Cristal champagne
Discussion
Hi, I was wondering if anyone had any experience (or knowledge!) of Cristal champagne?
My cousin's always wanted to try it, and as she's been through a pretty tough time we've decided to buy her a bottle for chrimbo. I'm not sure whether there's different types though, and where the best place is to buy an individual bottle?
And I'm sure there may be better alternatives, but she's always mentioned Cristal so it's a - hopefully nice - suprise for her.
I've found some bottles for sale but I've never bought booze online before so if anyone has any recomendations (or places to avoid I suppose) I'd appreciate hearing.
Thanks
My cousin's always wanted to try it, and as she's been through a pretty tough time we've decided to buy her a bottle for chrimbo. I'm not sure whether there's different types though, and where the best place is to buy an individual bottle?
And I'm sure there may be better alternatives, but she's always mentioned Cristal so it's a - hopefully nice - suprise for her.
I've found some bottles for sale but I've never bought booze online before so if anyone has any recomendations (or places to avoid I suppose) I'd appreciate hearing.
Thanks
It will probably be a dissapointment for her - for a start it's wrapped in yellow cellophane that makes it look like a bottle of lucozade.
It will cost you well over £100 for a bottle and, if she's not used to drinking champagne, will be even more dissapointed.
It will be like crushing a dream.
It will cost you well over £100 for a bottle and, if she's not used to drinking champagne, will be even more dissapointed.
It will be like crushing a dream.
condor said:
It will probably be a dissapointment for her - for a start it's wrapped in yellow cellophane that makes it look like a bottle of lucozade.
It will cost you well over £100 for a bottle and, if she's not used to drinking champagne, will be even more dissapointed.
It will be like crushing a dream.
Possibly.It will cost you well over £100 for a bottle and, if she's not used to drinking champagne, will be even more dissapointed.
It will be like crushing a dream.
But I think the smile on her face on christmas morning will be worth it after what she's been through
The taste of the stuff is possibly a small part of the whole experience!
Cristal is up there with the very best of champagnes BUT sadly has been tarnished with the bling brush of late and the vast majority is drunk far too young.
Not had the rose version - there's a fair premium on that - but the regular cuvee is the wife's favourite pop.
Current release is the 2004 - not tried this just yet. For the extra, if you can stretch to it, I'd buy the 2000 - the extra bottle age will pay dividends. 2002 is also a nice drop (had one back in June) which, again, I'd go for in preference to the 04 right now.
Berry Brothers (bbr.com) has both 04 and 00 in stock at present.
2004 @ 158
2000 @ 204
(delivery free)
If you go for the more expensive one TODAY there is an offer code BBR50 that you can use on any online order of £250 or more... so basically you can choose £50 more wine for free.
No connection with Berrys other than as a client.
Here's the biggie though: DON'T CHILL IT TOO MUCH BEFORE SERVING.
If you bang it in the fridge overnight and try and serve it ice cold, the way most people tend to with champagne then it really won't shine. Instead of 4 degC you want to be higher (I'd probably go closer to 12 degC).
Not had the rose version - there's a fair premium on that - but the regular cuvee is the wife's favourite pop.
Current release is the 2004 - not tried this just yet. For the extra, if you can stretch to it, I'd buy the 2000 - the extra bottle age will pay dividends. 2002 is also a nice drop (had one back in June) which, again, I'd go for in preference to the 04 right now.
Berry Brothers (bbr.com) has both 04 and 00 in stock at present.
2004 @ 158
2000 @ 204
(delivery free)
If you go for the more expensive one TODAY there is an offer code BBR50 that you can use on any online order of £250 or more... so basically you can choose £50 more wine for free.
No connection with Berrys other than as a client.
Here's the biggie though: DON'T CHILL IT TOO MUCH BEFORE SERVING.
If you bang it in the fridge overnight and try and serve it ice cold, the way most people tend to with champagne then it really won't shine. Instead of 4 degC you want to be higher (I'd probably go closer to 12 degC).
My partner used to sell Champagne and she says the truth is it will make someone very happy but it is very over-priced for what it is. The main problem is it isn't actually ready to drink yet and should be laid down for a while but unfortunately no one does this nowadays. It's a very bling drink and not the best in its class but it is the most popular. It comes in around £165 (she thinks!) at the moment and is the top cuvee for Roederer. Roederer itself is absolutely lovely and one of the best priced non-vintage champers out but unfortunately doesn't make people as happy!
It can be quite acidic because it's not ready to drink but they probably won't notice. The reason it is so expensive is because of the demand for it. It does also have a cool flat-bottom and is the only one like that. Generally if that's what she wants then go for it because no matter what, nothing will compare to her opening that present if she wants Champagne. Go to Majestic and buy other bottles for Christmas at the same time would be my recommendation.
(mrs speedmattersnot just wrote that)
It can be quite acidic because it's not ready to drink but they probably won't notice. The reason it is so expensive is because of the demand for it. It does also have a cool flat-bottom and is the only one like that. Generally if that's what she wants then go for it because no matter what, nothing will compare to her opening that present if she wants Champagne. Go to Majestic and buy other bottles for Christmas at the same time would be my recommendation.
(mrs speedmattersnot just wrote that)
Apparently, Cristal has to have the yellow cellophane wrapping to filter out the sun's UV rays so that the champagne doesn't degrade. Other champagnes don't need this as the glass used is usually darker.
The flat bottom was introduced at the request of some old paranoid Russian Tsar to ensure that plotters against him couldn't hide explosives in the dimple at the base of the bottle.
The flat bottom was introduced at the request of some old paranoid Russian Tsar to ensure that plotters against him couldn't hide explosives in the dimple at the base of the bottle.
KungFuPanda said:
The flat bottom was introduced at the request of some old paranoid Russian Tsar to ensure that plotters against him couldn't hide explosives in the dimple at the base of the bottle.
Poison, not explosives. Same reason as the clear glass.As a result, makes a handy pestle...
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