Personal advice
Cristal 2012 is one of those rare vintages immediately hailed as legendary – a Champagne that unites power and elegance, ripeness and nervy freshness in perfect harmony. It immediately shows volume and a silky-creamy texture carried by the ripe Pinot Noir grapes, yet remains extremely tense and precise thanks to a razor-sharp, almost salty chalk minerality. As the first fully biodynamically farmed Cristal, it marks a milestone for the House of Roederer.
2012 was one of the most difficult and complicated years in Champagne. After an unpredictable spring with frost and changeable weather came a continental late summer and autumn with abundant sunshine and cool nights. The low yields caused by the erratic weather, combined with the continental conditions at the end of the season, led to unusually high ripeness levels. The grapes achieved rare concentration while retaining excellent acid structure – ideal for powerful, structured and very long-lived Champagnes.
Currently ripe citrus fruits, stone fruit, warm roasted notes and creamy texture dominate. With further ageing, more intense brioche, hazelnut and honey nuances emerge, while the nervy minerality evolves into an even finer, saline elegance. The mousse becomes increasingly creamy and the finish longer. This controlled maturation with tension between fullness and precision is characteristic of the greatest Cristal vintages and promises a very long, magnificent drinking plateau.
A glance at the Alfavin cellar
A glance at the Alfavin cellar
A glance at the Alfavin Cellar