Ultimate Guide to Cristal Champagne Vintages / Price Values

I’ve heard many Champagne lovers state that Cristal is the finest example including their rosé releases. Even the highly respected Champagne author Michael Edwards states of the Cristal vintage 1988 in his book ‘The Finest Wines of Champagne’ – “… this is one of the finest Champagnes of my lifetime, creating a sense of awe“.

The prestigious, Grand Cru, vintage release only brand of Champagne Louis Roederer, is one of the famous names alongside Krug, Dom Pérignon, Ace of Spades and other household names. It has a long and frequently referenced history, especially covering recent releases, though finding details of vintages of more senior years is slightly more difficult with even the official website only referencing from the year 2000 onwards.

Based in Reims with a history dating back to 1776 (Louis Roederer inherited it in 1883) – Some 240 hectares are owned by this winery and it is mostly focused on the Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes.

The existence of Cristal (Grand Cru) is down to their excellent marketing and sales to foreign countries where one Alexandra II (Tsar) from Russia requested of them a security heightened design of Champagne with a crystal clear bottle (so no poison was added to the wine) and flat bottom of the bottle (so no explosives were secretly hidden) so in 1876 Cristal was born.

 

“Though Cristal is one of the leading names in Champagne, it’s one I’ve the least experience of. I have had the fortune to attend a few select tastings though with one such memory at 67 Pall Mall in London sitting next to the much respected Jancis Robinson and noting her impressed expression on varied vintages of the vertical tasting – Just in the distance you will notice Michael Edwards (in the photo above), always a honourable occasion when he is present to offer his tasting notes.” Christopher Walkey

Looking to sell Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal? Visit ChampagneCollectors.com

Cristal is a Champagne brand deeply entrenched in the world of wine investment with there are many options to do so especially with its age-worthy reputation. Let us take a look at Cristal vintages over the years and their values – Maybe you’ve a bottle or two lurking about somewhere in your cellar or under the stairs and if so, I hope the following helps you to understand what treasure(s) you’ve discovered (note; was not commercially available until 1945). With the greatest respect to the rosé and Vinothèque releases, for this article we will be sticking to the Millesime Brut releases:

Cristal 1876 – Good luck finding one!

Cristal 1945 – Quite devoid of any estimates and for sale prices! I note that Richard Juhlin had apparently tasted the vintage and he reported that the bottle was corked and in no fit condition to professionally review. A rare vintage and certainly a collectors item. Estimate price per bottle of £3,000 – £5,000

Cristal 1949 – Bonhams sold a bottle in December 2014 at $4,998 (£4,104), wine-searcher estimates at $2,977 (£2,434) and Vins Grands Crus is selling a bottle for €2,500 (£2,216) excluding taxes. Estimate price per bottle of £2,500 – £3,750

Cristal 1952 – For sale at CHF1.680 (£1,482) on La Boutique by Baghera/wines and a $1,682 (£1,522) estimate on wine-searcher. Estimate price per bottle of £1,350 – £1,500

Cristal 1955 – We start with a price for sale on Hedonism at £2,480 and a $2,527 (£2,066) estimate via the wine-searcher website. Estimate price per bottle of £1850 – £2,250

Cristal 1959 – Wine-stocks estimate at £438??, iDealWine estimates at €961 (£852), $1,186 (£970) estimate via wine-searcher and Omus prices at HK$9,000 (£942). Estimate price per bottle of £1,000 – £1,750

Cristal 1961 – €342?? (£303) estimate with iDealWine, $1,079 (£882) estimate on wine-searcher and €950 for sale on vineut. Estimate price per bottle of £950 – £1350

Cristal 1962 – iDealWine estimate at €794 (£704), HK$9,000 (£942) on the Omuse website and $1,074 (£878) estimate with wine-searcher. Estimate price per bottle of £800 – £900

Cristal 1964 – $1,322 (£1,081) estimate via wine-searcher, Omus prices a bottle at HK$9,500 (£994) and £895 a bottle with Seckford Wines. Estimate price per bottle of £850 – £1,000

Cristal 1966 – An estimate of $1,339 (£1,095) on wine-searcher, €808 (£716) estimate with iDealWine and for sale at £1,590 with Hedonism. Estimate price per bottle of £900 – £1,150

Cristal 1967 – L’Assemblage has a price of £495 a bottle, £1,380 Hedonism prices at and wine-searcher estimates at $1,047 (£856) a bottle. Estimate price per bottle of £625 – £925

Cristal 1969 – The last of the swinging sixties decade has wine-searcher estimating at $1,182 (£966), €650 (£576) estimate on iDealWine website and omuse has a magnum priced at HK$22,500 (£2,354). Estimate price per bottle of £625 – £825

