2015 Roederer Cristal Vintage Brut

Decanter.com – 95 pts – AK: *An open and inviting nose references cream, oatmeal and Amalfi lemon with the slightest edge of smoke. The palate immediately strikes with a mouthwatering lemon ripeness and a juicy, mouthfilling generosity reminiscent of yellow plum. It stays true to the trademark sleekness of Cristal and speaks of the concentration of 2015. Fine mousse accentuates the fullness and roundness of the wine while the long finish hints at chalky depth which, for now, is dominated by ripe stone fruit and more of that textured, rich notion of oatmeal. Definitely a Cristal to enjoy soon.* - 04/2023

Falstaff Magazin – 96 pts – PM: *Helles Grüngelb, goldfarbene Reflexe, sehr feines, gut anhaltendes Mousseux. Mit einem Hauch ofenfrischem Backwerk unterlegte Zitrusnuancen, Limettenzesten, weißer Weingartenpfirsich, ein Hauch von Kumquat und Haselnuss, mineralischer Ton ist unterlegt, ein finessenreiches, animierendes Bukett. Stoffig, mit straffer Mineralität versehene Textur, mittlerer Körper, weißes Kernobst, ein Hauch von Ringlotte, noch sehr jugendlich, feine salzige Nuancen im Abgang, gute Länge, sicheres Reifepotenzial, ein präziser Speisenbegleiter, der mit Flaschenreife noch zuzulegen vermag.* - 01/2023

JancisRobinson.com – 17,5++/20pts – JR: *Launched in April 2023. Creamy and welcoming on the nose. Flattering texture and lots packed in there. As usual, such a baby at this early stage! Some smokiness and a lot of dry savour. Tight-knit and introvert. Wait! Such a shame it has to be released so early...* - 11/2023

Vinous.com – 96 pts – AG: *I have tasted the 2015 Cristal three times so far - once as part of an extensive vertical I will be reporting on shortly, and then later in my office. Those tastings paint a portrait of a complex Champagne that is still finding its center. Tasted at the maison, the 2015 is rich, dense and explosive, with tremendous textural intensity and also a good bit of energy to back it up. Citrus confit, spice, ginger, chalk and dried flowers abound in a Champagne endowed with tremendous aromatic presence in a style that offers notable richness, but lighter than vintages such as 2012. There is a bit of the savoriness that is such a signature of the year, but it is nicely integrated in the wine’s fabric. Two later tastings in my office strongly suggest the 2015 has already started to shut down a bit, which is a shame, as it may be hard to read for some time to come. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: November 2022.* - 03/2023