2016 Louis Roederer - Champagne Brut Cristal (750ml)
Louis Roederer has remained a family-owned Champagne house since its founding in 1776 in Reims, now guided by seventh-generation proprietor Frédéric Rouzaud. Cristal was first crafted in the nineteenth century as a personal cuvée for the Tsar of Russia and has since become one of the house's most sought-after releases. Cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lecaillon continues to oversee its production with an emphasis on precision and terroir expression.
The 2016 vintage draws on organically farmed and certified fruit sourced from premier vineyard sites across the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de la Marne, and the Côte des Blancs. The blend combines fifty-eight percent Pinot Noir with forty-two percent Chardonnay, and malolactic fermentation is avoided entirely to preserve natural acidity. Around a third of the base wines age in French oak barrels before the final assemblage rests further in bottle, finished with a dosage of seven grams per liter.
On the nose, delicate aromas of white peach, citrus blossom, and fresh raspberry mingle with brioche, white chocolate, and a touch of saffron. The palate is bright and saline, carried by fine, persistent bubbles and a chalky, mineral-driven finish that lingers gracefully. This vintage pairs beautifully with roasted lobster, seared scallops, or aged Comté.