The latest vintage of Louis Roederer’s Cristal has been released, the “exuberant” 2013.
- The wine has been released at £1,700 per 12×75 (£850 x6) SIB.
- The release price of the 2013 is an increase of 4.2% on the 2012’s initial release and makes the 2013 12% more expensive than the 2012 at its current Market Price.
- The new vintage has been scored 96 by the Wine Advocate, which said it was “exuberant” and “less introverted” than its predecessor.
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The new vintage has an enthusiastic review from the Wine Advocate (see below), though buyers may also be drawn to the relative value offered by the 2012 and 2004 vintages, both rated 97 and with respective prices of £1,516 and £1,828 per dozen.
Critical reaction
Scoring the wine for the Wine Advocate, William Kelley gave it 96 while calling it, “deep, concentrated and penetrating” with a “pinpoint mousse”.
He added it was “less introverted” than the 2012 but suggested it would prove age worthy as well; recommending “forgetting some” for a decade.
The wine
The new wine is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, drawn from 30 of the house’s 45 lieux-dits split evenly between the three principal growing regions in Champagne: the Marne Valley, Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims.
The 2013 vintage was marked by a late growing cycle. Due to a long winter and cool start to spring, there was no flowering until July. The weather improved in summer with some record high temperatures and then cooled in autumn with harvest in October.
There is also a Cristal Rosé 2013, which is due for release at a later date this summer.
