Cristal er én de champagner der har opnået mytestatus; det begyndte tilbage i 1876 da Zar Aleksander d. II bad Louis Roederer producere en unik champagne til ham, den skulle være af højeste kvalitet og samtidig opfylde nogle helt specielle krav, da Zaren frygtede for et attentat mod sit liv.
Resultatet blev Cristal, opkaldt efter den klare krystalflaske der gav mulighed for at nyde champagnens farve og afsløre eventuelle giftstoffer. Bunden på flasken er flad, på denne måde kunne attentatmænd ikke skjule en sprængstoffer i under flasken.
Flasken er ganske vist ikke længere af krystal, men den er stadig klar og fladbundet, og derfor svøbt i gult UV afvisende cellofan for at beskytte vinen mod solens stråler.
I mange år var Cristal forbeholdt kongelige og regeringsoverhoveder, men nu kan vi alle glæde os over at kunne smage den unikke Cristal Champagne.
Jancis Robinson
The 2005 vintage was a year of marked contrasts between seasons and regions. Following a fairly harsh winter, 2005 had a mild spring with relatively warm temperatures all year long. There was above average sunshine and a slight water deficit, as had been the case throughout the dry cycle of 2005/2004 and 2003. The heat and humidity in July produced larger grapes and bunches, rather unusually for the Champagne region, while the cooler weather in August, followed by a very sunny month of September, led to favourable ripening in spite of heavy parasite pressure. 55% Pinot Noir. Pinot Noir maceration - cold soak - to get flesh. They racked the Pinot juice and added the Chardonnay juice. Just a few thousand bottles made of this from a 6 ha estate (3 ha in Aÿ and 2.5 in Avize). 100% biodynamic since 2008. Created by Jean Claude Rouzaud. Very pale strawberry indeed. A little cheesy, meaty and lively - great balance. Luscious and lovely already. Perfumed and seems much more advanced than the white 2005. Quite pretty.
