Cristal Vintage Champagne Louis Roederer 2016 (75cl)

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Cristal is produced by Louis Roederer, one of Champagne’s most prestigious houses, renowned for crafting consistently precise and elegant sparkling wines. Cristal is the estate’s flagship cuvée, blending exceptional Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from the best vineyards across the Champagne region. The wine reflects Roederer’s commitment to balance, finesse, and the expression of terroir, combining intensity and purity with a delicate, refined texture.

Vineyards

Cristal is sourced from 32 vineyard plots across the Champagne region, including the top crus of Verzenay, Verzy, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Ay, Avize, Mesnil-sur-Oger, and Cramant. The Pinot Noir comes primarily from sunny, well-exposed plots, providing richness and ripe fruit character, while the Chardonnay contributes a saline, chalky precision from cooler, mineral-rich soils.

Winemaking

Grapes are carefully harvested between mid-September and early October, with strict selection for quality. 58% of the blend is Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay. The wine undergoes 31% oak ageing, with no malolactic fermentation to preserve freshness and vibrancy. After secondary fermentation in bottle, the wine spends extended time on lees, creating a refined mousse and complex autolytic character. Dosage is set at 7 g/l to achieve perfect balance between freshness and subtle sweetness. Tasting Note Cristal displays a bright, shiny yellow hue with fine, slow-moving bubbles. The bouquet is intense and precise, combining scents of white flowers, roasted citrus, and ripe yellow fruit such as peaches and mirabelle plums. Subtle iodised, powdery, and roasted overtones develop from extended lees ageing. On the palate, the wine is soft, tactile, and harmonious, with juicy Pinot Noir fruit, chalky and saline Chardonnay structure, and integrated bubbles. Flavours of wheat, oyster shell, and delicate chocolate emerge, culminating in a long, crystalline finish that is both refined and persistent.

Food Pairing

Ideal with seafood, caviar, lightly smoke