Louis Roederer Cristal Brut 2016 750ml (Gift Boxed)
The Wine
Cristal is the flagship cuvée from the house of Louis Roederer.
Origin: Created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia.
The Bottle: Known for its flat-bottomed, clear lead-crystal bottle (hence the name).
The Vibe: It’s synonymous with high-end luxury and is only produced during "vintage years" when the grapes are exceptional.
98 Pts Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW, The Wine Independent 'The 2016 Cristal is a blend of 58% Pinot Noir and 42% Chardonnay with 7 grams per liter of dosage. No malo-lactic was performed here, and 31% of the base wines were aged in French oak. The nose begins with bright red berry notes of fresh raspberries and strawberries before opening out to a complex undercurrent of saffron, white chocolate, talc, baker’s yeast, and emerging wafts of citron blossom and pear tart. The palate is very dry and spicy, not needing even a touch more sweetness thanks to the abundance of ripe berry and citrus flavors, delivering beautifully knit acidity and typically tiny, persistent bubbles. It finishes with notes of effervescent chalkiness and saffron flowers, leaving you reaching for another sip.'
98 Pts Jeb Dunnuck 'The 2016 Champagne Cristal is transparent and complex, with lovely aromas of fresh flowers. Medium-bodied and chiseled, with great texture, well-defined saltiness, and delicate notes of shortbread, it’s a shimmering and electric wine with fantastic detail. It has a concentrated, chalky profile and is flush with crushed stones.'97 Pts William Kelley, The Wine Advocate 'The 2016 Cristal is a taut, incisive rendition of this benchmark bottling, unwinding in the glass with youthfully reserved aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, wet stones and subtle hints of sweet, buttery pastry. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and racy, it's almost as electric as the brilliant 2013, with serious concentration, a pure core of fruit, chalky structuring dry extract and a long, intensely mineral finish. Given its tightly wound profile, my advice is to forget it in the cellar for a few years and work on the more open, outgoing 2014 in the meantime.'
The Details
Variety - Chardonnay
Country - France
Region - Champagne
Vintage - 2016
Extra - Cork
Volume - 750ml
About the Wine Maker 
One of the last great independent, family-run Champagne houses.
Founded in 1776, it became legendary under the leadership of Louis Roederer himself in 1833. While most houses at the time bought grapes from various farmers, Roederer was a visionary who decided to buy the land instead. Today, they own over 240 hectares of prime vineyards, allowing them to control the quality of their wine from the soil to the bottle.
