The actual product may vary from the images shown on the website.
The grapes come from vineyards located in 7 Grands Crus: 40% are planted with Chardonnay on the Avize hillsides (10 plots), in Cramant (11 plots) and in Mesnil-sur-Oger (9 plots) and 60% are planted with Pinot Noir on the Ay hillsides (10 plots), in Verzenay (17 plots), Verzy (12 plots) and Beaumont-sur-Vesle (1 plot). This breakdown also forms the exact composition of the wine’s blend.
25% of the wine is aged in oak and malolactic fermentation is prevented in order to retain the bright, fresh and exceptionally pure character of the fruit. Time is then left to work its magic with six to seven years ageing sur lattes followed by six to twelve months of further ageing after disgorgement.
2015 was a hot and sunny year marked by episodes of heat and drought, relieved by some very welcome rain at the end of the summer which enabled the grapes to preserve all their freshness. These weather conditions gave rise to juicy, ripe and concentrated grapes with a perfect balance.
Cristal 2015 delivers intense and delicious aromas with a superb energy and a magical vibration. The nose begins with hints of yellow fruit, toasted almonds and wheat from the Chardonnay, combined with the juicy red fruit of the Pinot Noir. Then comes the great surge of energy from the wineʼs structure, a vibratory intensity that transforms into a gentle caress, a silky texture interwoven with fine flavours of candied citrus and iodised spices. The finish is underpinned by subtle oaky, sappy and saline notes, which creates the ultimate sensation of delicacy and concentration.
Serve at 8-10 °C with oysters, seafood, fish dishes and eggs benedict.
For the warm and dry vintage this has tremendous freshness and elegance. The complex nose of citrus blossom, mint, lemon and lime zest opens up slowly as this aerates in the glass. The wine’s ample structure is still quite firm, which is a vintage characteristic, the mousse very fine but also very lively for an eight-year-old champagne. Cristal fans will love this as it is, but a year or two more in the bottle will do a lot for the very long mineral finish of this youthful masterpiece. A cuvee of 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay, picked from all 45 Cristal vineyard plots.
This mouthwatering Champagne has an ethereal quality, with a frame of chiseled acidity and focused precision to the pointillisme-like, vibrant mousse. Yet this shows depth and generous expression, with the finely spun notes of patisserie apple and blackberry fruit opening beautifully on the palate and through the minerally finish, with notes of grated ginger, blood orange granita, salted Marcona almond and anise.
An open and inviting nose references cream, oatmeal and Amalfi lemon with the slightest edge of smoke. The palate immediately strikes with a mouthwatering lemon ripeness and a juicy, mouthfilling generosity reminiscent of yellow plum. It stays true to the trademark sleekness of Cristal and speaks of the concentration of 2015. Fine mousse accentuates the fullness and roundness of the wine while the long finish hints at chalky depth which, for now, is dominated by ripe stone fruit and more of that textured, rich notion of oatmeal. Definitely a Cristal to enjoy soon.
The Champagne house Louis Roederer is associated with the legendary Cristal prestige cuvee, created in 1876 especially for Tsar Alexander II of Russia. But even without this Champagne, Louis Roederer has an impeccable reputation. To this day, the company remains in the hands of the family and is run by the seventh generation of Frederic Rouzaud, grandson of Camille Roederer, one of the most famous women of Champagne. Today, Louis Roederer produces two thirds of its Champagnes exclusively from grapes grown in its own vineyards. With 240 hectares of vineyards, most of which are in grand cru areas, even their basic Louis Roederer Brut Premier Champagne has an aristocratic elegance. Even in bad years, the Champagnes of the vintage year are surprisingly stylish, complex and long-lasting.
