Krug, 1996 Vintage Champagne.

Krug Vintage is a statement – Krug’s definitive, one-off interpretation of the character of an outstanding year. The blend contains wines exclusively from that year.

TASTE: Krug 1996 is extraordinary indeed – an extreme, eccentric champagne that first caresses the senses with its rich aromas, firm texture and full, ripe flavours, then dramatically explodes into jubilant freshness. Rich, radiant gold illuminated by slender streams of bubbles, Krug 1996 already promises a masterful combination of maturity and acidity.

Fresh pear – Candied lemon – Ripe fruit – Honey – Gingerbread – Mocha.

COMPOSITION: Krug Vintage is designed to blend vintage character with Krug’s house style. Krug selects young fermented wines which best represent the character of the particular year. The three grape varieties are blended to create harmony: Chardonnay’s elegance, Pinot noir’s fullness and the fruit of carefully selected Pinot Meunier grapes bring finesse and complexity to the wine. 1996 was also a landmark in the long history of the House of Krug, since Krug 1996 was the last vintage to be blended by three generations of the Krug family – Paul Krug, Henri and Rémi Krug, and Olivier Krug – all working together.

Olivier Krug, Directeur de la Maison Krug, clearly remembers his grandfather’s reaction when he first tasted the year’s newly fermented wines. “Throughout his life, my grandfather shunned exaggeration of any kind,” he says, “but on this occasion he looked at us and said: ‘I think this may well be the next 1928’. Eleven years on, Krug 1996 is certainly a Krug to the power of Krug. Time will tell if it is indeed a legend in the making.”

98 Points - Wine Advocate # 186 Dec 2009