Louis Roederer Cristal Rosé 2013
The ascent of Cristal Rosé to the greatest rosé not only in Champagne but in the world today is complete, confirmed emphatically and unequivocally by the trilogy of 2008, 2012 and 2013, unparalleled anywhere on earth in living memory and, one must surely assume, ever. The pinpoint precision of the utterly seamless union between pinot noir and chardonnay displayed here is mesmerising in itself, but it is its juxtaposition with profound structure and tension that is most astonishing of all. A flash of malic acidity that brilliantly illuminates a landscape of stark white chalk from horizon to horizon plays out a drama like I have never before witnessed. Le Montrachet has chalk. Clos du Mesnil has chalk. But they have chardonnay. And malolactic. Cristal Rosé is founded fundamentally on Aÿ pinot noir. Yet it is inseparable from Avize and Le Mesnil chardonnay. Never before have the three united to such an emphatic declaration of chalk mineral purity. This is the most profound recipe, executed with intuition to perfection. It exudes an irresistible allure from the outset, yet make no mistake, its finest days are yet decades away, and this will prove itself to be one of the most enduring rosés history has yet witnessed. If the mythical Cristal Rosé 2008 and the transcendental 1996 are the greatest rosés I have ever tasted, 2013 ranks a mighty, mighty close third.
99 Points, Tyson Stelzer, champagne.guide
A candidate for wine-of-the-vintage Honors in Champagne, Roederer's 2013 Cristal Rosé is showing brilliantly, unfurling in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, red berries, stone fruit, freshly baked bread, and tangerine oil. Full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, the vintage's bright girdling acids are amply cloaked in exuberant, expressive and notably concentrated fruit; so, while this Cristal is as tensile and age worthy as one would expect, it's also impressively fleshy and generous given the year. Concluding with an intensely sapid finish, the 2013 isn't as overtly structured as the muscular, tightly wound 2012: rather, it's the 2013's alliance of cut and flesh, precision and charm that's so compelling this year. This is another banner vintage for what I consider the reigning champion of the region's tête de cuvée bottlings, and it will be worth an effort to acquire.
99 Points, William Kelley, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Aromas of strawberry, iron, orange peel and brioche follow through to a full body with gorgeous fruit and sweet tannins that layer the wine. Strawberry-patisserie undertones. Rather juicy and chewy with very round, fine tannins. Savory, flavourful and lightly spicy. Caressing finish with lots of fruity flavour and dryness. Drink now or hold. Tasted: Nov 2021.
98 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com.
The 2013 Cristal Rosé is searingly intense right out of the glass, just like the Blanc, except it has a bit more fleshiness because of the skin contact on the Pinot. Cristal Rosé has one of the best track records for aging in Champagne. I suspect the 2013 will join the ranks of the epic vintages, but it is painfully tight today. The blend is 55% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ) and 45% Chardonnay (from Avize and Mesnil) done in the classic Roederer infusion style in which Pinot Noir is vinified on the skins and then blended with Chardonnay to complete the fermentation. About 25% of the lots were done in oak, while malolactic fermentation was blocked.
98 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The ascent of Cristal Rosé to the greatest rosé not only in Champagne but in the world today is complete, confirmed emphatically and unequivocally by the trilogy of 2008, 2012 and 2013, unparalleled anywhere on earth in living memory and, one must surely assume, ever. The pinpoint precision of the utterly seamless union between pinot noir and chardonnay displayed here is mesmerising in itself, but it is its juxtaposition with profound structure and tension that is most astonishing of all. A flash of malic acidity that brilliantly illuminates a landscape of stark white chalk from horizon to horizon plays out a drama like I have never before witnessed. Le Montrachet has chalk. Clos du Mesnil has chalk. But they have chardonnay. And malolactic. Cristal Rosé is founded fundamentally on Aÿ pinot noir. Yet it is inseparable from Avize and Le Mesnil chardonnay. Never before have the three united to such an emphatic declaration of chalk mineral purity. This is the most profound recipe, executed with intuition to perfection. It exudes an irresistible allure from the outset, yet make no mistake, its finest days are yet decades away, and this will prove itself to be one of the most enduring rosés history has yet witnessed. If the mythical Cristal Rosé 2008 and the transcendental 1996 are the greatest rosés I have ever tasted, 2013 ranks a mighty, mighty close third.
