Krug 2011 comes from a strange, topsy-turvy year that few houses chose to bottle as a vintage. Krug did, and named the result Spirited Roundness: ample and generous, with a bright, lively streak.
About This Champagne
2011 split in two, with the seasons seemingly reversed, and picking ran from 25 August to 3 September. Pinot Noir came through with fine balance and structure and makes up 46 per cent of the blend. Chardonnay (37 per cent) was hit hardest by heat spikes and turned out riper and juicier than usual, while Meunier (17 per cent) kept its freshness and a gentle bitterness. Julie Cavil calls the wine opulent yet crisp.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Ripe citrus, white peach and fresh pastry, with a light floral lift.
- Palate: Ample and round, with orchard fruit, brioche, a little spice and a fine, lively mousse.
- Finish: Poised and lingering, with chalky freshness and toast.
Serving & Food
Serve at around 10°C in a tulip glass. Young but approachable, it will keep improving for a decade or more. Good with sashimi, chicken with tarragon cream or a gratin of scallops.
How to Enjoy
Anyone following Krug vintages year by year, or comparing a Vintage with its matching Grande Cuvée.
Product Details
Producer: Krug
Wine: Krug Vintage 2011
Region: Champagne, France
Blend: 46% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay, 17% Meunier
Category: Prestige vintage Champagne
ABV: 12.5%
Format: 750mL
About the Maison
Krug's own shorthand for its Vintage is Champagne No.2. Joseph Krug wrote that it should be made as circumstances allow, and the house still takes that literally: a Krug Vintage is not a pick of a good year's top wines, but of the wines that tell the story of that particular year most clearly.
That is why an awkward season can still produce one. The decision is taken in the tasting room after harvest, based on what surprised or moved the Tasting Committee, and Julie Cavil describes each Vintage as her way of telling the story of those circumstances.