The 2012 Cristal is the first made entirely from biodynamically farmed vineyards. Passionfruit, mango, spice and ginger open first, but it is the wine’s textural richness and volume that stand out most. The 2012 is one of the most opulent, flamboyant recent Cristals. Those qualities feel especially amplified in this tasting, perhaps because of the presence of wines from the surrounding vintages. It was a complicated season, as mildew reduced yields significantly, resulting in an especially rich Cristal that seems to be gaining intensity with time in bottle. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged: 2020. Drinking Window 2023 - 2052.

- Antonio Galloni, Vinous (March 2023)

2012 marks the very first Cristal fully crafted from biodynamically farmed fruit. This difficult growing season managed to turn the challenges into assets. It resulted in a deeply fruity, Pinot driven Cristal that is exceptionally expressive already upon launch. The ripe, sweetly fruity aromatics come with bright red apple and baked apricot hints and even some tropical fruit notes. It feels slightly more Pinot driven that what the 60% share would suggest and Pinot indeed was the years best performer, excelling to chef de cave Lécaillon like no other since 1990. The rounded palate goes hand in hand with the soft nose generating a beautifully textured palate that turns refreshingly saline towards the very finish. Despite its early generosity, no doubt a Cristal built to last.

- Essi Avellan MW, EssiAvellan.com (November 2022)

Bright please yellow colour. Aromas and flavours of apple, pear and tangerine are nicely framed by perfumed white flowers. At once rich yet lively and lithe, due to 2012’s reduced crop load (mildew problems) this is a richer than usual Cristal but still is its usual refined, light on its feet, vibrant self. A 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay blend with 7.5 g/L dosage, this is the first Cristal ever made from completely biodynamically farmed vines. Drinking window: 2024-2035.

- Ian D'Agata, Terroirsense.com (January 2024)

Aromas of clear honey, crisp green orchard fruit, white peach, pastry cream and dried white flowers introduce the 2012 Cristal, a full-bodied, concentrated and powerful wine that's built for the cellar. Broader, more textural and more muscular than the 2008 Cristal, with seemingly even greater reserves of structuring dry extract, the 2012 is incisive and searingly chalky. This is the first Cristal produced exclusively from organically farmed fruit, and it marks the opening of a new chapter for Louis Roderer. The blend is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, vinified without malolactic fermentation and disgorged with 7.5 grams per liter dosage. Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon has once again excelled himself. Drink Date: 2022 - 2050.

- William Kelley, The Wine Advocate (December 2019)

Few wines require such meditative concentration and focus as young bottles of Cristal. There are more nuances and sublime shifts here than almost anywhere else. One aroma group consists of alternating mineral feature notes derived from the purest chalk in Verzy, Aÿ, Verzenay, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ, Avize, Cramant and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Another group is fresh notes of Granny Smith apples, gooseberries and sherbet. Another group consists of bright citrus notes and white early summer flowers. In the middle, the layer shows that is dominated by buttercream, cream, apricot and peach emerges as the finest Peach Melba. A very important and unexpected group of aromas is the one with pineapple, coconut, mango and apparent melon. Unexpected because the fresh layers are so fresh that the exotic maturity and richness that layer exhibits should be a too difficult contrast to create. Finally, we must not forget the silky Louis Roederer-unique feather blanket that always wraps in all the goodies with notes of acacia honey, brioche, Tahiti vanilla and white chocolate. It is wonderful.

- Richard Juhlin, The Champagne Club (January 2024)