Thursday 18th November 2021 18:30 aperitif & 19:00 start
67 Pall Mall, St James Room, London, SW1Y 5ES
Write Up Exclusive: Jancis Robinson MW
Presenters: Essi Avellan MW & Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon
Places are limited to 56 people

If you have a particular passion for Louis Roederer Cristal, then this is the event for you. A tasting of fifteen Cristal Blancs from 1988 to 2013 – 6 from magnum including 1 Vinotheque & 1 from Jeroboam. The oldest four champagnes are direct from Louis Roederer's cellars shipping to us in September 2021. The remaining 11 Cristal champagnes are all from TFB bond stock at Vinotheque and all of these bottles originated from the Louis Roederer owned UK distributor MMD; champagne storage provenance is critical.

The tasting will take place in the St James Room at 67 Pall Mall. The tasting wont be blind and guests will have the opportunity to use our live scoring app, with plenty of time for questions to both Essi and Jean-Baptiste.

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 six years in the cellars and rests for twelve months after disgorgement. Since the year 2000 the Cristal vineyards have been converting to biodynamic farming methods and since 2012 all the Cristal Estate vineyards, all 45 plots have been farmed biodynamically.

Champagnes to be tasted:
Louis Roederer Cristal 1988 magnum
Louis Roederer Cristal 2000 magnum
Louis Roederer Cristal Vinotheque 2000 magnum
Louis Roederer Cristal 2002 magnum
Louis Roederer Cristal 2004
Louis Roederer Cristal 2005
Louis Roederer Cristal 2006
Louis Roederer Cristal 2006 magnum
Louis Roederer Cristal 2006 jeroboam
Louis Roederer Cristal 2007
Louis Roederer Cristal 2008
Louis Roederer Cristal 2008 magnum exclusive preview
Louis Roederer Cristal 2009
Louis Roederer Cristal 2012
Louis Roederer Cristal 2013

Essi Avellan MW - The tasting will be presented by Essi Avellan MW, who just last year completed her comprehensive book on Champagne. Finland’s first Master of Wine, Essi is the author of several wine books and is a reputed wine judge for the Champagne & Sparkling World Wine Championships. Recently Essi has re-written Tom Stevenson's Wine Encyclopedia and the fourth edition is now published and available to buy. Read about Essi Avellan's Champagne book here.

Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon - Born and raised in Reims, Champagne, and graduated from Montpellier's Ecole Nationale Supérieure Agronomique, after which he joined Roederer in August 1989. Lécaillon is the Executive Vice-President and Winemaker at Roederer – a post he has occupied since 1999.

With diplomas in oenology and agronomy, Lécaillon takes the house from strength to strength in terms of wine making and biodynamic viticulture. With experience making wine on four continents, it comes as no surprise that he heads the production of Roederer’s affiliated brands, including Roederer Estate in California, Ramos Pinto in the Douro in Portugal, Domaines Ott in Provence, and in Bordeaux; Château de Pez and Château Pichon Longueville Comtesse de Lalande in Pauillac.

A constant innovator, he has played an integral part in the creation of the Cristal Vinotheque, Brut Nature vintage and Brut Nature Vintage Rosé, the Coteaux Champenois Cuvee Camille and the newest cuvee of the house, Collection 242.


The venue 67 Pall Mall - Founded by wine lovers, for wine lovers, 67 Pall Mall is a unique private members' club. In the heart of historic St James's, Sir Edwin Lutyens' magnificent building is being transformed into a luxurious, convivial and welcoming clubhouse. Here, members will be able to enjoy access to some of the finest and rarest wines in the world, direct from the Club's extensive cellars.

Tickets are available on a first come first served basis to 56 guests at £788.00 per person.