First created by Louis Roederer for Tsar Alexander II in 1876, Cristal eventually hit the commercial market for champagne lovers in 1945. Cristal is instantly recognisable in its eye-catching yellow-orange cellophane which protects the clear-bottled wine from damaging sun rays. This release is the 1999 vintage, a blend of 57% Pinot Noir and 43% Chardonnay sourced exclusively from grand cru vineyards. The wine spent 14 years on the lees and was disgorged in 2011. A timeless expression, offering layers of toastiness balanced by an impressive amount of fruit and freshness.