Cristal2000

A benchmark of success for the Pinot noirs, 2000 brought the century to a close with great panache. After a long ageing, the wines can now be enjoyed to their fullest.

Cristal is Louis Roederer's flagship champagne. It comes from 45 plots from Grands Crus vineyards (located in La Vallée de la Marne - also known as the vineyard of "la Rivière", La Côte des Blancs and La Montagne de Reims), covering a total of 80 hectares. This estate has been carefully built up by the Roederer family since 1841 and worked in a bespoke manner with respect for the living environment.

Created in 1876 at the special request of Tsar Alexander II, a great lover of the wines from Champagne, Cristal is uniquely inspired. It is also said that the monarch had it specially created for his muse to whom he dedicated it to. It was a bespoke design; a transparent, flat-bottomed bottle (said to have been chosen to thwart any assassination attempts on the Russian sovereign), a prodigious ageing, the promise of eternal youth.

Produced only in years when the grapes reach perfect maturity, Cristal is the product of time and the fruit of state-of-the-art viticulture.

6 to 10 years ageing in the bottle, riddling exclusively by hand and a long rest after disgorgement all play a part in the crafting of a vintage Cristal. This is a champagne that is destined for high-end gastronomy, capable of creating the most refined and original food pairings, to be enjoyed at different stages of its life and maturity.

Does time hold sway over Cristal? If it does, then this 2000 vintage seems to have escaped it! Its power and finesse are still woven together in a pure, trim body of great charm. Very complete, it has this subtle blend of freshness and vinosity, set off by more mature and toasty notes. Mature, precise and persistent, yet ethereal and refined, Cristal 2000 shows great finesse, balance and aromatic complexity.

This outstanding Champagne has now reached perfect maturity and is ready to be enjoyed. However, it sees no reason to rush and will happily continue to rest in a cool, dark cellar with its orange cellophane protecting it from light, for a few more years should you so wish.