In 1876, Tsar Alexander II – already a great lover of Louis Roederer wines – asked Louis Roederer to take the exercise still further and create a cuve for his personal use which was unique, in terms of both its style and the bottle. Louis Roederer offered him an exceptional crystal bottle, holding the fruit of vines selected from the seven great crus on his estate. The Chardonnay and Pinot Noir grapes provide the subtle, precise balance that has now become synonymous with the leading prestige cuve of Champagne. Cristal is Louis Roederers flagship cuve. It was created in 1876 and is composed of Grand Crus from the Montagne de Reims, the Marne Valley and the Cte des Blancs.