{"product_id":"louis-roederer-cristal-2018-giftbox","title":"Louis Roederer Cristal 2018 GIFTBOX","description":"\u003cp\u003ePresented in an elegant gift box, Louis Roederer Cristal 2018 is one of Champagne’s most sought-after prestige cuvées. Created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia, Cristal remains the flagship expression of the Louis Roederer estate, renowned for its exceptional vineyard selection, precision and remarkable ageing potential. The 2018 vintage offers a distinctive interpretation shaped by a warm, highly mature growing season and an unusually broad selection of parcels.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Notes\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThe wine displays a luminous golden colour with a fine, persistent stream of bubbles. Its aromatic profile is notably expressive and complex, combining orchard and stone fruit with dried flowers, delicate spice, chalk and fresh herbs. Floral and spicy nuances give this vintage a particularly individual character, while subtle notes of pastry and mineral freshness add depth.\n\nOn the palate, Cristal 2018 is generous yet remarkably focused, with impressive linear energy, clarity and length. The fruit is ripe and concentrated, but balanced by a precise mineral structure and a graceful, energetic finish. It is already captivating, although further bottle ageing will allow the wine to develop greater layers of brioche, dried fruit and savoury complexity over the next 10–20 years or more when stored under ideal conditions.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProduction\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eCristal is produced from carefully selected parcels in Louis Roederer’s finest Grand Cru vineyards, traditionally based on Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The warm 2018 season resulted in high ripeness and naturally lower acidity, prompting Chef de Cave Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon to broaden the selection from the estate’s usual 45 parcels to 57 in order to preserve freshness and balance. The cuvée incorporates all of Roederer’s finest Chardonnay lots, while the proportion of fermentation in oak was reduced. The wine was racked soon after fermentation, bottled earlier than usual and sealed with a crown cap and low-oxygen liner to protect its freshness during ageing. It receives a dosage of 7 g\/L.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood \u0026amp; Serving\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eServe at 10–12°C in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass to allow its layered aromas to unfold. Decanting is not essential, but a brief decant into a chilled Champagne decanter can benefit the wine on opening, particularly when served with a substantial meal. Cristal 2018 pairs beautifully with fine seafood, lobster, scallops, turbot and sushi, as well as roast poultry, veal, delicate cream sauces and mildly spiced dishes. Its depth also makes it an excellent match for mature hard cheeses.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eFounded in 1776, Louis Roederer is one of Champagne’s great independent, family-owned houses and is distinguished by its unusually extensive estate vineyard holdings. The house places strong emphasis on parcel selection, sustainable viticulture and a detailed understanding of Champagne’s terroirs. Cristal was first created for the Russian imperial court and has since become an icon of prestige Champagne. Under the direction of Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon, Louis Roederer has continued to refine Cristal through meticulous vineyard work and precise cellar decisions, reinforcing the cuvée’s reputation for elegance, complexity and long-term ageing.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Louis Roederer","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":54578539987281,"sku":"PS-16077910933884","price":261.22,"currency_code":"EUR","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0874\/0614\/9969\/files\/Cristal2018S.png?v=1786737062","url":"https:\/\/bottlehero.com\/products\/louis-roederer-cristal-2018-giftbox","provider":"Bottle Hero","version":"1.0","type":"link"}