Cristal2013

2013 was a late vintage. We had not seen this in Champagne for many years... But good things come to those who wait, and the glorious summer allowed the Pinots noirs and Chardonnays to ripen perfectly. The October harvest gave birth to elegant wines of pronounced freshness and a classic character, perfect qualities with which to craft this deep, mineral and very fresh vintage champagne.

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.

The perfect embodiment of chalky purity, Cristal 2013 is a little restrained in its youth. Its perfumed finesse and great elegance draw their energy from the slow ripening of the grapes. The nose reveals delicate notes of flowers, juicy fruit and citrus zest with light, crisp and ethereal fragrances. The palate is wrapped in flavours of dried fruit and hazelnuts which ease into a broad and incisive texture, of great mineral length, borne by a full yet soft vinous quality. Very Cristal in character with a unique limestone freshness, Cristal 2013 is a jewel of purity and bold refinement.

Cristal is an experience unlike any other, crafted in a manner that will allow it to reveal itself very gradually over time.

This outstanding champagne grows more glorious with every passing year, gaining in depth, finesse and aromatic complexity. The freshness of its youth evolves progressively to reveal more candied, spicy and saline aromas along with ever more delicate and refined bubbles.

It can be enjoyed in the purity and chalky freshness of its youth or can be laid down for a few more years or even decades in a cool, dark cellar, with its orange cellophane protecting it from light, where it will continue to evolve beautifully over time. This wine has a promising future ahead of it and its destiny is in your hands!