Imperial Ossetra
goldenAcipenser gueldenstaedtii
Aquitaine, France·France·Rare
French-farmed Ossetra at the highest selection tier. Large amber beads, deeply nutty, with a long layered finish that opens up at room temperature. Prunier's centuries of expertise show in the uniformity and depth.
Salinity3Butteriness4Nuttiness5Umami5Complexity5
Pop
firm
Finish
Nutty
Texture
firm
Grain
large
Colour
golden
Blini service
Not recommended
Lighter golden eggs prized for color and complexity — serve solo to appreciate them before considering accompaniments.
Pairings
- Champagne
- Prestige cuvée Champagne
- Wine
- Aged Chardonnay, White Burgundy Premier Cru
- Spirits
- Chilled vodka
Production
- Source
- farmed
- Producer
- Caviar de France / Prunier (Aquitaine)
- Processing
- malossol
- Grade
- imperial
Legal & sourcing
⚑ Regulatory watch
Species proposed for US ESA endangered listing (USFWS, May 2022). If finalized, the rule would apply 'wherever found' and could halt US import, export, and interstate commerce of ALL caviar of this species — including sustainably farmed product. As of mid-2025 no final rule has been published; farmed product remains fully legal to sell in the US today. Countervailing legislation (H.R. 4033 / S.2870, 'Sturgeon Conservation and Sustainability Act of 2025') would exempt farm-raised captive sturgeon if passed. Second-generation+ hybrids with non-listed species would be exempt from the listing.CITES Appendix II — international trade requires documentation. Wild harvest is banned; all commercial product is farmed.
At a menu
Lighter-colored older-fish selection — a genuine luxury order short of Beluga.
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