Krug
About Krug
Arguably the region's most prestigious and sought after producer, Krug was founded in 1843 and has been run by the family for generations.
Krug captures the imagination and desire of oenophiles the world over for a variety of reasons - rarity, price, reputation etc. The simple fact of its success, and one which broadly holds true for all of the most in-demand fine wines, is their staggering brilliance. One of the world's leading critical authorities on Champagne, Antonio Galloni (Vinous), has tasted Krug Brut Vintage back to 1942 and never awarded a score lower than 94 points- this was to 1976 tasted in 2015, a bad vintage for the region and deemed to be slightly tired!
Krugs' cuveés
Created, in the words of founder Joseph Krug, "according to the circumstances", Krug Brut Vintage is an expression of time and place second to none in the region. The sole drive of the formidably talented team at the maison is to celebrate the characteristics of the finest years as fully and transparently as possible. In order to achieve this, Krug select the most expressive wines from their considerable Grands Crus holdings, blend them and proceed to hide them in their ancient cellars for a minimum of ten years, often more - sounds simple when put like that!
Krug cellar master Julie Cavil phrases the raison d'être of Krug Brut Vintage (as opposed to their Édition NV or two "Clos") most beautifully:
"A Krug Vintage is an intimate immersion into the world of the Tasting Committee, of what surprised, enchanted or moved us in the tasting room after the harvest. When I decide to craft a Krug Vintage, I always do so to tell the story of these unique circumstances" - Julie Cavil (Krug Cellar Master)
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(1x75cl) 1952$6,210.00 -
(1x75cl) 1964$2,685.00 -
(1x75cl) 1976Vinous (94)
Krug’s 1976 Vintage, tasted from magnum, is rich, deep and powerful, with Riesling-inflected veins of minerality that run through a core of orange peel, ash and dried flowers. A deeply Pinot leaning wine, the 1976 offers notable richness and breadth throughout. The 1976 vintage in Champagne is remembered for a hot, dry growing season with an early harvest that produced intense powerful wines. Krug’s 1976 Vintage is now fully mature. Well-stored examples should continue to drink well for a number of years, although there is no upside from cellaring bottles further. Interestingly, this 1976 magnum was aged on cork, rather than crown capsule, like the 1979 tasted alongside it.$1,640.00 -
(1x150cl) 1979Vinous (98)
Nineteen seventy-nine is one of the all-time great vintages for Krug. Among other things, it marks the first release of Krug’s Clos du Mesnil. The 1979 Vintage, tasted from magnum, is utterly magnificent and nearly as thrilling as the Mesnil. Miraculously fresh for a wine of its age, the 1979 pulses with remarkable energy and tension, with the Chardonnay coming through nicely in the wine’s overall brightness. Lemon oil, white flowers, almonds, crushed rocks and dried herbs are some of the signatures. Krug’s 1979 is testament to the towering stature of this iconic Champagne vintage. To be sure, the magnum format helps, but I have had bottles of the 1979 that are every bit as moving.$3,475.00 -
(1x75cl) 1982Vinous (97)
The 1982 Krug Vintage, tasted from magnum, is truly special. Soft, delicate and fully mature, the 1982 still offers a good bit of persistence and nuance. But it won’t last forever. This is about as good as it gets for the 1982.$945.00 -
$1,310.00 -
(6x75cl) 1985$6,555.00 -
(1x75cl) 1988$783.00 -
$5,480.00 -
Vinous (96)
Krug’s 1989 Vintage, tasted from magnum, was explosive, ripe and beautifully layered from start to finish.$759.00 -
(6x75cl) 1989Vinous (96)
Krug’s 1989 Vintage, tasted from magnum, was explosive, ripe and beautifully layered from start to finish.$6,225.00 -
Wine Spectator (98)
A profound wine of great depth and complexity. Its detailed flavors range from citrus and ginger to whole grain bread and woodsy richness, with accents of honey and nuts. Retains its focus thanks to a vibrant structure, all the time carrying its weight with authority and grace. Fine, smoky finish. Drink now through 2020. 15017000 cases imported.$2,675.00 -
Wine Spectator (98)
A profound wine of great depth and complexity. Its detailed flavors range from citrus and ginger to whole grain bread and woodsy richness, with accents of honey and nuts. Retains its focus thanks to a vibrant structure, all the time carrying its weight with authority and grace. Fine, smoky finish. Drink now through 2020. 15017000 cases imported.$1,120.00 -
(6x75cl) 1990Wine Spectator (98)
