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.
Wine Enthusiast*Cellar Selection*
Although it is still young, this vintage of Cristal promises great things. There’s an impressive balance between ripe fruit and crisp acidity, rich and food friendly, but also a fine apritif. Apricot and grapefruit flavors are round and rich, but with considerable minerality as well. This is a beautiful wine that can improve with age, at least through 2030.
Wine Spectator*Collectibles*
This elegant version shows beautiful texture and a sense of finesse despite the underlying power of vibrant acidity and smoky minerality. The palate offers a finely layered mesh of blackberry, poached pear, almond pastry, lemon zest and pickled ginger flavors. Drink now through 2028.
My visit to these historic cellars earlier in the year was an eye-opening experience. I spent several hours with Chef de Caves Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon tasting through a wide range of 2009s vins claires. Readers may want to take a look at my feature on www.erobertparker.com for more on those wines. The visit was capped off by previews of the 2004 Cristal and the as-yet-unreleased Cristal Rose. Both were superb. Over the last six months the 2004 Cristal has come together beautifully and is shaping up to be a truly great, monumental Champagne. From top to bottom, this is an impressive set of wines. My only real criticism of Roederer is the estate's insistence on using lot numbers that resemble missile launch codes in their complexity. Surely something simpler must be possible.
