Bid on this 6-bottle lot of 2012 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne (98IWR, 98JG, 98JH, 98VN, 98WE, 97JD, 97RP, 97WS, 95JS, 95W&S). Vinous: "The 2012 Cristal is the first made entirely from biodynamically farmed vineyards. Passionfruit, mango, spice and ginger open first, but it is the wine’s textural richness and volume that stand out most. The 2012 is one of the most opulent, flamboyant recent Cristals. Those qualities feel especially amplified in this tasting, perhaps because of the presence of wines from the surrounding vintages. It was a complicated season, as mildew reduced yields significantly, resulting in an especially rich Cristal that seems to be gaining intensity with time in bottle. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: 2020. (AG)" (12/2023)
2012 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne
Current price: $1,659.00Ends in:
Included in this lot · 6 bottles
Provenance: Purchased from reputable sources on release and stored in a professional storage facility by a NY-based collector. Delivered to K&L via refrigerated transit.
2012 Louis Roederer "Cristal" Brut Champagne
98IWR
98JG
98JH
98VN
98WE
97JD
97RP
97WS
95JS
95W&S
Quantity:6Bottle Size:750 mlCondition:Excellent
Reviews
98
Int'l Wine Review
10/2020
The 2012 Cristal is a thing of beauty and is already utterly breathtaking. This vintage also maks the first where the fruit comes from 100% biodynamically-farmed fruit. This begins to impresses with its striking elegance and wonderful purity. It opens to wondeful aromas of Meyer lemon oil, asian pears, white flowers, white peach, toasted hazelnut, minerals and a subtle hint of toast which unwind beautifully in the glass. The palate is simply gorgeous, displaying remarkable precision and finesse. yet with a gorgoeus textured mouthfeel. There is a beautifuly inner core marked by flavors of ripe stone fruits, saline and toasted nuts, which is framed by a stunning combination of acidity and minerality. The 2012 is nothing short of a thrilling vintage of Cristal that is already drinking exceptionally well today, but should also have an incredible future ahead. (JD)
98
John Gilman
11/2019
The 2012 vintage of Cristal is the first to be produced entirely from Demeter-certified, biodynamically-farmed fruit, which is a landmark for Maison Roederer. The future is now here! I have been looking forward to this release of this vintage of Cristal for a few years now, but sadly found myself not in top form to appreciate its debut, as I was so suffering from jet lag after my three weeks on the road in November that my energy level was no match for this beautiful young wine. The 2012 Cristal is its customary cépages of sixty percent pinot noir and forty percent chardonnay and none of the vins clairs went through malo this year, with one-third of the blend barrel-fermented. The wine was finished in 2012 with a dosage of 7.5 grams per liter and offers up a beautiful young nose of pear, apple, fresh lemon, white flowers, a very complex base of chalky minerality, a hint of the caraway seed to come and a topnote of white flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied and nascently complex, with a racy girdle of acidity, a rock solid core, impeccable focus and grip, refined mousse and stunning length and grip on the poised and perfectly balanced finish. This is another great vintage of Cristal in the making, but it deserves plenty of time in the cellar to blossom properly.
