Roederer/Louis Brut Champagne Cristal late release 2002 1.5L

'100 Best Wines of 2010' and 100 points Wine & Spirits: "If a wine could ever make you want to pull the top down on your '68 Ferrari convertible, rip off the rearview mirror and take off, this is it. It has a different kind of energy than the '02 Cristal Rosé, which is more ethereal, like strawberries at the right hand of some ancient Gallic god. This is more insolent, brash, earth bound. All the scents and flavors seem to emanate from limestone, as does the acidity, which hits at the front of the mouth and powers through the wine with the kind of solar energy that lifts mist off the white chalk on a cool morning in Cramant. The wine goes on for miles. It's already irresistable, and will only improve with ten, 20, 30 and 40 years of age. (Dec 2009)"

98 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(original disgorgement 2010; 40% chardonnay, 60% pinot noir; the first of the Cristal Collection Privée program, re-releasing the original disgorgement after 8 years on lees and 8 years on cork; 20% fermented in oak casks; no malolactic fermentation; just a few thousand bottles). An ethereal Cristal that encapsulates the magnificent 2002 season in a glorious, glowing straw-yellow hue, tinted with gold. Building incrementally in magnitude, body and power, this grand vintage is unravelling with incredible generosity, beginning to evolve from its primary fruits of white peach and pineapple, into a vast universe orbiting with roast nuts, melted butter, mixed spice, ginger, dried peach, baked fig, pâtisserie, toasted meringue, vanilla, even hints of incense. Its succulent, silky generosity contrasts the deep salt minerality and poise of legendary terroirs A true expression of 2002, rich, full, voluptuous and eminently ready to drink now. In magnum it is emphatically more youthful, elegant and refined, luminous in its bright straw hue, and intensely reductive, with struck-match notes. (2020-2021)"

98 points James Suckling: "A re-release of the original 2010 disgorgement. Super fine, super fresh and super savory aromas of chalky stones with hints of flowers, white almonds, lemon peel and grapefruit. The palate has intense, mouth-filling, lemon-curd flavor. Very powerful, very concentrated and very expressive. Smooth finish that’s full of life, leaving a bright, white cherry note. Drink in 2022. (9/2/19)"

98 points Wine Enthusiast: "This is an exceptional wine, as is the vintage. The fruits -- grapefruit, crisp red apple -- are balanced with a fine yeasty character. There is a great depth of flavor, the fruits going in a pure line of freshness. The one problem is that it is much too young, the result of the demand from the market for the next vintage. Age this wine for at least four years. (Dec 2008)"

98 points CellarTracker.com community score.

97 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "...time has seemingly not even touched this magical vintage of Cristal and the wine still is begging for another five years in the cellar to really allow its secondary layers of complexity to start to emerge. The absolutely beautiful bouquet wafts from the glass in a vibrant and still youthful constellation of apple, lemon, complex, limestone minerality, fresh-baked bread, a dollop of orange peel and a gently smoky topnote. On the palate the wine is pure, full-bodied and utterly seamless, with stunning mid-palate depth, hauntingly refined mousse, bright, zesty acids and simply brilliant length and grip on the focused and perfectly balanced finish. This is probably the greatest young vintage of Cristal I have had the pleasure to taste, and while it is a glorious glass of bubbly today, the real fireworks here are still at least four or five years away! A great, great wine. 2018-2050. (Sep/Oct 2013)"