A profound wine of great depth and complexity. Its detailed flavors range from citrus and ginger to whole grain bread and woodsy richness, with accents of honey and nuts. Retains its focus thanks to a vibrant structure, all the time carrying its weight with authority and grace. Fine, smoky finish. Drink now through 2020. 15017000 cases imported.$5,060.00 -
(1x150cl) 1995Wine Spectator (98)
A very youthful '95. Delicate. Intense aromas of ginger, citrus, candied berry and multigrain bread turn to honey, roasted almonds and graphite on the palate. It's all underscored by a precise structure and creamy texture. Its structure keeps it persistent through the long finish. A picture of precision and intensity. Drink now through 2025. 1,700 cases imported. -BS$1,125.00 -
Wine Spectator (98)
A very youthful '95. Delicate. Intense aromas of ginger, citrus, candied berry and multigrain bread turn to honey, roasted almonds and graphite on the palate. It's all underscored by a precise structure and creamy texture. Its structure keeps it persistent through the long finish. A picture of precision and intensity. Drink now through 2025. 1,700 cases imported. -BS$4,000.00 -
(6x75cl) 1995Wine Spectator (98)
A very youthful '95. Delicate. Intense aromas of ginger, citrus, candied berry and multigrain bread turn to honey, roasted almonds and graphite on the palate. It's all underscored by a precise structure and creamy texture. Its structure keeps it persistent through the long finish. A picture of precision and intensity. Drink now through 2025. 1,700 cases imported. -BS$3,165.00 -
(12x75cl) 1996Vinous (99+)
Light gold. Remarkably perfumed nose projects an exotic bouquet of deep, leesy yellow fruit, minerals, honeycomb, smoked meat and flowers, with Asian spices building expanding in the glass. Almost painfully concentrated, offering a surreal parade of orchard and pit fruits, smoked meat, toasted brioche and marrow braced by intensely salty, stunningly incisive minerality. Imagine a Frankenstein's monster of Chablis Le Clos and Clos Ste. Hune-but one with perfect balance, of course-and you get an idea of what I found in my bottle. The energetic, stony character builds exponentially on the finish, which didn't seem to, well, finish. The best analogy I can come up with for the intensity, focus and clarity of this Champagne is liquefied barbed wire. Utterly hallucinatory and one of the most amazing wines I've ever been fortunate enough to drink. At the risk of sounding completely out of touch with reality, this is a value.$8,505.00 -
Vinous (99+)
Light gold. Remarkably perfumed nose projects an exotic bouquet of deep, leesy yellow fruit, minerals, honeycomb, smoked meat and flowers, with Asian spices building expanding in the glass. Almost painfully concentrated, offering a surreal parade of orchard and pit fruits, smoked meat, toasted brioche and marrow braced by intensely salty, stunningly incisive minerality. Imagine a Frankenstein's monster of Chablis Le Clos and Clos Ste. Hune-but one with perfect balance, of course-and you get an idea of what I found in my bottle. The energetic, stony character builds exponentially on the finish, which didn't seem to, well, finish. The best analogy I can come up with for the intensity, focus and clarity of this Champagne is liquefied barbed wire. Utterly hallucinatory and one of the most amazing wines I've ever been fortunate enough to drink. At the risk of sounding completely out of touch with reality, this is a value.$1,340.00 -
Vinous (99+)
Light gold. Remarkably perfumed nose projects an exotic bouquet of deep, leesy yellow fruit, minerals, honeycomb, smoked meat and flowers, with Asian spices building expanding in the glass. Almost painfully concentrated, offering a surreal parade of orchard and pit fruits, smoked meat, toasted brioche and marrow braced by intensely salty, stunningly incisive minerality. Imagine a Frankenstein's monster of Chablis Le Clos and Clos Ste. Hune-but one with perfect balance, of course-and you get an idea of what I found in my bottle. The energetic, stony character builds exponentially on the finish, which didn't seem to, well, finish. The best analogy I can come up with for the intensity, focus and clarity of this Champagne is liquefied barbed wire. Utterly hallucinatory and one of the most amazing wines I've ever been fortunate enough to drink. At the risk of sounding completely out of touch with reality, this is a value.$3,415.00 -
(1x300cl) 1998Wine Spectator (98)
This harmonious Champagne offers luxurious texture and powerful, focused acidity, showing aromatic accents of spring blossom, crushed thyme and chai, with rich notes of lemon meringue, hazelnut, black currant and fresh porcini mushroom. The full package. Impressive. Drink now through 2028.$3,538.00 -
