Louis Roederer Cristal Prestige

Cristal was originally created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia, who is said to have asked for a clear flat-bottomed bottle so he could see the wine and watch for assassins' contributions. The cuvée was made for the tsars until the Russian Revolution and revived commercially in 1945.

Today Cristal is sourced from a small, fixed set of parcels in the Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne and Côte des Blancs, all farmed organically and biodynamically by the house. The blend leans roughly 60% Pinot Noir / 40% Chardonnay, with around six years on lees and a precise dosage that varies vintage to vintage.