Louis Roederer Champagne Cristal Brut 2018 750ml Case of 6

A well-tailored Champagne, with density, length and a firm spine of vivid acidity. Though this is firmly structured, there’s a sense of finesse. The crisp, delicate mousse is a swathe of lacy texture enmeshing the fine frame as this carries flavors of black currant, lemon curd, chalky mineral and biscuit. The finish is long and fragrant, echoing fruit, toast, mineral and spices. Harmonious and enjoyable today, but this will cellar nicely—potentially longer than some of its peers from the vintage Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2048. (Collectible)

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 are some of the many notes that take shape in the glass. Floral and savory overtones are quite distinctive. Lécaillon reduced oak ferments, racked very quickly after fermentation and used all his best Chardonnay lots for Cristal, so much so that there is no Blanc de Blancs. He bottled earlier than normal and chose a crown capsule with a liner that allows less oxygen transfer than the norm here. Taken together, those choices paid off handsomely. In tasting, the 2018 is positively stunning. Its linear energy and brilliance are a bit reminiscent of the 2014, but its flavor profile is completely different from any Cristal I can remember tasting. Dosage is 7 grams per liter.

#98 in Top 100 Wines of France 2026. A very structure Cristal with aromas of white pepper, bread dough, pie crust, pear tart and a hint of flint. Full-bodied with bitter grapefruit, apricot and lemon flavors. The bubbles turn fine and driving, giving it length and intensity. From organically grown grapes. Will age nicely. Drink or hold.

This sunny, ripe, generous vintage of Cristal sent Roederer's Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon in search of greater concentration and purity in the plots selected, with the resulting wine taking in extra plots of Chardonnay from Avize and Pinot Noir from Verzy that are not usually used. Through organic and biodynamic viticulture – and relatively low yields for the year – this Cristal retains the welcoming, generous texture that 2018s offer, but crucially follows it with an uncommon degree of finesse, energy and depth. Soft raspberry, apricot and white nectarine fruit is held in check by an engaging, slightly smoky white pepper complexity and a salty-chalky snap on the finish which livens up this glossy, flowing edition of Cristal. Longevity is assured here, but this is also a brilliant Cristal for drinking younger than the likes of 2016, 2014 or 2013. 30% oak fermentation, with dosage 7g/L.

Whereas the 2016 vintage was rather tightly knit and incisive, the 2018 Cristal is more enveloping and charming. Unfurling in the glass with aromas of ripe citrus, white peach and warm bread mingled with hints of pear, it is medium- to full-bodied, ample and textural, with a layered, nicely concentrated core of fruit underpinned by ripe yet vibrant acidity and enlivened by a pinpoint mousse. Much like the 2004, it may gain considerably from additional time post-disgorgement, even if it is already approachable. Sourced from 57 plots selected with an emphasis on freshness, it was disgorged in January 2026.

A deep and vinous wine, bright and noble, a true Cristal. It is balanced by a chalky freshness that cuts through and stretches the wine giving it with a slender fuselage and great finesse. Rich and complex aromas with notes of zesty and candied fruit (lemon) mingled with pollen (white flowers), roasted hazelnut and Madagascar vanilla. After aeration, the bouquet develops rich notes of fresh pastries and smoky notes from bottle ageing.