Deep yellow hue with a lustrous sheen. Ultra-fine, dynamic bubbles. Intense, concentrated bouquet of yellow fruit (white peach, mirabelle plum) combined with a delicious concentrated toastiness in the form of roasted hazelnut and almond aromas. Perfect, seamless and complex marriage of the almond, wheat and sweet pollen notes from the Chardonnay with the juicy red fruit of the Pinot noir. Concentrated, energetic and vibrant on the palate, starting out as a silky, almost oily, caress, with soft flavors of candied citrus and iodised spices. Then the powdery texture becomes tauter and the pure, precise and chiselled freshness crescendos. The salivating finish is underpinned by slightly oaky, sappy and saline notes that create a simultaneous sensation of delicacy and concentration!

Bright, shiny yellow hue. Magnificent fine, slow-moving bubbles. The bouquet is intense, deep and precise, combining scents of white flowers (acacia), concentrated, roasted citrus (lemons) and ripe yellow fruit (peaches, mirabelle plums). After a few minutes, subtle iodised, powdery and roasted overtones emerge, the result of the autolysis of the yeasts during the “sur lattes” ageing process. On the palate, there is an immediate impression, soft and delicate, more accessible than ever! It is like a zabaglione with concentrated, juicy and ripe fruit, the hallmark of the great Pinot noirs from the heatwave in 2016 with their soft, caressing texture derived from the chalky soil in which they grow. The bubbles are tactile, perfectly integrated and almost salty. Wheat and oyster shell notes are the signature of the slow and late ripening great Chardonnays. The substance is there, powdery, grainy and deliciously chocolatey. We are very close to having the “ideal” balance, the wine is crisp, saline and iodised, with a long, chalky, crystalline finish that lingers and builds to a crescendo. The overall impression is one of refinement, sapidity and purity... like the infinite grace of an opera ballerina.

Cristal 2016 is pure, delicate and concentrated. It is the perfect, eloquent “Grand Cristal”: 50% sun (ripe, juicy Pinot noirs) and 50% soil (chalky, saline Chardonnays). It is similar to the 2002, 2008 and 2012, but with an even longer, more precise and concentrated character.

The bouquet is intense, powerful and incredibly youthful. 8 years after its disgorgement, the Cristal Rosé 2002 is still bursting with fresh, fruity aromas. Its soft, smooth notes of fresh fruits and candied citrus intertwine with more floral notes such as rose as well as smokey notes, cocoa, spice and cinnamon. The wine is juicy, fleshy and succulent on entry. Dense, concentrated and powdery texture with a smooth, juicy mouthfeel, chalky freshness and a saline finish that gives it a distinctive, ethereal, long and very pure style.

Bright pink hue with delicate salmon-pink tints. Soft, even sparkle that fills the glass and gives the wine an almost creamy appearance. The delicate, subtle bouquet opens up with elegant aromas of flower petals and dried fruit and nuts, which then give way to zesty notes of red berries such as redcurrant and wild strawberry, characteristic of Louis Roederer's old pinot noir vines from Aÿ. The juicy and fleshy attack is underpinned by a direct, intense freshness. It displays simultaneously solid and fluid powdery notes harking back to the tannins in the pips which were perfectly ripe and lignified. There is an explosion of intense, rich, fresh flavors, complemented by notes of hazelnut and a powdery, almost oily, mouthfeel, characteristic of the finest pinot noirs. There is an impression of chalkiness on the finish with zesty notes reminiscent of candied citrus and yuzu.

A light, bright pink with copper tints. The delicate effervescence develops into a persistent string of bubbles. Chalk is here at its most charming, creating energy, refinement and powdered texture. The ultimate finesse! The bouquet is both elegant and deep, with dark berries (blackcurrant) and fruits of the forest (blackberry, wild strawberries). There is also a hint of perfectly ripe Morello cherry. Reminiscent of concentrated tangy jam. The immediate effect on the palate is velvety, silky and enchanting... characteristic of the great pinot noir from Aÿ, simultaneously intense with aromas and with a tight structure, all the while remaining delicate, subtle and ethereal. Cristal Rosé 2009 is grandiose, with the finesse and elegance of a prima ballerina!