Louis Roederer Cristal Champagne 2015 750ml

Cristal is Louis Roederer's prestige cuvée. The house, founded in Reims in 1776, is still family-owned, now run by Frédéric Rouzaud. Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon is the cellar master.

The 2015 is 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from 45 plots in seven Grand Cru villages, including Aÿ, Verzenay, Avize, Cramant and Le Mesnil. A quarter of the wine was made in oak, none of it went through malolactic, and the dosage is a low 7 grams per liter. Roederer farms the Cristal plots organically and biodynamically.

The house describes white peach, mirabelle, roasted hazelnut and a little red fruit, a silky, almost oily start, candied citrus and a chalky, saline finish.

Against Dom Pérignon 2015, Cristal is the tighter, more mineral wine; to cellar a vintage Champagne, pick Cristal.

Critics split on timing, some saying drink it now and others saying it is built for the long haul. Serve it around 10°C in a white-wine glass.

It's part of our fine and rare wine, with more Champagne on the shelf. Pick it up at our Brooklyn store or get same-day delivery across NYC.