Cristal 1970 – $1,093 (£894) estimate with wine-searcher, €368 (£326) estimate on iDealWine, for sale with Hedonism at £1,380, L’Assemblage has a bottle for £695, an auction lot sold for £90!! on Easy Live in June 2020, a £211 winning bid on WineAuctioneer, omuse has a bottle for sale at HK$9,500 (£994), a magnum bottle is for sale at €1,995 (£1,768) on DevineCellar and wine-stocks values a magnum bottle at £1.158. Estimate price per bottle of £700 – £850

Cristal 1971 – $1,131 (£925) estimate with wine-searcher and for sale at £1,380 with Hedonism. Estimate price per bottle of £950 – £1,250

Cristal 1973 – A $657 (£537) estimate by wine-searcher. Estimate price per bottle of £425 – £550

Cristal 1974 – Priced at CHF 850 (£761) via WinklerWeine, via wine-searcher the estimate is £765, a $333?? (£299) estimate via iDealWine, out of stock via Hedonism and a bottle sold for a mere £35!! on WineAuctioneer though with a very low ullage and undoubtedly not fit for drinking! Estimate price per bottle of £700 – £775

Cristal 1975 – Purchased at an auction for €110 (£98) as per a video on YouTube which also quotes the market price as €1,335 (£1,183), a $743 (£607) estimate with wine-searcher, €516 (£457) estimate on iDealWine and for sale at £700 with L’Assemblage. Estimate price per bottle of £700 – £800

Cristal 1976 – $804 (£657) estimate via wine-searcher, €639 (£566) estimate with iDealWine, £672 estimate with wine-stocks and BidForWine has a sold listing of £160!! back in March 2019. Estimate price per bottle of £575 – £650

Cristal 1978 – An estimate of $862 (£705) on wine-searcher, iDealWine estimates at €544 (£482), a £210 winning bid on WineAuctioneer, L’Assemblage has one priced at £495 and a bottle for £545 on Vintage Wine & Port. Estimate price per bottle of £400 – £500

Cristal 1979 – A $751 (£614) estimate via wine-searcher, priced at €693 (£614) on les-grands-crus-classes, a price of HK$11,500 (£1,203) on omus, €711 (£630) estimate on iDealWine, K&L Wines estimate at $600 (£491) and a €300 – €400 (£266 – £355) estimate via catawiki. Estimate price per bottle of £525 – £750

Cristal 1981 – For sale with Vintage Wine & Port at £575, a €521 (£462) estimate on iDealWine, wine-searcher with a $801 (£655) estimate and €475 (£421) price with SoDivin. Estimate price per bottle of £475 – £575

Cristal 1982 – Out of stock with Hedonism, $1,107 (£905) estimate with wine-searcher and a €703 (£623) estimate via iDealWine. Estimate price per bottle of £700 – £775

Cristal 1983 – Starting with wine-searcher estimate of $748 (£612), a €368 (£326) estimate from iDealWine, $445 (£364) estimate from K&L Wines, with Vins Grands Crus it is priced at €650 (£576) though out of stock, out of stock also for now at Hedonism and a winning bid of just €200 (£177) on catawiki. Estimate price per bottle of £425 – £550

Cristal 1985 – $902 (£738) is the estimate from wine-searcher, €570 (£505) the estimate from iDealWine and K&L Wines estimates at $425 (£347). Estimate price per bottle of: £425 – £625

Cristal 1986 – A $992 (£811) estimate on wine-searcher, €370 (£328) estimate on iDealWine, and in April 2022 an auction lot released €480 (£425) on dorotheum. Estimate price per bottle of £400 – £650

Cristal 1988 – Wine-searcher starts us off with an estimate of $951 (£778), iDealWine estimates at €497 (£440) and a $500 (£409) estimate on the K&L Wines website. Estimate price per bottle is £375 – £500

Cristal 1989 – $812 (£664) estimate on wine-searcher, wine.com estimates at $250 (£204), a winespectator post in March 2009 quotes an estimate at $284 (£232), iDealWine estimates at €415 (£368), WineAuctioneer has a few completed listings including £280, £360 and a three bottle lot sold for £1,100 thus £367 a bottle, a jeroboam bottle is estimated at $1,000 (£818) on K&L Wines, a jeroboam estimated £1,100 to £1,300 on Bonhams and lastly Vintage Wine & Port lists at £295 though out of stock. Estimate price per bottle of £325  – £425

Cristal 1990 – £725 and available via nemowine, $696 (£569) estimate on wine-searcher, iDealWine estimates at €515 (£456), a 6L bottle is for sale with sokolin at $10,455 (£8,548) and Hedonism a bottle is priced at £695. Estimate price per bottle of £450 – £625

Cristal 1995 – $652 (£533) estimate with wine-searcher, Burgundy Cave lists a bottle for HK$4,800 (£502), €388 (£344) estimate with iDealWine, wine.com estimates at just $163 (£133), Vintage Wine & Port list price is £295 though out of stock, $425 (£347) estimate on K&L Wines, £175 winning bid on WineAuctioneer, Nestor Liquor listing at $500 (£409) though out of stock and SoDivin lists at €350 (£310) though out of stock. Estimate price per bottle of £375 – £450

