Cristal champagne is a champagne that dates to 1867. It was part of a custom-made brew served at the Three Emperors’ Dinner in Paris after champagne became popular with the Russian nobility during the 1850s. After the dinner, Tsar Alexander II of Russia was so impressed with the taste of it and its presentation, he decided to make the golden-hued champagne his official palace wine. Woodard, Richard (June 16, 2006). "Rapper Jay Z boycotts "racist" Cristal". Decanter.com. Archived from the original on 2010-03-24 . Retrieved 2009-09-08. J. Robinson (ed.). The Oxford Companion to Wine, Third Edition. Oxford University Press, 2006, p. 584–585. ISBN 0-19-860990-6. When the grapes of the right quality are grown only in the best years, then once they’re harvested, they’re divided into 60% pinot noir and 40% chardonnay grapes which are then blended together. These blended grapes are then aged (with around 8 – 30% of the wine being oak cask-aged) to create the final product. Their brut variety is then matured on lees for a period of four years, which makes it a vintage champagne, after which, a period of six months is given to let it disgorge. This process is what gives Cristal its unique balance of aromas and flavours. What Does Cristal Champagne Taste Like?

When opening a bottle of fizz, remember it will behave far better and more predictably if it has been left to sit and chill for a few hours. Warmth and/or rough handling both make for an explosive cork situation and the likelihood of more mess and waste. Champagne should go into glasses, not onto ceilings. The bottles that the champagne comes in are also unique and made from clear cut lead crystal, with flat bottoms. What Is The Origin Of Cristal Champagne? FACT: Cristal still uses clear flat bottom bottles, but they aren’t made with leaded crystal. The wines are wrapped in a cellophane wrapper because clear glass won’t protect age-worthy white wines from UV damage. Cristal is often enjoyed publicly as a display of power. Cristal is a Veblen Good So what makes Cristal Champagne so spectacular? And… can we (please) find a great bubbly for less? Louis Roederer Champagne Brut Cristal Champagne increased in popularity with the Russian nobility from 1855 onwards. An especially popular brand was Louis Roederer's, who shipped a third of his production to Russia.Cristal’s bottles used to be made with leaded crystal. “Crystal” in French is “ cristal.” Its gold wrapping isn’t just for show. Cristal is the flagship cuvée of Champagne Louis Roederer, created in 1876 for Alexander II, tsar of Russia. Century, Douglas (2006-07-02). "Jay-Z puts a cap on Cristal". The New York Times . Retrieved 2009-09-08.

Cristal has an annual production of about 300,000 to 400,000 bottles per year. This is a pretty low number, considering other high end brands like Dom Pérignon produce around five million bottles every year. It’s always vintage.

Cristal is cellar-aged for six years, and then held for another eight months after its dégorgement (the process of removing sediment from the Champagne). The vines used to grow Cristal’s grapes are also old — they must be a minimum of 25 years of age, but some are as old as 60. The older a vine is, the less fruitful it is, which contributes to the rarity of Cristal. Cristal likes to keep it old school. Some producers don’t stop at the minimum aging. Top prestige brands including Krug, Cristal, Bollinger, and Pol Roger age for at least 5 years before releasing their wines. Louis Roederer Champagne to this day has continued to produce it, and it first became publicly available in 1945. How Is Cristal Champagne Made? Cristal Champagne shines with golden effervescence and an eminent stature, embraced by everyone from reality television stars to dedicated Champagne connoisseurs. Its allure lies not just in its reputation but also in its inherent quality – a distinction underscored by a perfect 100-point rating from Wine & Spirits Magazine in 2002. More than a decade later, the luster of Cristal Champagne remains undimmed. It retains its place as one of the most coveted and remarkable Champagnes on the global stage. What Is Cristal Champagne?