Champagne Louis Roederer, Cristal, Brut 1979 Magnum

96 / 100 Robert Parker
The 1979 Cristal remains one of my favorite vintages of this Champagne. This bottle is fully resolved, with pretty suggestions of honey, cinnamon, smoke, ash, menthol, hazelnuts and dried apricots. The bouquet remains deeply expressive and melds seamlessly into a succulent, expansive palate. Although the wine is mature, the mousse retains surprising elegance and finesse with a velvet-like softness. This bottle is an original disgorgement from around 1985/1986 and saw 13-14 grams of dosage. 25% of the wine was aged in oak. Anticipated maturity: 2009-2012.
In the Cellar Mar 2009

18.5 / 20 Jancis Robinson
Note serious bottle variation! Bright golden, almost Lucozade. Like the 1988, my magnum not as frank as the other. Rather chewy finish. Jagged, not flattering. Awkward even. Good laciness but not as tightly wound as some. But then the other magnum was quite spectacular – gloriously complex and with a firm toastiness underneath. At its peak surely but glorious drinking now.
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