Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal Late Release 2008

100 Points | V
“The 2008 Cristal Late Release is a special cuvée bottled to celebrate Cristal’s 150th Anniversary. It spent an added four years on the lees, which places it between the regular release and the Vinothèque in terms of aging. Explosive in the glass, the 2008 possesses off-the-charts textural richness and density, much of that coming from the shaking of the bottles during élevage (poignettage). That extra mid-palate resonance fills out the layers, resulting in a Cristal that is utterly profound. Unforgettable.” - Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

100 Points | TWP
“The 2008 Cristal Late Release is a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay with 8 grams per liter of dosage. 19% malolactic was performed and 20% of the base wines were vinified in French oak. It opens with a real WOW! Grapefruit, limes, honeycomb, and coriander seed scents jump from the glass, followed by suggestions of honeycomb, almond croissant, and crushed rocks. The palate is amazingly intense with shimmery citrus fruit and spicy layers framed by exquisitely fine bubbles and a crisp line of acidity, finishing very long and zesty. This stunning new iteration sits between the standard Cristal release (minimum 6 years on lees) and the Vinothèque release in terms of aging prior to release. This 2008 was disgorged in March 2022. The "Late Release" edition of the already remarkable 2008 Cristal adeptly adds that extra layer of texture, complexity, and finesse, taking it to the absolute pinnacle of what it can be. Bravo!” - Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Palate