Krug Vintage Brut 2011

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€327.70

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Krug Vintage Brut 2011

Krug Vintage 2011 is the interpretation by the House of Krug – founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug in Reims – of a year considered difficult in Champagne. Each Vintage from the maison tells the story of a single year; here, the tasters saw so much energy and roundness that they christened it ‘Spirited Roundness’.

Vintage 2011

2011 was a year of contrasts, almost as if the seasons had swapped places: episodes of intense heat alternated with cool, wet periods. The Pinot Noir showed impeccable structure, the Meunier retained its freshness and an elegant bitter taste, while the Chardonnay revealed juiciness and great generosity.

Vinification

True to the ‘Krug way’, each parcel is vinified in small oak barrels, which adds texture and aromatic complexity before the final blend. Krug 2011 is the result of combining the most expressive wines of the year, followed by a long ageing process of over a decade on fine lees, until achieving the balance between depth, freshness and creaminess that defines the house's great Vintages.

Tasting notes

The colour is bright gold. The nose reveals ripe apricot and white fruit, followed by exotic notes of star fruit, citrus, hints of liquorice, fresh herbs and basil. On the palate, it is enveloping and round, reminiscent of fine pastries and cooked fruit, with subtle smoky and herbal nuances; the finish is long, salty, with a grapefruit vibration that leaves the mouth salivating.

Grape varieties

46% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay, 17% Meunier.

Wine Type: Champagne
Format: 0,75L
Vintage: 2011
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Robert Parker: RP95
Wine Spectator: 97
Jancis Robinson: 17.5

In stock 2 Items

It shows reserved character but with a lot of energy and tension. Concentrated citrus fruit, candied lemons and mandarin peel with hints of savory 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.

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. (AF)

There's an exuberant appeal to this vivid, fragrant Champagne, with wafts of lime blossoms, cardamom, ground coffee and anise aromatics finely layered with flavors of crushed black cherry, glazed tangerine and grilled nut that show a streak of salinity. Yet this reveals its true class with the deft integration of rich flavors with chiseled acidity and refined, plush texture. Long and seamless, this is not just a catchy tune but a maestro conducting a symphony. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay. (AN)

The 2011 Krug is a singular, distinctive vintage at this address. Revealing aromas of lemon, confit citrus, dried herbs, hazelnuts, pear and ripe orchard fruits mingled with spices, it's medium to full-bodied, round and dense, with a phenolic, singular entry and a structured, almost tannic but elegant mid-palate framed by a fleshy core of fruit. It has a pinpoint mousse and a long, mineral and saline finish enhanced by a lot of chalky dry extracts. Compared to previous vintages, which were tauter and more incisive, this rendition is more austere, aging gracefully into a Champagne of understated elegance and revealed austerity.

Pinot Noir 46%, Chardonnay 37% and Pinot Meunier 17%. 10 years on the lees, disgorged summer 2022. Dosage 4.5 g/l.

Very pale gold. Lively with tilleul/linden-leaf notes, herbal freshness, even a hint of capsicum. Tight, dusty/stony, dry tasting, chalky texture and so much piercing freshness even though there is a roundness on the finish. A touch of honey and a light woody/cedary depth. Deep, rich and yet a green streak remains. Although this is unusual, Olivier Krug believes it will be one of the most sought-after vintages in a few years. (JH)

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