Cristal is a remarkably balanced and refined champagne whose length is incomparable. It has a silky texture and fruity aromas, complemented by a strong mineral quality with white fruit and citrus notes. Cristal is a wine that keeps well: it can be stored for over twenty years without losing its freshness and character. Made uniquely in the best years, when Chardonnay (approx. 40%) and Pinot noir (approx. 60%) grapes have reached perfect maturity, Cristal is aged for 6 years in Louis Roederer’s cellars and left for a further 8 months after dégorgement.
Considered the most famous wine of Maison Louis Roederer, Champagne Brut Cristal was created in 1876 to satisfy the demanding taste of Tsar Alexander.
The Chardonnay grapes come from plots located on the hills of Avize, Cramant and Mesnil-sur-Oger, while the Pinot Noir grapes come from Ay, Verzenay, Verzy and Beaumont-sur-Vesle. These grapes are harvested and vinified separately from each parcel to express the specific characteristics of each terroir. This approach allows you to create a blend that reflects the complexity of the terroir and the climatic conditions of the vintage, giving life to a unique and balanced champagne.
Cristal presents itself in the glass with a light golden color and offers a complex aromatic bouquet, with notes of yellow fruits and burnt almonds from Chardonnay, accompanied by nuances of juicy red fruits from Pinot Noir. Tasting reveals extraordinary energy and lively concentration, with an intense texture that turns into a delicate caress and a silky texture. This champagne promises extraordinary aging with a perfect balance between freshness, aromatic complexity and depth, creating a unique experience for the most demanding champagne lovers.
This champagne is perfect to accompany refined fish dishes, oysters, shellfish and caviar.
Champagne Louis Roederer is undoubtedly in a very privileged situation when you own 214 ha. of Champagne’s best vineyards and thus almost self-sufficient in grapes. The fields are roughly equally located in the 3 best regions of Champagne – Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs, and cover 80-85% of Louis Roederer’s total needs for grapes. 97% of the vineyards are classified as Grand Cru or Premier Cru, and the same distinguished distribution has the fields in Bouzy and Ambonnay, from which you buy the rest of the grapes you need.
Over the past several years, Louis Roederer has gradually sought to adjust their production according to the most sustainable principles – including organic/biodynamic cultivation. They have thus already obtained the DEMETER certificate (biodynamic cultivation) on the vineyards that produce the grapes for the house’s most prestigious brand, Cristal. From and including year 2021, a further 115 ha. fields achieved organic certification, and the remaining vineyards will follow suit.
Vinification takes place in modern stainless steel tanks of 60-100 hl., which ensures the best hygiene and complete control over all processes. A few floors below ground, you will find Louis Roederer’s unique “Vins de Réserve”, which is a store of older wines stored in used oak casks of 60 hl. as on steel tanks (Perpetual Reserve). The reserve wines are included to varying degrees in the production of the non-vintage champagnes to ensure continuity in both style and quality in each one of these.
Champagne Louis Roederer has for many years been at the absolute top of Champagne, and no house here enjoys a greater reputation today than just Louis Roederer.
