Cristal is made from the finest cuvees pressed from the highest quality grapes from the Champagne Louis Roederer vineyards. Today it is still produced in limited quantities, always as a vintage wine and only in exceptional years. A truly fine Champagne, Cristal is characterised by its finesse and elegance (derived from the high proportion of Chardonnay in the blend), and its enticingly delicate bouquet and perfect balance. In recent years Louis Roederer have been including a portion of barrel fermented wines into the Cristal Blend (from 10% to 30% depending on the vintage). This includes both Chardonnay and Pinot Noir, with slightly more of the latter.

Sustained golden yellow tones shimmering with luminous green highlights and ultra-fine, energetic bubbles. An intense, precise but exquisitely subtle bouquet, opening with dominant aromas of fresh almonds and sweet-smelling flowers to reveal riper nuances of lush, ripe peaches, white chocolate, caramel and a touch of lightly toasted hazelnuts. The attack is sensual and fleshy with an almost caressing mouthfeel. More minerally notes come to the fore on the mid-palate, testament to this Champagne’s deliberately low dosage, supported by a refreshing crispness which is more about delicacy than power. The overall effect is one of precision and elegance. A wine perfectly poised between the structure of the Pinot Noir and the finesse of the Chardonnay, marrying roundness and vinosity with a sense of freshness and verve. The finish is long and deliciously refreshing underscored by harmonious, lightly caramelised notes from the partial barrel fermentation.