Peter Sultan

9.3

Broke out one of my cellared Raffaults for my homeboy who graced me with a home cooked Tuscan styled flank steak w rosemary & arugula, as well as Israeli cous cous w chickpeas, charred tomatoes, feta, & herbs. Light Cadmium red hued & strong color though ( good cork- not a guarantee w Raffault!); dense Hibiscus, fresh raspberry & some bramble on nose; on palate very clean & smooth mouthfeel, with the initial flavors repeated but a deeper blend of red fruits & a stronger presence of under brush. Super fresh & integrated. Elegant, & the Burgundy echo was hard to ignore. Not Uber complex but not monolithic either, which this line of Raffault can be in its youth ( or as it ages). Very impressive, & accessible now. Curious how my ‘02 & 07s will fare… — 3 months ago

with Owen

Paul T HB

9.2

This Mag needed 30 minutes to blow off the 20 years, but it started going downhill quickly compared to other 02’s . Retail purchase so who knows storage conditions, — 2 years ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Pop n pour - a treat from a friend before we head out. My first experience with this vintage. Nice mousse and color. Notes of toast and bread yeast, some citrus and stone. Not as vibrant as an 02 I last had, which is not surprising. And not as energetic as other 96 vintages I’ve had in the last year. Am told this was bought in release and stored in perfect conditions. Supports a premise that Cristal might need to be drunk within 20 years of the vintage. — 3 years ago

David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.7

Happy Birthday Christina. 🎂 🎉 🥳

I have been holding this bottle for her birthday for about 5 years since we had this vintage last. Worth the wait. So much more complex now.

The fruits are more subtle and the toasted mixed nut buffet has taken hold. Butterscotch hard candy. Round, creamy, subdued lemon & pineapple juice, hints of lime on the long set, Bosc pear, white peach, whipped cream, brioche, some bread dough, some of the most beautiful yeastiness, what amazing, soft chalkiness, sea spray, undertones of white spice, crushed/powdery limestone, fresh, blooming Spring flowers & yellow lilies, excellent, perfect, crisp acidity, layers and layers on the well; knitted, balanced, structured, brilliantly polished, elegant finish that lasts minutes.

I’ve had some nice champagne lately and this beats everything except 02 & 96 Krug. — 4 months ago

Jen Resnick

8.9

Perfect for summer chilled and Ruby red — 10 months ago

Mike Saviage

9.4

Tasted blind. Light gold color. Fruit forward nose, almost tropical. Notes of green apple and orchard fruits, wet river stone, apricot, white flowers. Notably younger in its evolution than the first two bottles today, with a slightly lower heaviness and depth. I go with a guess of 2000 Leflaive Pucelles. Nice to see a young 02 Leflaive sans premox, with a lot of upside in front of it. 94+ — 2 years ago

Mark Rosse

9.6

Was showing off compared to the 02 Krug. Not in the same league tonight. — 6 months ago

Nikki Hamburger

9.3

Drank at Kerdels. From Costco and yummy — 8 months ago

Matt Perlman

9.4

Finished our tondonia mini-vertical with this gorgeous fully mature ‘02 — a year ago

Conrad Green

9.4

Fresh and crystalline with a salty, oyster shell nose. A little sweetness in the front, a fiber mousse with tall detail and transparency. Light on its feet alongside the Dom 02. Not as intense but very pretty. — 2 years ago

with Walker, David and 1 other