Krug Vintage 2008

• Drinking window: 2030 to 2060+
• Power, energy & freshness
• Not as fruity and with less dosage than the great 2002 at this stage

Krug 2008 is a classic Krug Vintage. It has an impressive structure and an intense acidity, already showing itself quite differently today than a year ago. The last Krug that was similarly restrained in its youth was the 1996.

2002, 2004, 2006 and 2011 will certainly benefit from ageing, yet they already display a new style, no longer as unyieldingly firm as young Krug once always was.

It speaks for Krug that they decided to dedicate this vintage entirely to the patient connoisseur. Patience here means ten years, preferably fifteen. It will already offer moments of pleasure in five years, especially for those who love their Champagne fresh.

It almost goes without saying that it will still be a great experience in 50 years' time. It is always surprising how well champagne ages, despite the shallower corks compared to wine. Krug 1928, for example, is still great today.

The vintage at Krug is clearly dominated by red varieties: 53% Pinot Noir, 22% Chardonnay, 25% Meunier. The terroirs are typical, as Krug has access to extremely old vines with low yields. Pinot Noir: Ambonnay, Aÿ, Bouzy, Mareuil-sur-Aÿ | Chardonnay: Avize, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Trépail, Villers-Marmery | Meunier: Coulommes-la-Montagne, Saint Gemme, Villevenard. Meunier is rather the exception in prestige cuvées, but the extremely old Meunier vines whose grapes Krug uses have nothing to do with the typical fruity Meunier style.

The success of 2008 seems paradoxical. It was one of the coolest years in recent decades. It also had less sunshine. But the autumn was perfect. The grapes ripened very slowly over a very long period.;