Product Information:
At the House of Krug, every vintage is crafted to celebrate the distinctive character of a particular year. 2011 is regarded for its opulence and freshness, so distinctive the House’s Tasting Committee nicknamed this Champagne “Spirited Roundness”. For Krug, the year 2011 gave birth to a surprising Champagne allying finesse and power with a spontaneous, vibrant side born from this fiery year. Pinot Noir comprises 46% of the blend, imparting beautiful structure and magnificent balance, while Chardonnay (37%), most affected by the heat spikes, imbue ripe and juicy fruit aromas. The Pinot Meuniers (17%) add a wonderful freshness with elegant bitters.
Krug 2011 is ample, generous, and assertive. The striking profile of Krug 2011 comes after 13 years in the cellars, gaining in expression, harmony, and finesse.
Maker:
Krug is one of Champagne's most prestigious houses and collectible in Champagne. The house was founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug, in his native home of Mosel part of Germany at that time. Joseph Krug moved to France and spent some time working for Jacquesson, the leading Champagne house of the time. Krug's philosophy was that every Champagne should be the best possible expression, and eschewed the common idea of a hierarchy of Champagne. Instead, he began to craft a premium wine from a reserve of wines vinified separately by the growers themselves, a wine that would eventually become the Grande Cuvée.
Krug sits alongside the likes of Dom Pérignon and Cristal at the top of the Champagne tree, and is a blend of 120 different wines from 10 or more vintages from the so-called Krug Library (a repository of still wines held prior to blending and refermenting in bottle). It is aged for six years, and is noted for its complex brioche and spice characters.
Today, the wines are still vinified by individual plot, and are stored in the Krug Library. Every year, the chef de cave heads a tasting committee which decides on the final blend. This library holds reserve wines anywhere from the current vintage to those 50 years old and are produced from Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier, which are all grown at Krug and used throughout the collection. Krug also makes several other Champagnes, including a rosé non-vintage and a Krug vintage, which is only produced in the best years.
The Vineyard:
The year 2011 for Krug was split in two, with reversed seasons and an abrupt switch upon flowering. Unbridled summer weather arrived in spring, spurring the vines to develop rapidly and flowering to occur mid-May, three weeks earlier than usual. Rainfall and cool weather ensued. The paradoxical climate reached peak unpredictability on the eve of harvest with four scorching days followed by intense rain and a sudden drop in temperature. Harvest took place from August 25 to September 3, 2011, with homogeneity in grape maturation and the Clos d’Ambonnay unexpectedly being harvested the day before the Clos du Mesnil.
The Pinot Noir wines of the year exhibited magnificent balance and beautiful structure, while the Meuniers retained wonderful freshness and elegant bitters. The Chardonnays – most affected by the heat spikes – were juicier and riper than other years, with exemplary roundness and generosity rather than their usual tension. For the House’s Tasting Committee, it was clear the climate had a striking impact on the wines, affecting the fruit as if to “cook” it with the heat, while the sugar content remained moderate. Surprisingly, the wines that stood out that year were plots one would not expect. To tell the story of 2011, a selection of Pinot Noir plots’ wines constitutes almost half (46%) of the blend, imparting beautiful structure and magnificent balance, while Chardonnay plots’ wines (37%), most affected by the heat spikes, imbue ripe and juicy fruit aromas, and Meuniers (17%) add a wonderful freshness with elegant bitters.
Nose - Star Fruit, Basil Leaf, Candied Lemon
Concentrated citrus fruit, candied lemons and mandarin peel with hints of savory herbs and spices.
Palate - Fresh Pear, Brioche, Stewed Fruit
Full-bodied, complex and nervy on the palate. It has fine, silky bubbles yet it’s structured and firm with a lot of power.
Finish - Savoury Spice, Pastry, Sea Salt
The chiselled finish lingers with salivating notes sea salt and grapefruit zest.
A nose of white fruits give way to tangy star fruit and citrus followed by nuances of liquorice and basil leaf. In an interplay of delightful contrast, this Champagne opens with enveloping roundness of pastry and stewed fruit. These give way to a hint of smokiness and herbs on the palate. As if by surprise, the chiselled finish lingers with salivating notes sea salt and grapefruit zest. FOOD PAIRING This Vintage will pair deliciously with spicy dishes, grilled meats such as Greek brochettes, shellfish with character, and mouth-watering desserts.
It shows reserved character but with a lot of energy and tension. Concentrated citrus fruit, candied lemons and mandarin peel with hints of savoury herbs and spices. Notes of brioche and caraway seeds. Full-bodied, complex and nervy on the palate. It has fine, silky bubbles yet it’s structured and firm with a lot of power. It builds up on the finish with freshness and vibrancy. - James Suckling, 98 Points.
Because 2011 was a challenging vintage for Champagne, it would be very easy to over-generalize, as many readers may have had less than ideal experiences elsewhere. But Krug’s 2011 Champagne Millesime Brut is not your average Champagne. With a rounded nose, it pours a medium golden straw hue and is creamy with aromas of orange blossoms, custard, fresh pear, hazelnut, and delicate smoky incense. Medium to full-bodied and refined on the palate, it has a rounded and pristine profile, with ripe, balanced fruit floating through the palate, a pinpoint mousse, and a delicate hint of almond skin on the finish that I would expect to become more pronounced with age. - Jeb Dunnuck, 97 Points.
The Finer Details
Style - Champagne
Varietal - 46% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay, 17% Meunier
Country - France
Region - Champagne
Vintage - 2011
Bottle Size - 750ml
ABV - 12.5%
Closure - Cork
