Louis Roederer, Champagne Cristal 2014

Cristal's origin lies in an unusual request: in 1876, Tsar Alexander II of Russia, a devoted client of Louis Roederer, asked for a champagne in clear crystal rather than the traditional dark glass, reportedly out of concern that a darker bottle might conceal a hidden bomb. The house obliged, and the resulting crystal-clear bottle became one of the most recognisable shapes in all of wine. The 2014 vintage was disgorged after years of careful ageing on the lees, delivering crisp stone fruit, toasted brioche, and a fine, persistent mousse — the result of a long, cool growing season that gave the grapes time to develop real complexity without losing freshness. A genuinely special-occasion champagne, best enjoyed slowly, in good company.