Cristal – new and old

‘Can buy anything I want from the records I've sold / Jacuzzi's hot, Cristal is so cold', as Ludacris rapped in Number One Spot, as I’m sure, dear readers, you will doubtless recall. Likewise, you are quite right to remember the release date as 2004 – when bling was king and Cristal was shorthand for riches.

Eight years on, and the 2005 vintage of Cristal is being released in the age of austerity. It was previewed in London this month alongside a few back vintages as well as a selection of other cuvées from the house of Louis Roederer...