Thursday 3rd June 2021 - 19:00 London, 20:00 Reims & 21:00 Helsinki

Our next live tasting on Instagram is something very special, join us for our master class on Louis Roederer Cristal. Nick will broadcast live from London, joined by Essi Avellan MW in Helsinki and we are joined by Cristal’s creator Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon.

Of the great champagne vintages in the last few decades 2008 has created the most buzz, though my belief is when we look back in the future I think we may look just as fondly on 2012 and 2013. Our tasting will explore the vintage variations and Jean-Baptiste will share with his insights into these vintages.

In 2000 Louis Roederer made a commitment to convert its 240 hectares to farming either organically or biodynamically and Jean-Baptiste will share with us why they made this commitment and what this means for the latest two Cristal releases. From 2012 Cristal has been made from 100% biodynamically farmed grapes so we have a lot to explore “behind the labels” of these three vintages. All vintage champagnes from Louis Roederer are made from their own estate and only the non-vintage has some grapes they buy from growers.

We are tasting:
Louis Roederer Cristal 2013
Louis Roederer Cristal 2012
Louis Roederer Cristal 2008

You can buy the champagnes here

Louis Roederer Cristal – It all Began in 1876
In 1876, Russia's Tsar Alexander II, a long-time lover of Louis Roederer wines, asked the producer to create a special cuvée for his personal use which was unique in both its style and bottle design. Dissatisfied with standard champagne bottles that concealed the beautiful colour and effervescence from the eye, he requested that his personal cuvée be served in transparent crystal glass bottles with a flat bottom to foil the insertion of explosives by would-be assassins. Thus, Louis Roederer selected the best vines from seven Grand Crus on his estate and Cristal, the first prestige cuvée, was born.

Now world-famous, Cristal is produced only from the truly great vintages in which the ripeness of the Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes can provide the subtle and precise balance that is now the distinction of this cuvée. Between 20-30% of the wines are vinified in oak barrels and the final blend is matured for 6-10 years on its lees in the cellars and rests for a further twelve months after disgorgement. Recently, the Cristal vineyards have been converting to biodynamic farming methods and since 2012 all Cristal Estate vineyards have been cultivated biodynamically.

Join us on Instagram Live: https://www.instagram.com/thefinestbubble/

You can buy the bottle to join the tasting here