1983 Louis Roederer Cristal
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Tasting notes
The 1983 Cristal is fabulous. Rich, ample and generous, the 1983 is incredibly inviting, with tons of class and personality. A wine of real volume and textural breadth, the 1983 has enough pedigree to drink well for many years. None of the elements stand out in the 1983, the whole is far greater than the sum of the parts. “Nineteen eighty-three is a different animal from some of the other wines of the decade,” Lécaillon explains. “It was a heavy crop, with a lot of fruit. There was so much wine in the cellar that the team could not get to everything in a timely fashion, and so there were some lots that started to oxidize a bit, and that, naturally, made the wine bigger.” In tasting, though, there are no off aromas or mushroomy flavors that suggest the wine is fading. If anything, the 1983 is spectacularly beautiful right now, even in the presence of other wines from more highly reputed vintages.
Critic scores
Average Score
Jancis Robinson MW
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
Original disgorgement. High yield. More Pinot Noir in the blend than modern Cristal. Deep caramel straw colour. Orange notes. Mushroom hints and slight TCA on the nose. A very different wine from modern vintages with strange vegetal notes reminiscent of celery and some Oxo yeast extract. A bit sweet. (JR)
A soft, feminine wine, the 1983 Cristal is all about balance and harmony. Round, seamless and impeccable, the 1983 is a gorgeous spot today where the flavors are mature, yet the wine retains enough depth to deliver considerable pleasure for at least another handful of years, although there is no more upside to be had. Still, it is amazing to see just how much the 1983 gains with air. Hints of caramel, almonds and spices round out the finish. This is a very pretty Cristal.
Stronger smell of vegetation, but the extra richness on the palate is better at disguising it. Astringent end though. (JR)