From its early days as a royal favorite, Cristal has turn out to be 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.
If you consider luxurious Champagnes, which names pop to thoughts? Veuve Clicquot, Bollinger or Pol Roger maybe. However there’s 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 assumed Cristal was a Champagne Home in its personal proper. It’s, in truth, 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 fame 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 expensive, clear glass bottle.
Champagne and different glowing wines have been (and nonetheless are) normally offered in darkish bottles, most frequently inexperienced. That is to guard the liquid from mild injury. When uncovered to a lot of mild, significantly synthetic mild, for instance in retailers or home windows, wine can develop “off” aromas and is, primarily, broken. That is also known as “mild 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 frightened 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’s one other distinguishing characteristic of the Cristal bottle – its flat backside. Each have been instigated by Tsar Alexander on the Exposition Universelle in Paris in 1867, to reassure him of his security. At what has since turn out to be often known 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 stop any type of explosive from being hidden within the punt beneath the bottle.
Cristal has been offered in clear, flat-bottomed bottles ever since. To guard it from potential mild 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 barely ever produced in one of the 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 may 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 chic twist of pink fruit flavours from the Pinot Noir.
Whether or not you’re celebrating a totally big day or internet hosting the ceremonial dinner to finish all others, your selection of what to drink is Cristal clear.
Browse our vary of Cristal vintages right here.
