2002 Cristal
By Louis Roederer
2002 Cristal from Louis Roederer
The 2002 Cristal from Louis Roederer profoundly embodies the phrase 'fine wine'. This vintage clearly exemplifies that the millennial transition graced the Champagne region with a climatic bounty that transcended every expectation, and this celebration of nature’s generosity is embodied in veritable liquid gold.
An exquisite product of precision and patience
2002 was an exceptional year in the vineyards. A cool winter followed by a mild and rainy spring ushered in perfect blooming. Summer was characterized by sunny days and cool nights, resulting in a particularly lengthy ripening period, particularly for the Chardonnay grapes, promoting a richness and complexity that was captured by the skilled vintners of Louis Roederer.
A taste of time in a glass
One sip of the 2002 Cristal places you squarely within this idyllic setting. The palate delivers layered hues of ripe fruits - white peach, candied lemon and crunchy green apple, transitioning gently into distinctly mature notes of toasted almonds and lightly roasted coffee beans. An underpinning minerality adds to a finish that is long and strikingly fresh.
Wine Investment Perspective
For wine investors, this vintage offers an impressive combination of rarity and quality. Its meticulous production and maturation process bear testament to Louis Roederer's dedication to excellence, ensuring the 2002 Cristal holds its prestige in the market, compelling even the most seasoned investors to consider it as an essential inclusion in their portfolio.
To conclude, the 2002 Cristal from Louis Roederer is simply a beautiful symphony of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, charting a journey from vineyard inception to triumphant completion in your glass. If elegant complexity could be bottled, it would undoubtedly resemble this impressive Blanc de Blancs masterpiece.Market price (USD)
$3,950.00
12x75cl
Highest score
96
POP score
201.88
Scores and tasting notes
Tasted from the original 2009 disgorgement, the 2002 Cristal is a broad, vinous wine, bursting with aromas of honeyed yellow orchard fruit, warm butter, brioche and fresh peaches. On the palate, it's full-bodied, textural and mouthfilling, rendering the fine-boned chalky structure and textural finesse that distinguish this quintessentially elegant style of this cuvée in a broader-shouldered, more enveloping register. The 2002 is beginning to enter its plateau of maturity and is drinking beautifully today, though it still has many years ahead of it.
William Kelley - The Wine Advocate, 5 March 2020