France • Champagne • Grand Cru vineyards • Chardonnay & Pinot Noir • Louis Roederer • Vintage Brut • Magnum • With wooden box

Cristal 1996 Magnum – Louis Roederer (with wooden box)

Cristal 1996 in magnum stands as one of the most accomplished expressions of age-worthy Champagne. Driven by an exceptional vintage and enhanced by a format ideal for long ageing, it combines tension, depth and nobility with rare intensity.

Presentation

Cristal is the emblematic cuvée of Louis Roederer, crafted from a selection of the finest terroirs in Champagne, primarily Grand Cru vineyards. The blend of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir achieves a remarkable balance of purity, energy and refinement, in a style that consistently favors precision and luminosity over overt power.

The 1996 vintage is widely regarded as one of the greatest in modern Champagne. It produced wines of rare intensity, marked by high acidity, excellent ripeness and outstanding ageing potential. In Cristal, this vintage reaches a form of stylistic clarity, where natural tension merges seamlessly with the cuvée’s signature crystalline finesse.

In magnum, the wine gains further depth and longevity. Ageing is slower and more harmonious, allowing it to retain remarkable freshness while developing greater complexity over time. The presence of the wooden box enhances the overall elegance and positions this bottle as both a collector’s piece and a refined table wine.

Tasting notes

Nose:
The bouquet opens with notes of citrus, white fruits and delicate flowers, followed by nuances of chalk, toasted bread, hazelnut and a subtle smoky touch. The overall impression is one of intensity, purity and distinction.

Palate:
The attack is precise and incisive, then unfolds with calm depth. The texture remains fine, elongated and almost luminous, driven by exceptional tension and a beautifully defined structure.

Finish:
Very long, saline and vibrant, the finish extends notes of citrus, chalk and brioche with remarkable persistence. A noble, taut and refined finish of great purity.