"Bright, shiny yellow hue. Magnificent fine, slow-moving bubbles. The bouquet is intense, deep and precise, combining scents of white flowers (acacia), concentrated, roasted citrus (lemons) and ripe yellow fruit (peaches, mirabelle plums). After a few minutes, subtle iodised, powdery and roasted overtones emerge, the result of the autolysis of the yeasts during the “sur lattes” ageing process. On the palate, there is an immediate impression, soft and delicate, more accessible than ever! It is like a zabaglione with concentrated, juicy and ripe fruit, the hallmark of the great Pinot noirs from the heatwave in 2016 with their soft, caressing texture derived from the chalky soil in which they grow. The bubbles are tactile, perfectly integrated and almost salty. Wheat and oyster shell notes are the signature of the slow and late ripening great Chardonnays. The substance is there, powdery, grainy and deliciously chocolatey. We are very close to having the “ideal” balance, the wine is crisp, saline and iodised, with a long, chalky, crystalline finish that lingers and builds to a crescendo. The overall impression is one of refinement, sapidity and purity... like the infinite grace of an opera ballerina." —winemaker
"Bright, shiny yellow hue. Magnificent fine, slow-moving bubbles. The bouquet is intense, deep and precise, combining scents of white flowers (acacia), concentrated, roasted citrus (lemons) and ripe yellow fruit (peaches, mirabelle plums). After a few minutes, subtle iodised, powdery and roasted overtones emerge, the result of the autolysis of the yeasts during the “sur lattes” ageing process. On the palate, there is an immediate impression, soft and delicate, more accessible than ever! It is like a zabaglione with concentrated, juicy and ripe fruit, the hallmark of the great Pinot noirs from the heatwave in 2016 with their soft, caressing texture derived from the chalky soil in which they grow. The bubbles are tactile, perfectly integrated and almost salty. Wheat and oyster shell notes are the signature of the slow and late ripening great Chardonnays. The substance is there, powdery, grainy and deliciously chocolatey. We are very close to having the “ideal” balance, the wine is crisp, saline and iodised, with a long, chalky, crystalline finish that lingers and builds to a crescendo. The overall impression is one of refinement, sapidity and purity... like the infinite grace of an opera ballerina." —winemaker
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Price: $449.99
$299.00
"This iconic Champagne, first made in the 19th century for the Tsar of Russia, shows its typical stunning balance and poise between richness and concentration. It has a pure white fruit and honeysuckle aroma and tight, tangy fresh fruit flavors. Just ready to drink, the wine will age well, for at least 20 years. Organic." —Wine Enthusiast
"The 2016 Cristal is a taut, incisive rendition of this benchmark bottling, unwinding in the glass with youthfully reserved aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, wet stones and subtle hints of sweet, buttery pastry. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and racy, it's almost as electric as the brilliant 2013, with serious concentration, a pure core of fruit, chalky structuring dry extract and a long, intensely mineral finish. Given its tightly wound profile, my advice is to forget it in the cellar for a few years and work on the more open, outgoing 2014 in the meantime." —Wine Advocate
"This leads with pronounced minerality on the nose, but then a bright burst of tangerine, blood orange and Meyer lemon flavors on the palate hold sway, joined by rich hints of crème de cassis, toast point, pastry cream and crystallized honey. Showing beautiful integration and a refined, lacy mousse, this is compact and statuesque, with a sense of restraint and the hint of more to come, while at the same time offering lovely expression in the glass today. Fresh and focused on the persistent finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2044. 8,300 cases imported." —Wine Spectator
"This iconic Champagne, first made in the 19th century for the Tsar of Russia, shows its typical stunning balance and poise between richness and concentration. It has a pure white fruit and honeysuckle aroma and tight, tangy fresh fruit flavors. Just ready to drink, the wine will age well, for at least 20 years. Organic." —Wine Enthusiast
"The 2016 Cristal is a taut, incisive rendition of this benchmark bottling, unwinding in the glass with youthfully reserved aromas of citrus oil, white flowers, wet stones and subtle hints of sweet, buttery pastry. Medium to full-bodied, chiseled and racy, it's almost as electric as the brilliant 2013, with serious concentration, a pure core of fruit, chalky structuring dry extract and a long, intensely mineral finish. Given its tightly wound profile, my advice is to forget it in the cellar for a few years and work on the more open, outgoing 2014 in the meantime." —Wine Advocate
"This leads with pronounced minerality on the nose, but then a bright burst of tangerine, blood orange and Meyer lemon flavors on the palate hold sway, joined by rich hints of crème de cassis, toast point, pastry cream and crystallized honey. Showing beautiful integration and a refined, lacy mousse, this is compact and statuesque, with a sense of restraint and the hint of more to come, while at the same time offering lovely expression in the glass today. Fresh and focused on the persistent finish. Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Drink now through 2044. 8,300 cases imported." —Wine Spectator
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"Bright color with amber-yellow highlights. A steady stream of slow-moving, fine bubbles. An intense, concentrated bouquet of fresh yellow fruit (nectarine), citrus (citron) and floral notes (pollen, orange blossom), interwoven with subtle smoky notes and hints of vanilla. The Chardonnay takes the lead, exuding a chalky freshness and a confident energy. Soft hints of cedar and menthol, bergamot and white chocolate also add to the sensation of freshness. On the palate, it is the Pinot that takes the lead – concentrated and wonderfully enveloping, with a viscosity balanced by a fine-grained tannic structure. The bubbles are perfectly incorporated into the wine’s juicy, enveloping body. The white soils show through on the mid-palate, bringing a saline note (oyster shells) that creates a delicious umami character and a mouthwatering finish. A child of the chalk, Cristal 2018 radiates remarkable freshness despite the very sunny vintage. 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 a captivating, powdery texture." —winemaker
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"Bright color with amber-yellow highlights. A steady stream of slow-moving, fine bubbles. An intense, concentrated bouquet of fresh yellow fruit (nectarine), citrus (citron) and floral notes (pollen, orange blossom), interwoven with subtle smoky notes and hints of vanilla. The Chardonnay takes the lead, exuding a chalky freshness and a confident energy. Soft hints of cedar and menthol, bergamot and white chocolate also add to the sensation of freshness. On the palate, it is the Pinot that takes the lead – concentrated and wonderfully enveloping, with a viscosity balanced by a fine-grained tannic structure. The bubbles are perfectly incorporated into the wine’s juicy, enveloping body. The white soils show through on the mid-palate, bringing a saline note (oyster shells) that creates a delicious umami character and a mouthwatering finish. A child of the chalk, Cristal 2018 radiates remarkable freshness despite the very sunny vintage. 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 a captivating, powdery texture." —winemaker
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