Long before Quentin Tarantino touted this Champagne’s superiority on the silver screen, Cristal was exclusively crafted for Tsar Alexander II of Russia. One of the few great Champagne houses that are still family owned, the estate was founded in 1776 and was renamed in 1833 for Louis Roederer following his inheritance. Roederer Champagne first made a splash in Russia when Tsar Nicholas II nominated Louis Roederer as his official wine supplier to the Imperial Court. When Tsar Alexander II took the helm of Russia, he requested a personal cuvée to be delivered in clear bottles so that the beautiful color and effervescence could be seen. He also demanded a bottle that was flat-bottomed in an effort to keep potential assassins from attaching explosives into the punt!! Cristal, finished in a crystal bottle and wrapped in golden foil, was crafted in 1876 as the first Cuvée de Prestige of Champagne and its high standards have been meticulously maintained ever since. It wasn’t until 1945 that Roederer Cristal became available to the public and it has continued to be a sought-after wine for over a century.

 

The 1999 vintage had a warm growing season that delivered beautiful richness and a pitch perfect balance. This particular cuvée is comprised of 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay and is derived from top parcels in the Côtes de Blancs, Marne Valley and Montagne de Reims. This tete de cuvée is aged for five years on its fine lees then is aged an additional six months in bottle with 11 grams per liter of dosage before final disgorgement. The result is a rare, beautiful vintage and a champagne whose artisanal production can never satiate ardent global desires.

                         

The 1999 Roederer Cristal has a beautiful bright golden core with a small cluster of tiny bubbles in the glass, which is indicative of its age. As Champagne matures in bottle, the amount of bubbles in the bottle naturally decreases so expect less intensity of bubbles in the glass than your typical youthful example. After pouring, allow the wine to rest in the glass for a few minutes; the resulting aromas will evolve into an entertaining sensory experience that is almost indescribable in its complexity of layers and dimension. The nose opens with aromatics of pureed hazelnut, fresh crème, dried yellow apple and rising brioche that gives way to a bouquet of lemon blossom, white truffle, dried acacia flowers, all of this laced with oyster shell minerality with a touch of vanilla bean. Reminiscent of drinking mature Grand Cru White Burgundy with effervescence, this superb wine reveals a texture and mouthfeel that is unparalleled along with incredibly concentrated flavors of pureed hazelnut, dried pineapple, lemon blossom, preserved lemon and inimitable minerality. This 1999 Cristal can be savored with mature cheese or the most decadent of foods, but I personally feel inclined towards this recipe for Sea Bass prepared in cream sauce with white truffles.