Wine Spectator (98)
This harmonious Champagne offers luxurious texture and powerful, focused acidity, showing aromatic accents of spring blossom, crushed thyme and chai, with rich notes of lemon meringue, hazelnut, black currant and fresh porcini mushroom. The full package. Impressive. Drink now through 2028.$507.00 -
Wine Spectator (98)
This harmonious Champagne offers luxurious texture and powerful, focused acidity, showing aromatic accents of spring blossom, crushed thyme and chai, with rich notes of lemon meringue, hazelnut, black currant and fresh porcini mushroom. The full package. Impressive. Drink now through 2028.$3,610.00 -
Wine Spectator (97)
Rich and mouthwatering, this powerhouse Champagne is driven by vivacious acidity, with an expansive palate featuring flavors of glazed apricot, toasted brioche, candied kumquat and ginger, espresso crème, fleur de sel and cognac. The well-spiced finish is long and lingering. Disgorged summer 2013. Drink now through 2030. 949 cases made.$394.00 -
Wine Spectator (97)
Rich and mouthwatering, this powerhouse Champagne is driven by vivacious acidity, with an expansive palate featuring flavors of glazed apricot, toasted brioche, candied kumquat and ginger, espresso crème, fleur de sel and cognac. The well-spiced finish is long and lingering. Disgorged summer 2013. Drink now through 2030. 949 cases made.$2,155.00 -
James Suckling (100)
The much-anticipated 2002 has impeccable detail and depth with a lot of chalky, stony and flinty elements on the nose as well as a very fresh edge. The nose is very complex and wound up tight but presents itself as very integrated and compressed. There are aromas of lemon rind, lime juice and a lime custard all at once, complemented in turn by a super-restrained hazelnut-like edge. Undertones of brown mushrooms, chalky minerals and lemon leaf. The palate has a core of sizzlingly intense, concentrated chardonnay framed whitin a powerful phenolic structure that will underpin the future of this Champagne. Flawlessly fresh and as perfect as it gets. Give this time as it needs to settle: best from 2020 and then for another decade beyond.$1,140.00 -
James Suckling (100)
The much-anticipated 2002 has impeccable detail and depth with a lot of chalky, stony and flinty elements on the nose as well as a very fresh edge. The nose is very complex and wound up tight but presents itself as very integrated and compressed. There are aromas of lemon rind, lime juice and a lime custard all at once, complemented in turn by a super-restrained hazelnut-like edge. Undertones of brown mushrooms, chalky minerals and lemon leaf. The palate has a core of sizzlingly intense, concentrated chardonnay framed whitin a powerful phenolic structure that will underpin the future of this Champagne. Flawlessly fresh and as perfect as it gets. Give this time as it needs to settle: best from 2020 and then for another decade beyond.$468.00 -
James Suckling (100)
The much-anticipated 2002 has impeccable detail and depth with a lot of chalky, stony and flinty elements on the nose as well as a very fresh edge. The nose is very complex and wound up tight but presents itself as very integrated and compressed. There are aromas of lemon rind, lime juice and a lime custard all at once, complemented in turn by a super-restrained hazelnut-like edge. Undertones of brown mushrooms, chalky minerals and lemon leaf. The palate has a core of sizzlingly intense, concentrated chardonnay framed whitin a powerful phenolic structure that will underpin the future of this Champagne. Flawlessly fresh and as perfect as it gets. Give this time as it needs to settle: best from 2020 and then for another decade beyond.$2,550.00 -
Jancis Robinson (19)
ID 113015. Disgorged winter 2012-13. 46% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Meunier. Named ‘Vivacious Radiance’ at Krug. A truly unique year with particularly challenging circumstances. The first harvest was on 23 August, the earliest since 1822. Pale gold. Pungent nose. Very tight. Hint of putty on the nose. Opens out on the palate. Masses to chew on. Real concentration. Perfect for drinking now. Dry but complete. Intellectual and great balance. Very impressive.$2,300.00 -
Jancis Robinson (19)
ID 113015. Disgorged winter 2012-13. 46% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Meunier. Named ‘Vivacious Radiance’ at Krug. A truly unique year with particularly challenging circumstances. The first harvest was on 23 August, the earliest since 1822. Pale gold. Pungent nose. Very tight. Hint of putty on the nose. Opens out on the palate. Masses to chew on. Real concentration. Perfect for drinking now. Dry but complete. Intellectual and great balance. Very impressive.$2,040.00

