Cristal 2018
Like a brand new symphony, Cristal 2018 resonates with a tone distinct from previous vintages.
Cristal, the icon of Louis Roederer
This iconic cuvée from Champagne Louis Roederer is born in the vineyards at Domaine Cristal and beats to the rhythm of the seasons, the climate and the work undertaken in the vineyards. Just like a fine Burgundy cru, this champagne finds nourishment in its soils, their vibration and their unbreakable bond with the sun and the light.
Marking Cristal’s 150th anniversary, the 2018 vintage reaffirms its signature expression and identity: the vibration of the chalk, the persistent freshness, and the unmistakable character of a wine shaped by its terroir.
The 2018 radiates remarkable freshness despite a very sunny vintage. It is quintessentially Cristal, reflecting its white soils, saline energy, captivating texture, and the exquisite intensity of its aromas.
A timeless estate
Cristal is a terroir-driven champagne, crafted by artisans, and sourced exclusively from the estate of the same name, which is cultivated using organic methods. In this vineyard dedicated to the crafting of the Cristal champagne, consistency lies in careful adaptation each year. Depending on the weather and the growing cycle, only the highest quality plots are chosen for the final blend to capture the essence of Cristal, its beating heart and its most authentic self.
These outstanding “lieux-dits”’ have been carefully and patiently built up by successive generations at the helm of the Louis Roederer Champagne House since 1841. They are worked using a bespoke and traditional winegrowing approach that respects the living environment, with eco-friendly practices that include massal selection, gentle pruning and allowing the land to lie fallow for long periods. These methods are inspired by the principles of permaculture, in which the ecosystem adjusts its balance, thereby creating a close bond between Man and Nature. 30 hectares are also worked by horse, especially those with the oldest and youngest vines, which are more fragile.
For each vintage, we select only the year’s best Pinots and Chardonnays. A unique feature of this exceptional year, Cristal 2018 was sourced from 57 plots. In addition to the estate’s 45 plots over 25 years old, the blend exceptionally includes four Blanc de Blancs plots and eight plots aged between 20 and 25 years.
A wine born from the soil yet embracing the light
Cristal's identity is unique, original and truly unlike any other in the history of fine champagne. It is a wine of the soil, a wine of depth, a wine of the land yet embracing the light, a wine that continues to reveal the many facets of its crafting and personality as it ages.
Cristal owes its timelessness to its fidelity to the soil. It is a wine rooted in the eternal, that of the seasons, a ripening cycle, a heritage and a quest. The quest is for excellence, purity and harmony: to create a wine that vibrates in tune with its terroir and mirrors its qualities.
This quest for excellence is also reflected in the remarkable precision of the work carried out in the cellars. For this vintage, 28% of the wines were vinified in oak, and malolactic fermentation was prevented to retain the bright, fresh and exceptionally pure character of the fruit. Time was then left to work its magic, each Cristal vintage undergoing an average of 6 to 7 years of ageing “sur lattes” followed by 6 to 12 months of further ageing after disgorgement.
Masterful, the 2018 vintage captures the very essence of the Cristal style, expressing its dual nature - a balance between sky and earth, chalk and light.
A sunny vintage of incredible freshness
Abundant and generous, with grapes in perfect condition, the 2018 vintage is one of those beautiful years in Champagne when nature offers its very best. Warm and dry, it delivered a superb harvest, giving rise to elegant, fruit-driven wines. Despite its pronounced sunny nature, the 2018 vintage produced a Cristal of remarkable freshness. More than ever a “child of the chalk,” the wine is perfectly balanced, achieving a harmony between its radiant character and its clearly defined terrestrial roots.
Cristal 2018 thus harmonises contrasts, bringing all its distinctive elements into perfect balance. It unfolds smoothly and gracefully, like a great perfume. Chardonnay sets the top notes with lemony, saline freshness, while Pinot noir provides the base notes with its intensely fruity character and captivating, powdery texture.
Chinois, Simplifié
