From its early days as a royal favorite, Cristal has develop into one thing of a cult icon. Right here, we discover how Louis Roederer’s status cuvée got here to be – and why, past the regal favour and even assassination makes an attempt, it’s a really distinctive Champagne.
Once you consider luxurious Champagnes, which names pop to thoughts? Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger or Pol Roger maybe. However there may be one which regularly stands alone as an essence of true luxurious and opulence: Cristal.
I’ll freely admit that previous to becoming a member of the wine commerce, I believed Cristal was a Champagne Home in its personal proper. It’s, in reality, a status cuvée of Champagne Louis Roederer – simply as Veuve Clicquot has La Grande Dame, Bollinger has La Grande Année and Pol Roger has Sir Winston Churchill.
The eponymous Louis Roederer inherited his uncle’s Champagne Home (Dubois Père et Fils) in 1833 and renamed it after himself. When his son, Louis Roederer II, inherited it in 1870, its repute was already glowing among the many nice and good of worldwide society – even royalty.
Tsar Alexander II of Russia was an amazing fan of Roederer’s Champagnes and requested that the bestof each classic be reserved for him. In 1876, Louis determined to differentiate the home’s high cuvée for the Tsar alone and it was named Cristal after its pricey, clear glass bottle.
Champagne and different glowing wines had been (and nonetheless are) often bought in darkish bottles, most frequently inexperienced. That is to guard the liquid from gentle harm. When uncovered to plenty of gentle, significantly synthetic gentle, for instance in outlets or home windows, wine can develop “off” aromas and is, primarily, broken. That is sometimes called “gentle strike”. Why the clear glass for Cristal then?
Tsar Alexander II’s reign was a tumultuous time in Russia’s historical past. He was ever afraid of assassination. Certainly, after three assassination makes an attempt, his concern ultimately got here to be realised in 1881.
In addition to its clear glass, there may be one other distinguishing function of the Cristal bottle – its flat backside. Each had been instigated by Tsar Alexander on the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1867, to reassure him of his security. At what has since develop into referred to as The Three Emperors Dinner, Alexander demanded that the night’s Champagne be served in clear, flat-bottomed bottles. This could permit him to see the bubbles (in case of a poisoning try) and forestall any type of explosive from being hidden within the punt beneath the bottle.
Cristal has been bought in clear, flat-bottomed bottles ever since. To guard it from potential gentle strike, the bottles are wrapped in gold cellophane. Ideally, this shouldn’t be eliminated till you pop the cork.
Talking of popping corks, what are you able to anticipate from a glass of this fabled liquid? Sometimes a mix of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, Cristal is simply ever produced in the very best vintages, when the grapes are wholesome and have reached full maturity. It’s left to quietly mature on the lees for six years within the cellars at Louis Roederer adopted by one other eight months after it’s disgorged. By the point it reaches your glass, you possibly can anticipate vibrant flavours of succulent grapefruit, Williams pear and baked apple. The mid-palate brings the autolytic notes of brioche and contemporary pastry and there’s a sublime twist of crimson fruit flavours from the Pinot Noir.
Whether or not you’re celebrating a completely special day or internet hosting the feast to finish all others, your alternative of what to drink is Cristal clear.
Browse our vary of Cristal vintages right here.
