiness. It is full of apple flavor, and the mousse is very fine and almost imperceptible. Cellar Selection -Wine Enthusiast

The complexity and youthful freshness here makes a striking Champagne that offers immense pleasure and a certain richness and depth that reflects the style of the vintage with some warmth reflected in the wine. The nose has rich citrus and stone fruits, some white flowers, light creamy honey notes and fresh sweet pastry, it has a toasty thread that has built quickly in the wine. Plenty of body on the palate, it has a wealth of assertive citrus and more exotic fruits too, the power and concentration undeniable, the length impressive and the balance impeccable. Already great drinking here. Slightly higher chardonnay component at around 45%. - NS, James Suckling .com

Every vintage can't be 2002, or even 2004. Even so, this is pretty great, an open, airy, whip-smart delivery of Cristal's spark, a wine of formidable delicacy. The undertow is there, drawing down a wave of spicy oak notes and heady cr¬me caramel to reveal glints of limestone, the bright shimmer of acidity sustained by the cool rootedness in the soil. In 45 words of my notes on this wine, there's not a single mention of fruit. Instead, they focus on brightness, subtlety, lusty juiciness, balance and mouthwatering complexity. -Wine & Spirits

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. - Jancis Robinson