Wine Advisor
Krug, Clos du Mesnil Blanc de Blancs Brut 2008
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Description
Tasting notes
Reviewed by: Antonio Galloni
Krug’s 2008 Clos du Mesnil, tasted from two bottles, is a very, very special Champagne. Soaring aromatics, fine, chiseled fruit and understated depth are the signatures of a Champagne that is immediately captivating. Bright, salivating acids run through a core of citrus fruit, lemon oil, slate, chalk, mint and white pepper. A touch of reduction and a superb, fine mousse move the 2008 into a realm that straddles Champagne and a distinctly Burgundian expression of Chardonnay. The 2008 is going to be expensive, and I am already hearing that allocations will be miniscule. For readers who can find it, the 2008 is an essential Clos du Mesnil that will take its place among the greatest vintages made here, specifically the 1979, 1988 and 1996. If anyone wants to organize a comparative tasting of the four, plus maybe the 2004, I’m game! The 2008 Clos du Mesnil is a magnificent Champagne to savor over the next several decades.
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Once again, the 2008 Blanc de Blancs Clos du Mesnil is performing well today. Offering up a complex, dense and delicately spicy bouquet of citrus oil, hazelnuts, marzipan, pastry, ripe apricot and confit citrus, it's full-bodied, perfectly balanced and layered, with a crystalline, chiseled texture framed by racy acids, leading to a long, mineral and lovely iodine-inflected finish. Despite its austerity and structure, this Chardonnay, entirely sourced from Mesnil-sur-Oger, possesses a charming character that promises to age gracefully for 20-30 years.
About the Producer
The House was established in Reims in 1843, by Joseph Krug, a visionary non-conformist with an uncompromising philosophy. Having understood that the true essence of Champagne is pleasure itself, his dream was to craft the very best Champagne he could offer, every single year, regardless of annual variations in climate. Paying close attention to the vineyard’s character, respecting the individuality of each plot and its wine, as well as building an extensive library of reserve wines from many different years allowed Joseph Krug to fulfil his dream. With a very original approach to Champagne making, he decided to go beyond the notion of vintage to create the most generous expression of Champagne, every year. Thus, he founded a House in which all Champagnes are of the same level of distinction. Six generations of the Krug family have perpetuated this dream, enriching the founder’s vision and savoir faire.
