The history of Cristal champagne began in the mid-70s of the nineteenth century, during the time of the Russian Emperor Alexander II.
Once he tried the classic version of Louis Roederer champagne and was delighted with the taste of the drink. He sent his personal winemaker to France in order to, together with Louis Roderer, produce a new sparkling wine that has the taste qualities that the emperor craved.
So in 1876, the elegant Cristal champagne appeared, which earned a reputation as a drink of the highest quality.
More about Crystal
Champagne is made from grape varieties grown on the lands of the Grand Cru class, which are located on the territory of Louis Roederer.
Grapes have a special care that adapts to the characteristics of different soils.
“Individual” viticulture methods are also used, thanks to which an exceptional degree of ripeness of the grapes is achieved.
To get the perfect and luxurious taste, the resulting wine must be aged in special barrels in the basement for a period of at least 6 years and 5 months.
Types of Cristal champagne
Glass
Champagne with a pleasant balanced taste.
Made from grape varieties Chardonnay (about 40%) and Pinot noir (about 60%).
It is characterized by exquisite purity and an incredible long-lasting aftertaste.
Through the silky texture, fruity aromas are captured, complemented by mineral hues, in which tones of white and citrus fruits are present.
This sparkling wine can be stored for over twenty years without losing its freshness and character.
Pink Crystal
Champagne, bestows a rich fragrant bouquet from the first seconds of its use.
Produced from Pinot noir (about 55%) and Chardonnay (about 45%) grape varieties, 20% is reserved for wines whose vinification took place in large oak barrels.
The fragrance of sparkling wine reveals soft-sweet motifs of white flowers, red fruits, caramel and Taten pie.
Champagne is characterized by a wide rounded texture, which from the very beginning stands out for its finesse and is complemented by a strong structure.
The wine has a pleasant fresh tone, which makes the taste more subtle and clear.
Plus, there are a number of variations of the drink, which can be distinguished by the years of release (vintage series).
How to distinguish a fake Cristal
A few tips to keep in mind when choosing Cristal:
Read the inscriptions on the label, they must be spelled correctly without errors.
The label of the original bottle is glued neatly, without glue smudges or distortions.
Champagne is bottled in designer bottles with reliable protection against counterfeiting.
The emblem of the drink manufacturer flaunts on the bottle – these are the letters “LR”, with which the double name of the manufacturer begins.
The original bottle has an impeccable appearance, there are no scratches or other technical flaws, the foil is neatly folded at the neck.
Cristal is an expensive champagne, so if you come across an option at a suspiciously low price, then beware of counterfeit.
Pay attention to the presence of an excise stamp, which is mandatory for a product manufactured abroad.
Cristal champagne belongs to the elite drinks and the manufacturer, of course, made sure that its product was difficult to fake. But, despite this, we advise you to carefully examine the bottle of the drink before purchasing in order to avoid misunderstandings.
Relevance: 12.05.2018
Tags: Wine and vermouth, Sparkling wine brands