Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne 2013 has a golden hue with soft, glowing highlights and fine, gentle bubbles. Powerful and complex on the palate, revealing a mix of yellow fruit, think mirabelle plums, juicy, ripe fruits like nectarine, citrus peel and finely-roasted hazelnuts. The nose is both powdery and sweet, with elegant chalky notes. Gentle, tactile and full-bodied on the palate. The bubbles create a gentle, vibrating sensation, followed by the wine becoming soft, dense and juicy. However, it is the chalky freshness that quickly sets the tone, with the sweetness becoming energetic and intense, giving the wine an elegant yet powerful texture. Fine, textured tannins reveal a poised and vinous dimension to the wine. The finish is savoury and saline. A great classic in which maturity and freshness are harmoniously interwoven ensuring potential for long ageing.
It was in 1876, Tsar Alexander II of Russia asked the Roederer family to create an exceptional wine exclusively for him, that would be a masterpiece of perfect balance. Presented to the Tsar in a transparent crystal bottle, it acquired its name of Cristal. Nicolas II, Alexander II's grandson, paid tribute to the House of Louis Roederer in 1908 by awarding it the label of "Official Supplier to the court of His Majesty the Emporer of Russia". Since that time, Cristal has borne the Tsar's coat of arms. The epitome of high standards and refinement, Cristal is a work of art created with passion by Louis Roederer's master craftsmen.