Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2016 / Gift Box

Henrik Larsen — The gift box is a nice touch

9/10

Got this as a birthday present for my dad who's really into his wines. He said it was one of the best champagnes he's ever tasted — loads of depth, beautiful acidity, and a finish that just lingers forever. The gift box makes it feel properly special too. He's still going on about it three weeks later so I think I chose well.

Liam Anderson — Really good but I expected to be blown away

8/10

Tried this at a tasting event after hearing about Cristal for years. It's definitely excellent — the balance is perfect and it's got this lovely freshness with real structure to it. Maybe I'd built it up too much in my head though? It's a 12.5% champagne that drinks beautifully but at this price point I was expecting some kind of religious experience. Still a solid 8 from me.

Noah Williams — Incredible but hard to justify the price

8/10

Had a glass of this at a restaurant and it was genuinely stunning — super expressive on the nose and really complex without being heavy. But £263 a bottle is a LOT of money. I've had champagnes at half the price that I'd happily drink any day of the week. It's clearly a step above, but whether it's £130+ better is another question.