Cristal Vinotheque PERFECTION, and Direct from the Cellar!

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LOUIS ROEDERER CRISTAL VINOTHEQUE

CHAMPAGNE, FRANCE

Why Buy: Three of the absolute greatest bottles of Champagne produced in the past three decades have emerged from Roederer's legendary cellars: the 100-point Cristal Vinotheque Rosé, the 99-point Cristal Vinotheque 2002, and the 99-point Cristal Vinotheque 1997. For lovers of great Champagne, this back-vintage from one of the few remaining independent, family-operated estates in Champagne represents a rare opportunity to acquire these transcendent and magisterial bottles directly from the source.

What They're Saying: James Suckling's encounter with the Cristal Vinotheque Rosé left him reaching for comparisons outside the realm of Champagne entirely, likening it to "a mature vintage Romanée-Saint-Vivant Grand Cru with very fine bubbles and an acidity that gives it a weightless delicacy." His enthusiasm for the 2002 Vinotheque focused on its extraordinary complexity, noting its "white chocolate on the savory nose" and "rich candied citrus and mirabelle fruit," all building to a "breathtakingly vivid finish." The 1997 captivated him with its "beautiful and complex" character, its "delicious, salty toffee" notes, and its "soft, silky bubble," creating what he deemed a "thought-provoking" and "unique" experience.

The Method: What makes these bottles so extraordinary is their rarity: only 10% of each vintage of Cristal is selected for the additional aging that creates Vinotheque. These chosen few spend more than two decades in Roederer's cellars, developing the remarkable complexity that sets them apart.
Our Tasting Notes: Champagne at its most profound and contemplative. The extended aging has created remarkable depth without sacrificing the pristine freshness that is Cristal's hallmark. Each bottle offers its own fascinating narrative, from the Rosé's ethereal delicacy to the 2002's profound complexity to the 1997's refined maturity.

  • The Rosé immediately announces its distinctiveness – the nose reveals layers of wild strawberry and blood orange, with subtle notes of fresh brioche and crushed stones. On the palate, it shows remarkable tension between power and delicacy, with red fruit notes gaining complexity from hints of dried rose petals and fresh herbs.
  • The 2002 opens with striking aromatics – white chocolate and candied citrus give way to deeper notes of ripe mirabelle plum and fresh almonds. The palate is a masterwork of texture, showing both precision and opulence, with chalky minerality providing beautiful counterpoint to the rich fruit core.
  • The 1997 is proof of the magic of extended aging – two decades have transformed its youthful vigor into something profound. The nose weaves together notes of toffee, preserved lemon, and white flowers, while the palate shows remarkable freshness, with a silky mousse carrying flavors of honey-drizzled citrus and toasted hazelnuts through to a long, saline finish.

The Story: Roederer is as old as the United States. The secret of its longevity? That its production methods – slow, labor-intensive, exacting – have changed so very little since the house opened two-and-a-half centuries ago. Grapes, sourced from the three main Champagne growing zones (the Côte des Blancs, the Montagne de Reims, and the Vallée de la Marne), are still hand-picked and fermented in small batches, and the blending is done with exceeding and exquisite care. Take, for just one instance, these three Vinotheques, which were set aside in the cellar for two decades — or what the Roederer estate refers to as "a long meditation” — until they were deemed mature enough and complex enough (while still retaining their youthful vigor) for release.

What to Pair Them With: These wines deserve your finest caviar, your most pristine oysters. But their complexity and refinement also make them remarkable companions for an evening of thoughtful conversation.

Fun Fact: Before becoming commercially available in 1945, Cristal was produced exclusively for Tsar Alexander II. The distinctive flat-bottomed bottle was created at his request – he insisted on clear glass, and why? Otherwise, assassins might be tempted to leave explosives in the punt.

Our Guarantee: Remember, friends – we always buy and source directly from the estate, so you can rest assured that your wine will arrive in your hands with pristine provenance.

 

*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Spring 2025. With the supply chain issues that we are seeing globally, there may be some unforeseen delays which could affect the ETA. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. Offer only valid in CA, FL, NJ & TX. This offer is for ONE WEEK, or until sold out, and will expire on Friday, December 20th, 2024.