Krug - Brut 2008
Krug Description
Due to the excellent and balanced cool climate of 2008, the grapes could take their time to mature in tranquillity, ultimately exhibiting beautiful freshness upon harvest. Surprisingly, despite these mild and constant conditions, we observed great heterogeneity from plot to plot. The beauty of this contrast was the inspiration to blend complementary flavours and aromas from different plots including Aÿ, Bouzy and Ambonnay. Krug 2008 is a great classic of the House.
Vintage Notes:
The year 2008 was one of Champagne’s coolest in 14 years, and also one of the region’s least sunny in almost half a century. A superb vintage, it was a classic northern climate, one that has not been seen much since. Rainfall was normal, the summer was dry, and temperatures were constant throughout the growing season. This absence of extremes resulted in slow and steady grape maturation.
Under these circumstances, the fruit was intense, elegant and beautifully structured. Unexpected heterogeneity in the vines brought great complexity, with a very complete spectrum of flavours and aromas observed upon harvest. For the final blend, the House’s Cellar Master selected wines best exhibiting the flavours, aromas, and complexity of the year. It was brought to life in a composition marked by the beauty, complexity and elegant structure of 2008.
For the final creation, the selected plots’ wines were those best exhibiting the outstanding character of 2008. Pinot Noir plots’ wines (53%) constitute over half of the blend and come primarily from emblematic plots in the Montagne de Reims Sud including Aÿ, Mareuil, Bouzy and Ambonnay. Meunier plots’ wines (25%) bring tension and citrus, while aromatic Chardonnay plots’ wines (22%) imbue the blend with fruit.
The beautiful, precise and harmonious profile of Krug 2008 comes after 12 years in the cellars, gaining in expression, harmony and finesse.
James Suckling: 100 Points
This is very structured and framed with an almost red sensibility. Very phenolic. Full-bodied in a tightly wound ball with so much going on. Very pinot like. Mineral and stone. Shell and stone. Iodine. Vinous. The bubbles just fade into the finish of the wine, which goes on for minutes. Turns to toffee and salted caramel with time in the glass. One for the cellar. Great length. Blend of 53% pinot noir, 25% pinot meunier, 22% chardonnay. Disgorged in beginning of 2020.
Wine Spectator: 99 Points
There’s a supernova of sensation with each sip of this powerful version, starting with the vivid streak of mouthwatering acidity that drives a rich panoply of ripe black currant, mandarin orange peel and grilled nut flavors, accented by hints of candied ginger, briny oyster shell, verbena and ground cardamom. This burns bright from start to finish, yet its fine integration and lovely, raw silk–like mousse pull it all together into a seamless, vibrant package.
Wine Enthusiast: 97 Points
A vintage Champagne from this producer is rare. But 2008 was a great year in Champagne and that shows in this intense, still amazingly young wine. Freshness works with the richness to give concentration, density and the sure-fire possibility of long-term aging. So drink now, but the Champagne will last for many years.
Decanter: 97 Points
What a burst of fresh fruit on the nose! The aromatic freshness is evident from the first whiff, suffused with notes of citrus fruits including grapefruit, menthol, and a hint of liquorice. The texture has precise contours, giving an impression of rectangular rectitude and perfect balance. This is a finely chiselled Champagne offering great harmony and a long finish enhanced by delicious underlying notes of nutty bitterness.
