2012 was one of the most challenging years ever experienced in Champagne.

However, the low yields due to the continental weather conditions towards the end of the season gave us grapes with unusual levels of maturity, resulting in rich, full-bodied and well-structured wines, worthy of the greatest vintages in Champagne.

Cristal is Louis Roederer's flagship champagne. It comes from 45 exceptional "lieux-dits" from Grands Crus vineyards (located in La Vallée de la Marne - also known as the vineyard of "la Rivière", La Côte des Blancs and La Montagne de Reims), covering a total of 80 hectares. This estate has been carefully built up by the Roederer family since 1841 and worked in a bespoke manner with respect for the living environment.

Created in 1876 at the special request of Tsar Alexander II, a great lover of the wines from Champagne, Cristal is uniquely inspired. It is also said that the monarch had it specially created for his muse to whom he dedicated it to. It was a bespoke design; a transparent, flat-bottomed bottle (said to have been chosen to thwart any assassination attempts on the Russian sovereign), a prodigious ageing, the promise of eternal youth.

Produced only in years when the grapes reach perfect maturity, Cristal is the product of time and the fruit of state-of-the-art viticulture.

6 to 10 years ageing in the bottle, riddling exclusively by hand and a long rest after disgorgement all play a part in the crafting of a vintage Cristal. This is a champagne that is destined for high-end gastronomy, capable of creating the most refined and original food pairings, to be enjoyed at different stages of its life and maturity.

Take your time and savour this unique champagne.

It has the taste of its terroir, the zest and salinity of the chalk, and the mouth-watering freshness of its fruit. The complex nose reveals notes of lemon-scented and candied fruits, a touch of zest, white flowers, grilled hazelnut and a hint of smoke and pastries created by the bottle ageing process. A deep and vinous wine, a symbol of the noblesse of Cristal, combined with a chalky freshness giving the wine immense finesse. In addition to its power, one also feels a silky, mouth-coating texture characteristic of the ripe Pinot noirs from the 2012 vintage. Bright and sunny, Cristal is a naturally fine champagne providing immense drinking pleasure.

Cristal is an experience unlike any other, crafted in a manner that will allow it to reveal itself very gradually over time.

This outstanding champagne grows more glorious with every passing year, gaining in depth, finesse and aromatic complexity. The freshness of its youth evolves progressively to reveal more candied, spicy and saline aromas along with ever more delicate and refined bubbles.

It can be enjoyed in the purity and chalky freshness of its youth or can be laid down for a few more years or even decades in a cool, dark cellar, with its orange cellophane protecting it from light, where it will continue to evolve beautifully over time. This wine has a promising future ahead of it and its destiny is in your hands!