Louis Roederer : Cristal 2014

A lovely stylistic freshness with a still-primary spectrum. It’s crystalline with a refined definition. The palate is more chiselled, in a taut style but without austerity. A superb framework, still evolving; this bottle should be laid aside for a while. This is not a wine to drink today.

A robe with a beautiful golden-straw color, with a nose of purity as hypnotic as a spiral of gold, delicately honeyed and floral, aromas of lily, freesia and acacia blossom that convey a floating sensation. The aromas then open to notes of slightly toasted fresh bread, filling the nostrils with the scent of breakfast wafting up to the bedrooms. On the palate, the same elegance as on the nose, with notes of yellow fruits, a savory graininess, and a sinuous, long, mineral finish.

This vivid Champagne shows up-front, linear definition thanks to rapierlike acidity, with finely meshed flavors of ripe black cherry and mandarin orange, raw almond, anise and cardamom spice, as well as a touch of honeycomb that unfurl and expand on the fine, creamy palate. Sleek acidity carries through to the finish, with additional racy character from a streak of minerally saline and chalk that gains momentum through the midpalate and rings out on the well-cut, lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2040. 9,181 cases imported.

Still young, with toast aromas and shining white-fruit flavors, the latest release of Cristal is just setting out. A dry, tight core of intense flavors are shot through with minerality from the pure chalk soil of the 45 individual parcels in the blend. Drink this wine from 2025. Organic.