Louis Roederer Cristal is a premier champagne brand that has become synonymous with luxury and exclusivity. Founded in 1760, it is one of the oldest and most well-regarded champagne houses in France. Cristal is a blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes, selected from the best vineyards in the Champagne region. The result is a strikingly clear, golden-hued champagne with a fine, persistent mousse. It has a delicate bouquet of citrus fruits, butter, and toast, followed by a complex palate of honey, spices, and ripe fruits. Cristal often ranks among the most highly-rated champagnes in the world and is a must-try for any serious champagne connoisseur.

Tasting Notes

Intense, bright and luminous golden hue. Dynamic effervescence with a continuous stream of fine bubbles. Intense, fragrant bouquet of great purity. Concentrated and candied citrus fruit mingle delicately with notes of grain and lightly roasted almonds. The lovely sensation of big ripe fruit is balanced and lifted by energetic fresh tangy overtones. Fruity palate with a silky texture, complemented by soft bubbles that are perfectly integrated and deliciously elegant. The purity and perfection of the ripe yellow fruit melt into the intense chalky freshness, typical of Cristal, that is both powdery and saline. Dense, juicy, concentrated and long on the mid-palate, thanks to the spicy and sappy structure resulting from partial ageing in large oak vats (foudres) The finish builds to a crescendo, revealing a rich grainy and velvety texture that is wrapped in a long, saline and superbly elegant finish.

About the Winery

Louis Roederer is a champagne producer in Reims, France. This business was initiated in 1776. It was later integrated and later renamed in 1833 by Louis Roederer. It is one of the few family-run and independent champagne houses or maisons de champagne. Louis Roederer champagne gets shipped yearly (more than 3.5 million bottles) to over a hundred countries worldwide.

Initially, the company was called Dubois Pere and Fils until Louis Roederer inherited it in 1833 from his uncle and then named it. He worked at setting target markets abroad. He concentrated his efforts in different countries, including Russia. Louis Roederer was named by Tsar Nicholas as the official imperial court of Russia's wine supplier. US prohibition and the Russian revolution brought about major difficulties in the 20th century, but the business was re-established and he became a leader in wine production. Cristal was made available commercially in 1945. Even with former generals and officers of the Russian imperial arm being in exile, they still took the champagne. Louis is still one of the best companies specializing in wine production. At the cellar, you find a representation of about 5 years of sales.

The vineyard covers 240 hectares, and two-thirds of grapes are produced here as they are needed for production purposes. However, all other fruit is sourced from well-established farming contacts. Vintage cuvees include chardonnay, rose vintage, pinot noir, and vintage in a proportion of 7:3. Roederer production is about 3.5 million bottles annually. 70 to 80 per cent happens to be Louis Roederer Brut Premier. This is a non-vintage that combines about 4 vintage wines. In its portfolio, Louis Roederer holds chateau Haut Beausejour and Chateau de Pez estates. They have interests in other estates as well. The group also included Scharffenberger in California, Roederer Estate, Domaines Ott in Provence, Ramos Pinto Port in Portugal, and Champagne Deutz. The vineyards are distributed across the main champagne zones, the cite des Blancs, Vallee de la Marne, and Montagne de Reins. Biodynamic principles are employed in cultivation.

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