Louis Roederer Cristal 1982 Giftbox

98-points Robert Parker: “I was completely blown away by the 1982 Cristal. This towering, monumental wine possesses incredibly vibrancy and delineation in its white truffles, honey and hazelnuts. This bottle shows some of the tertiary notes found in the 1979 but married to an intense expression of ripe fruit. While the 1979 is fully resolved the 1982 has another decade-plus of fine drinking ahead of it. The 1982 is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. 20% of the wine was aged in oak. This bottle is an original disgorgement from 1987 or 1988 and received 12 grams of dosage. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2019.” (Mar 2009)

Magnum. Disgorged in 1987. A dream vintage, after 1980 and 1981 – catastrophic because of very low quantity. High quantity and high quality (like Bordeaux). Med pH 65% PN, 35% Chardonnay. 23% oak fermentation. Lovely truffley fully developed nose. Tightly wound and very intriguing. Rich underneath. Very flattering and gorgeous. Finishes a little skinnier. Lots of mushrooms on the palate. Long. Quite rich really Very much a wine rather than a champagne, with some real weight. Very fine and neat and dense. Perhaps slightly less concentrated than the 1990 and 1996. Jancis Robinson

very clean; crisp and full-bodied with toasty, yeasty, figgy aromas and a delicate creamy texture that shows off the spicy, tart cherry and gingery flavors.