From this month Singapore Airways will be the only airline in the world to pour the “supreme” 2015 vintage of Cristal Champagne. December will see Cristal 2015 poured for First Class travellers on key Singapore Airlines routes for the first time, marking the Champagne’s exclusive entry to the skies. Travelers flying between Singapore and London, Los Angeles, Paris, Sydney, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Delhi, and Shanghai will be among the first to enjoy the vintage at 36,000 feet. Why is this such a big deal? According to Louis Roederer’s cellar master Jean-Baptiste Lécaillon the 2015 “resonates with a different tone to that of previous vintages”. Unique blend A blend of 40% Chardonnay and 60% Pinot Noir, Cristal 2015 is produced from grapes hailing from the 45 plots within the producer’s Grand Cru vineyards in which the vines are more than 20 years old. Around 25% of the wine is aged in oak, and malolactic fermentation is blocked in order to retain the “bright, fresh and exceptionally pure character of the fruit,” says Lécaillon. Six to seven years ageing sur lattes follows, before six to twelve months of further ageing after disgorgement. The 2015 vintage: chalk shines through The Champagne producer has described 2015 as “a hot and sunny year marked by episodes of heat and drought, relieved by some very welcome rain at the end of the summer which enabled the grapes to preserve all their freshness. These weather conditions gave rise to juicy, ripe and concentrated grapes with a
This Article was originally published on The Drink Business - Fine Wine
