Cristal
2014
Region
France › Champagne › Champagne AOC
Type
white · sparkling · brut
Grapes
Chardonnay, Pinot Noir
Alcohol
12%
Volume
750 mL
Sugar
7 g/L
Tasting Notes
| He spills the champagne from his glass onto the floor. | | CHESTER | It's fuckin' flat, Norman, that's | what's wrong. The champagne -- the | fuckin' Cristal's fuckin' flat. | | --- Four Rooms
I tried my best not to quote the Four Rooms movie. A single sniff cleared my mind and I fell in love with this 'beverage'.
Estragon in Champagne? Incredible! Combine it with shells, chalk, crème brûlée, tilia honey, hay, raw yeasty dough, citrus, peach and white flowers. Ultra complex yet approachable, expressive and alluring nose. On the palate, it's medium to full-bodied, vinous, delicate and multilayered. Racy and wonderfully balanced. The aftertaste is eternal and blissful. It's already delicious today yet I can't help but wonder about its future.
To close the circle, I let it breathe for 30 minutes only to find it flat. So I did what Chester did in that scene.
About
A 60/40 blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay sourced equally from La Rivière, La Montagne and La Côte vineyards. The main crus (see the map) are Verzenay, Verzy, Beaumont-sur-Vesle, Ay, Avize, Mesnil-sur-Oger and Cramant. None of the wine went through malolactic. Around one-third was vinified in wood.
