Roederer/Louis Brut Champagne Cristal 2014

99 points Anne Krebiehl, MW (Falstaff): "An initially faint but distinct hint of freshly cut green but ripe apple, of lemon. Subtle florality, a mere touch of freesia, hints at more nuance to come. More time in the glass reveals a sense of still briny oyster shell. The palate is like a summer breeze, caressing the palate with finest, creamiest foam – and again that saltiness that is utterly seductive and appetising. There is immense vertical richness in that creamy but svelte texture. Despite the generosity, the creaminess, there is nothing superfluous to obscure the wine’s essential and clear-cut luminosity. This is a model of sleekness, understatement and depth, an utterly compelling combination of briskness and emollience. Irresistible now but guaranteed to evolve. (1/1/22)"

98 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2014 Cristal is another in a long line of gorgeous wines from Roederer and long-time Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon. A dazzling, vibrant Champagne, the 2014 impresses with a stunning combination of fruit density and linear energy that brings to mind a hypothetical blend of 2012 and 2008. At times, the bubbles feel totally wrapped up in waves of creamy, resonant fruit to the point the mousse is barely perceptible, especially with aeration. The flavors are bright and finely sculpted, leaning very much into the citrus, floral and mineral end of the spectrum. The blend is a classic: 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay taken from 39 of the 45 parcels that comprise the Cristal estate. About 32% of the lots were fermented in wood, the rest were done in tank. As always, all of the malolactic fermentations were blocked... The 2014 Cristal is a riveting Champagne. Don’t miss it. Drink: 2024-2064. (Feb 2022)"

98 points/'#10 Top Wine of the Year 2022,' Wine Spectator: "[$359 list] This vivid Champagne has upfront and linear definition, thanks to rapierlike acidity, with finely meshed flavors of ripe black cherry and mandarin orange fruit, raw almond, anise and cardamom spice as well as a touch of honeycomb, which all unfurl and expand on the fine, creamy palate. Sleek acidity continues through to the finish, with additional racy character provided by a streak of minerally saline and chalk, which gains momentum through the midpalate and rings out on the well-cut, lasting finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2040. (4/6/22)"

98 points Jeb Dunnuck: "Sourced from 39 plots, the 2014 Champagne Cristal is 60% Pinot Noir and the remainder Chardonnay, with 32% aged in oak, and it has 7 grams per liter dosage. It is highly expressive of classic elegance and purity, revealing aromas of crushed rock, almond croissant, and perfume of citrus blossoms. The palate is hyper-refined in its mousse, with pinpoint bubbles, a subtly rounded mid-palate, an irresistible chalky texture, and energy throughout its long and floral finish. Everything about this feels perfectly tailored. Drink 2024-2044.. Drink: 2024-2044. (11/7/22)"

96-98 points Essi Avellan, MW: "(60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay). This has a charmingly fragrant, even playful, fruity nose with ripe peach, vanilla and orange blossom intermingling with fruit drops, chalky mineral notes and toasted bread. The irresistible transparency of pure, perfect fruit continues on the lush, sweet palate. Then the whip of acidity hits, bringing on a burst of energy and fine mineral salinity, refreshing the whole. The finish is salty-tangy, immediately readying one's palate for the next sip. An instant charmer of a Cristal. Dosage 7g/l. (Aug 2022)"

97 points La Revue du Vin de France: "Cristal 2014 is very pure juice, faithful to the vintage. The wine delivers an incredible energy, which is worth waiting for. (2023)"

97 points James Suckling: "Lots of mineral and oyster-shell aromas with light toasted-bread and pie-crust undertones. Hints of caramel, apple and pear tart, too. Medium to full body with phenolic intensity and length. Intense at the finish, with driving acidity and length. Generous and expressive. Dosage 7g/L. Very drinkable now, but even better in 2025. (7/11/22)"

97 points/'#1 Top Cellar Selections 2022,' Wine Enthusiast: "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. (Jul 2022)"

96 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The 2014 Cristal is a terrific effort that transcends the vintage. Bursting from the glass with expressive aromas of ripe citrus fruit, nectarine, white flowers, freshly baked bread and subtle hints of honeycomb, it's medium to full-bodied, vinous and fleshy, with an exuberant core of fruit that's girdled by racy acids, resulting in a wine that's simultaneously chiseled and demonstrative, meaning that early appeal doesn't come at the expense of the requisite tension for long-term cellaring. Concluding with a long, aromatic and intensely chalky finish, it is a brilliant Champagne that will offer a broad drinking window... 2021-2050. (Feb 2022)"

96 points Tom Hewson (TimAtkin.com): "60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay. All Grand Cru. 31% oak vinification, 6.5 years on lees. Vivid, immediate fragrance in this edition, with fuzzy apricot and complex, subtle citrus up front, under which lurks the sensation of quality Pinot savour and savoury wholemeal toast waiting to emerge. Tremendous, compressed sapidity, almost saturated yet fresh and chalky with bright citrus juice acidity. This is both a fairly expressive, welcoming Cristal in terms of fragrance, and one with a buzzing energy, rather different to the more classical 2012 and 2013. It will be fascinating to follow. (Dec 2022)"

95 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The 2014 vintage of Cristal is another masterpiece in the making. The bouquet is young and utterly refined, wafting from the glass in a mix of apple, white peach, lemon, chalky minerality, patissière, white lilies and just a touch of citrus zest. On the palate the wine is pure, refined and full-bodied, with a lovely core of fruit, beautifully complex soil tones, snappy acids, seamless balance and a long, nascently complex and utterly precise finish. This is quite a bit more tightly-knit structurally than the 2013 Cristal was a year ago, and this is clearly a vintage that is built for the cellar. It will be a stunning wine in due course, but it does not possess the same level of temptation as the 2013 to drink it on the early side! 2034-2085. (Mar/Apr 2022)"

95 points Simon Field, MW (Decanter): "The rollercoaster growing season of 2014 is reflected to perfection by the innate tension here; ripe citric fruit and even a touch of exoticism (mango and fig) tempered by a fine shard of acidity and a lifted ethereal character, described paradoxically by chef de caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon as ‘weightless density’. Purity, energy and power make for very happy bedfellows, courtesy the chalky terroir and its organic husbandry. The texture is silky, the bubbles joyfully integrated and the finish resourceful and precise, its salinity deferential to the deep-digging roots. Disgorged: June 2021. Dosage: 7g/L. Drinking Window: 2022-2030. (Jan 2022)"