2002 Louis Roederer Cristal (Magnum - 1/150cl)

Named for the lead-crystal bottles which harnessed the original Champagne vintages reserved for Russian Tsar Alexander II. Cristal is only produced when the grape quality is highest to ensure that every bottle is a glorious demonstration of the skill of the winemakers and the excellence of the terroir. The weather in April and May was mild, and June sunny with high temperatures. Thunderstorms at the beginning of July resulted in hail damage in certain parts of Champagne, however, the month was one of the hottest on record, helping grapes to ripen quickly. Much of August was mainly rainy and humid, worrying growers. "Nearly perfect" weather during the harvest period saved the day and "resulted in an excellent ripening process" with Chardonnay doing particularly well. Dont rush to open this! Wait a few more years for it to open up more!