99 Points, Tyson Stelzer, champagne.guide
A candidate for wine-of-the-vintage Honors in Champagne, Roederer's 2013 Cristal Rosé is showing brilliantly, unfurling in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, red berries, stone fruit, freshly baked bread, and tangerine oil. Full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, the vintage's bright girdling acids are amply cloaked in exuberant, expressive and notably concentrated fruit; so, while this Cristal is as tensile and age worthy as one would expect, it's also impressively fleshy and generous given the year. Concluding with an intensely sapid finish, the 2013 isn't as overtly structured as the muscular, tightly wound 2012: rather, it's the 2013's alliance of cut and flesh, precision and charm that's so compelling this year. This is another banner vintage for what I consider the reigning champion of the region's tête de cuvée bottlings, and it will be worth an effort to acquire.
99 Points, William Kelley, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Aromas of strawberry, iron, orange peel and brioche follow through to a full body with gorgeous fruit and sweet tannins that layer the wine. Strawberry-patisserie undertones. Rather juicy and chewy with very round, fine tannins. Savory, flavourful and lightly spicy. Caressing finish with lots of fruity flavour and dryness. Drink now or hold. Tasted: Nov 2021.
98 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com.
The 2013 Cristal Rosé is searingly intense right out of the glass, just like the Blanc, except it has a bit more fleshiness because of the skin contact on the Pinot. Cristal Rosé has one of the best track records for aging in Champagne. I suspect the 2013 will join the ranks of the epic vintages, but it is painfully tight today. The blend is 55% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ) and 45% Chardonnay (from Avize and Mesnil) done in the classic Roederer infusion style in which Pinot Noir is vinified on the skins and then blended with Chardonnay to complete the fermentation. About 25% of the lots were done in oak, while malolactic fermentation was blocked.
98 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
The ascent of Cristal Rosé to the greatest rosé not only in Champagne but in the world today is complete, confirmed emphatically and unequivocally by the trilogy of 2008, 2012 and 2013, unparalleled anywhere on earth in living memory and, one must surely assume, ever. The pinpoint precision of the utterly seamless union between pinot noir and chardonnay displayed here is mesmerising in itself, but it is its juxtaposition with profound structure and tension that is most astonishing of all. A flash of malic acidity that brilliantly illuminates a landscape of stark white chalk from horizon to horizon plays out a drama like I have never before witnessed. Le Montrachet has chalk. Clos du Mesnil has chalk. But they have chardonnay. And malolactic. Cristal Rosé is founded fundamentally on Aÿ pinot noir. Yet it is inseparable from Avize and Le Mesnil chardonnay. Never before have the three united to such an emphatic declaration of chalk mineral purity. This is the most profound recipe, executed with intuition to perfection. It exudes an irresistible allure from the outset, yet make no mistake, its finest days are yet decades away, and this will prove itself to be one of the most enduring rosés history has yet witnessed. If the mythical Cristal Rosé 2008 and the transcendental 1996 are the greatest rosés I have ever tasted, 2013 ranks a mighty, mighty close third.
99 Points, Tyson Stelzer, champagne.guide
A candidate for wine-of-the-vintage Honors in Champagne, Roederer's 2013 Cristal Rosé is showing brilliantly, unfurling in the glass with notes of crisp orchard fruit, white flowers, red berries, stone fruit, freshly baked bread, and tangerine oil. Full-bodied, layered and multidimensional, the vintage's bright girdling acids are amply cloaked in exuberant, expressive and notably concentrated fruit; so, while this Cristal is as tensile and age worthy as one would expect, it's also impressively fleshy and generous given the year. Concluding with an intensely sapid finish, the 2013 isn't as overtly structured as the muscular, tightly wound 2012: rather, it's the 2013's alliance of cut and flesh, precision and charm that's so compelling this year. This is another banner vintage for what I consider the reigning champion of the region's tête de cuvée bottlings, and it will be worth an effort to acquire.
99 Points, William Kelley, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Aromas of strawberry, iron, orange peel and brioche follow through to a full body with gorgeous fruit and sweet tannins that layer the wine. Strawberry-patisserie undertones. Rather juicy and chewy with very round, fine tannins. Savory, flavourful and lightly spicy. Caressing finish with lots of fruity flavour and dryness. Drink now or hold. Tasted: Nov 2021.
98 Points, James Suckling, jamessuckling.com.
The 2013 Cristal Rosé is searingly intense right out of the glass, just like the Blanc, except it has a bit more fleshiness because of the skin contact on the Pinot. Cristal Rosé has one of the best track records for aging in Champagne. I suspect the 2013 will join the ranks of the epic vintages, but it is painfully tight today. The blend is 55% Pinot Noir (from Aÿ) and 45% Chardonnay (from Avize and Mesnil) done in the classic Roederer infusion style in which Pinot Noir is vinified on the skins and then blended with Chardonnay to complete the fermentation. About 25% of the lots were done in oak, while malolactic fermentation was blocked.
98 Points, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
