Champagne Cristal – Louis Roederer 1996 BRUT Parker Points 98/100 (Robert Parker – iconic vintage, regarded as one of the greatest expressions of Cristal) • Fill Level: Into Neck • Label Condition: Excellent label • Capsule Condition: Excellent • Bottle Size: 750 ml • Bottler: Bottled in Cellars – Louis Roederer, Reims (France) • Wine / Estate History: Cristal was first created in 1876 for Tsar Alexander II of Russia and represents the prestige cuvée of Maison Louis Roederer. It is produced only in exceptional vintages from a rigorous selection of Grand Cru vineyards, primarily Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. The 1996 vintage is universally acknowledged as legendary in Champagne, marked by an extraordinary balance of ripeness and acidity, granting the wines remarkable structure and longevity. Cristal 1996 stands out for its crystalline purity, intense minerality, and monumental framework. Today, it shows superb maturity while retaining remarkable freshness and energy. • Drink or Hold: Drinking beautifully now, displaying complex tertiary aromas, yet capable of further aging under ideal storage conditions.