Champagne Louis Roederer Cristal Brut (in gift box) 2008

Wine Advocate wrote on this wine’s release, “this is the finest you can get from Champagne”. It’s been a legend ever since Tsar Alexander II demanded it in specially commissioned clear bottles in 1876. The fact that the wine was not commercially available until 1945 merely elevated its cachet. Recently Cristal gained notoriety as the preferred Champagne of high profile American rap artists. Writer Hugh Johnson calls it “fabulous, one of the most luscious Champagnes, racy but deeply flavoured”. The 100 point 2008 uses grapes from 36 Grand Cru plots, with 25% of it oak fermented and a little allowed to go through ‘malo’ to offset the vintage’s freshness. 8.5 years ageing on lees in bottle is the longest ever. Best cellared for 5 to 30 years.