Krug, Vintage Brut, 2011

In challenging vintages such as 2011, Krug always has an ace up their sleeve. Their relatively small holdings give the winemaking team full control over the winemaking process. Their commitment to quality is unwavering, and for them to release a vintage wine, it has to be special, and whilst this is admittedly a "slender vintage" for Krug according to Antonio Galloni, it nonetheless remains "impeccably balanced". Perhaps the feather in the cap for collectors of Krug is that there is no need to age this for several years as is often the case with Krug, as it is already drinking beautifully.

"The Pinot Noir wines of 2011 exhibited magnificent balance and beautiful structure, while the Meuniers retained wonderful freshness and elegant bitters, and the Chardonnays – most affected by the heat spikes – were juicier and riper than other years, with exemplary roundness and generosity rather than their usual tension. In the tasting room, it was clear the climate had a striking impact on the wines, affecting the fruit as if to ‘cook’ it with the heat, while the sugar content remained moderate. Surprisingly, the most distinctive performers were plots one would not expect."
Julie Cavil, Krug Cellar Master