Ratings & Tasting Notes:
94 points Wine Enthusiast
Review Date: 12/2004
In its famous clear bottle, this is one of the best known prestige cuvées, and also the oldest, made first in 1876 for the Russian Tsars.This most recent vintage is a very fine wine in a great tradition, revealing elegance, flavors of red fruits and impressive complexity from the blending. The aftertaste is extraordinary, going on seemingly into the distant horizon. (RV)
93 points Wine Advocate
Review Date: 03/2022
Aromas of crisp stone fruit, tangerine, macadamia nut and fresh bread introduce the 1997 Cristal, a medium to full-bodied, deep and chiseled Champagne that’s seamless and vibrant, with fine concentration and a pearly mousse. At least from my cellar, this remains a very youthful wine, and it’s clearly one of the “sleeper” vintages of Cristal that is drinking well today. (WK)
Cult Wines International Notes:
Louis Roederer remains one of the few major independent, family-run Champagne houses, a legacy that began when Louis Roederer inherited the company in 1833 and began the then-radical practice of purchasing his own vineyards to control grape quality. The prestige cuvée, Cristal, carries a storied history tied to the Russian Imperial Court; it was first created in 1876 at the request of Tsar Alexander II, who feared assassination and demanded a clear, flat-bottomed lead glass bottle to ensure no explosives could be hidden beneath it. Today, the wine is sourced exclusively from the house’s finest Grand Cru vineyards, maintaining a reputation for precision and longevity. The “Millesime” designation signifies that the wine is produced only in exceptional years, blending approximately 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay to achieve a balance of power and ethereal elegance.
The 1997 vintage in Champagne is remembered as a year of dramatic climatic shifts that ultimately favored the patient grower. Following a harsh winter and a spring marred by severe frosts—which significantly reduced yields in some sectors—the region experienced a humid and temperamental early summer. However, a glorious, hot, and dry August and September saved the crop, allowing for a late-season surge in phenolic ripeness while preserving the essential acidity required for a long-aging cuvée. The 1997 Cristal reflects this warmth through its opulent, honeyed texture and expressive fruit profile. On the palate, it delivers a complex array of toasted hazelnuts, white chocolate, and candied citrus, supported by a fine, persistent bead and a chalky minerality that has only become more integrated and silky with nearly three decades of cellar age.
Bottle Size:
750 mL
Storage History:
Always stored on its side in a climate-controlled cellar.
Condition:
Please note: The bottle shown is the exact bottle being sold.
Some minor imperfections on the label and box as shown, but overall outstanding condition.