Cristal 1996 – Wine-searcher starts us off with an estimate of $835 (£682), $400 (£327) estimate with K&L Wines, a magnum is quoted on Jancis Robinson website at being £800 on an article in July 2016, $490 (£401) estimate on wine.com, $790 (£646) a bottle on Cult Wines International, Omus is listing at HK$5,500 (£575), $695 (£568) with GRWwine, Crump Richmond Shaw a bottle at £509 and $490 (£401) estimate via wine.com. Estimate price per bottle of £400 – £600

Cristal 1997 – on wine-searcher the estimate is $686 (£561), €309 (£274) is the estimate on iDealWine, Fine+Rare listing at £304, Vintage Wine & Port though out of stock prices at £190 and an estimate on wine.com of $200 (£164). Estimate price per bottle of £225 – £275

Cristal 1999 – $573 (£468) estimate from wine-searcher, €372 (£330) estimate via iDealWine, Tannico price is £293 though out of stock and Farr Vintners have a jeroboam at £1,800. Estimate price per bottle of £300 – £350

Cristal 2000 – The new millennium kicks off with wine-searcher estimate of $450 (£368), £340 a bottle via TheFinestBubble, iDealWine estimates at €322 (£285), three magnums for £2,721 with BerryBros & Rudd and €324 (£287) a bottle on Fine Wine Select. Estimate price per bottle of £275 – £325

Cristal 2002 – $510 (£417) estimate with wine-seacrher, £474 a bottle with TheFinestBubble, £1,695 a case of six with BerryBros & Rudd thus £283 a bottle and magnums are £750 each with Farr Vintners. Estimate price per bottle of £275 – £400

Cristal 2004 – Wine-searcher estimate is $375 (£307), BerryBros & Rudd has a case of six priced at £1,485 so that’s £248 a bottle, £400 a bottle with TheFinestBubble, Tannico list bottles at £243 each though out of stock and €327 (£290) estimate via iDealWine. Estimate price per bottle of £250 – £325

Cristal 2005 – $350 (£286) estimate with wine-searcher, a case of six with BerryBros & Rudd is £1,250 so that’s £208 a bottle, £380 a bottle with TheFinestBubble, £211 with Tannico though out of stock, €260 (£230) estimate with iDealWine, £200 a bottle on drinksupermarket yet out of stock and $209 (£171) a bottle with TheWineStop though out of stock. Estimate price per bottle of £200 – 250

Cristal 2006 – Starting with wine-searcher the estimate is $297 (£243), BerryBros & Rudd have a magnum for £608 and on Amazon the price is £339. Estimate price per bottle of £275 – £325

Cristal 2007 – We get underway with wine-searcher and their estimate of $356 (£291), TheFinestBubble lists bottle for £354, on Amazon they are £339 each and $400 (£327) estimate via K&L Wines. Estimate price per bottle of £275 – £350

Cristal 2008 – $528 (£432) estimate via wine-searcher, £210 a bottle though out of stock with Majestic, £560 a bottle with TheFinestBubble, Millesima price bottles at £430, twelve bottle order via Farr Vintners at £3,800 so £317 a bottle, £160 each at CostCo and lastly Fine Wine Direct selling at £400 a bottle. Estimate price per bottle of £400 – £500

Cristal 2009 – £354 a bottle via TheFinestBubble, wine-searcher estimates at $370 (£303), a magnum at BerryBros & Rudd is £589 and a $220 (£180) estimate via wine.com. Estimate price per bottle of £275 – £325

Cristal 2012 – Majestic selling at £240, a methuselah size bottle with BerryBros & Rudd comes in at £7,828, TheFinestBubble prices at £344 and £290 each via Millesima. Estimate price per bottle of £225 – £275

Cristal 2013 – An estimate of $318 (£260) via wine-searcher, BerryBros & Rudd listing at £298, £324 on TheFinestBubble, £290 via Majestic, £222 via Fareham Wine Cellar, The Champagne Company sold out though listing at £245 and £290 with Millesima. Estimate price per bottle of £250 – £275

Cristal 2014 – $311 (£254) estimate on wine-searcher, £270 via TheFinestBubble, wine.com selling at $360 (£294), Farr Vintners selling twelve bottles at £2,900 thus £242 a bottle and Champagne Direct selling at £260. Estimate price per bottle of £250 – £275

 

All the estimates above are my personal thoughts having purchased many vintage Champagnes privately and via auctions. Though some estimates can be quite varied from online websites, if we take a few each time we can average relatively accurately the values – Distributors will also vary in prices so it will pay to do your own research should you be on the hunt for a Cristal vintage! If any errors are spotted or if you would like to contribute to this article then please email me directly via christopher@glassofbubbly.com