2002 Champagne Louis Roederer, Cristal, Brut

Roederer’s 2002 Cristal, from Magnum, is just off the charts. What else is there to say? The magnum format is so well-suited to Champagne. As opposed to still wines, which are just aged in glass, for Champagne, the secondary fermentation takes place in the glass. I am convinced that is a major part of what makes Champagne from magnum or larger) often so compelling. The texture, breadth and overall pedigree here is just remarkable, with layers of apricot, spice, dried flowers and citrus confit that continue to build over time. The 2002 is neither old nor young; it is quite simply eternal. What a great way to start the night. Wow!

Drink 2022 - 2042

Magnum. Disgorged in 2008, dosage 9 g/l. 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay. 17% of the cuvée is fermented in oak. Five years spent on the lees. ‘In 2002 I did nothing – just blended the usual Cristal plots’, said Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon.

Deep dark straw. Very complex and this seems really quite aged. Mature white-burgundy sensation. Complex and savoury. Really exciting. Maybe not the most persistent Cristal in this vertical tasting, but really exciting.

Drink now to 2026

The 2002 Cristal is one seriously big, huge even, Champagne. While this cuvee normally shows a seamless, elegant style, the 2002 vintage’s fruit profile dominates this wine. Toasted bread, oak spice, orchard fruits, and toasted nuts give way to a full-bodied, mouth-filling, rich 2002 that stays light, graceful, and elegant on the palate, with good to moderate acidity. It’s beautiful today yet has two more decades of longevity.

Drink 2017 - 2037

A re-release of the original 2010 disgorgement. Super fine, super fresh and super savoury aromas of chalky stones with hints of flowers, white almonds, lemon peel and grapefruit. The palate has intense, mouth-filling, lemon-curd flavour. Very powerful, very concentrated and very expressive. Smooth finish that’s full of life, leaving a bright, white cherry note.

Drink in 2022

Tasted from the original 2009 disgorgement, the 2002 Cristal is a broad, vinous wine, bursting with aromas of honeyed yellow orchard fruit, warm butter, brioche and fresh peaches. On the palate, it's full-bodied, textural and mouth-filling, rendering the fine-boned chalky structure and textural finesse that distinguish this quintessentially elegant style of this cuvée in a broader-shouldered, more enveloping register. The 2002 is beginning to enter its plateau of maturity and is drinking beautifully today, though it still has many years ahead of it.

Drink 2019 - 2039

Twenty years is a sweet spot for Cristal, and this 2002 didn’t disappoint. Floral notes and touches of iodine on the nose give both an appealing aroma and minerality balancing the lemon, sea salt, honeysuckle and nutty aspects. Lean and crisp on the palate, this is definitely more on the mineral side right now.

The maturity is evident in the light, less immediately thrilling aspect of the acidity and fruit flavours. This is more calm, still full of richness and generous red fruit elements, juicy strawberry, and tangy lemon and lime. It's a lovely, soft, caressing Champagne that’s lost its fat. It's a charming and easy wine that really showcases the terroir.

Drink 2023 - 2040