Clos Cristal 2018 - "Hospices de Saumur" Saumur Champigny

To celebrate the 130th anniversary of Clos Cristal, the 2017 vintage is getting a makeover with a prestigious cuvée limited to 4649 bottles.  

In 1890, Antoine Cristal founded this eponymous estate in the heart of the Saumur-Champigny appellation, after making his fortune in textiles. A free-thinker, he was a friend of Georges Clemenceau, who visited him regularly. Antoine Cristal's ambition was to compete with the most prestigious red wines. A real challenge in a region then better known for its whites. More than 3 km of walls were erected on the estate in which the vines were planted. The base of the vine, planted on the north side of the wall, passes through a hole to allow the stock to pass through. The shoots, foliage and grapes grow along the south-facing wall. With their feet cool and their heads in the sun, the vines can gain up to a month in ripeness! This technique reflects a non-conformist vision that continues to this day. 

On December 24, 1928, Antoine Cristal donated the Clos that bears his name to the Hospices de Saumur. This story has since been perpetuated by several generations of passionate winegrowers. Today, it's the Cave Robert & Marcel winegrowers' collective, the driving force behind the creation of the Saumur-Champigny AOC, who are at the helm of this prestigious Clos. Their meticulous, methodical approach has resulted in a highly successful vintage. A refined wine with a silky perfume, beautiful minerality and a long finish.

Aged 18 months in 500 L French oak barrels. Unfiltered.