Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2008 1.5L
Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2008 1.5L is a 12% ABV, 1.5L magnum of the legendary vintage Cristal cuvée — a blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from 36 plots across seven grands crus, aged 8.5 years on its second lees (longer than any Cristal before it) and disgorged in September 2017 with a notably low dosage of 7.5 g/L. The 2008 vintage is widely considered the greatest Cristal in decades — 100 points from James Suckling, 97+ from Wine Advocate, 99 from Decanter. Available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- Proof / ABV: 12% ABV
- Size: 1.5L magnum
- Vintage: 2008 — the cool, precise vintage Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon calls "a replay of 1996"
- Blend: 60% Pinot Noir (Verzy, Verzenay, Beaumont, Aÿ) / 40% Chardonnay (Mesnil, Avize, Cramant) — all grands crus
- Winemaking: ~8.5 years on lees; 25% oak-fermented; 16% malolactic; disgorged September 2017; dosage 7.5 g/L
- Ratings: 100 pts James Suckling · 97+ Wine Advocate · 99 Decanter · 99 Antonio Galloni · 97 Wine Spectator
The Vintage They Call the Chevalier-Montrachet of Champagne
Cristal began as the private cuvée of Tsar Alexander II; the 2008 is the bottling that cemented its modern legend. Made from seven grands crus in a dry, cool year that concentrated everything — chalk, citrus, and nerve — it spent longer on its lees than any Cristal before, emerging with a finish that runs straight as a laser and never ends. In magnum format, it will age for decades. Explore the Louis Roederer range and our Champagne collection.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Amalfi lemon, white peach, white chocolate, chamomile, oyster shell, brioche. Palate: pure, lean, and filigreed yet concentrated — ripe orchard fruit, citrus zest, and chalky minerality with vibrant, racy acidity. Finish: endless, citrus-fresh, crystalline.
How to Enjoy
Serve at 50–54°F in a tulip glass (never a flute). Superb with seared scallops, caviar, lobster, or aged Comté and Parmigiano-Reggiano. Drink now through 2050.
Frequently Asked Questions
What grapes are in Cristal 2008?
60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from 36 grand cru plots.
Why is the 2008 vintage so celebrated?
A dry, cool year that produced one of the greatest Cristals ever made — 100 points from James Suckling.
Is a magnum better for aging?
Yes — the larger format ages more slowly and gracefully; this 2008 will develop for decades.
When was it disgorged?
September 2017, after 8.5 years on the lees, with a low dosage of 7.5 g/L.
Secure this legendary vintage magnum — order Cristal 2008 online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.