Krug - Brut Champagne Vintage 2008
#99 Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2021
At first sight, an intense and brilliant golden hue. An expressive nose that is rich and ample with patinated aromas of honey, licorice, menthol, orange peel and grapefruit. Vivacious, intense and harmonious with great tension on the palate, expressing notes of quince, candied fruits and citrus, yellow kiwi, star fruit, honey, apple tart, butter cookies, orange peel, peony and fennel, with floral and menthol undertones. It has a long, balanced and precise finish with astounding structure.
Krug 2008 is a beautiful match for oyster tartare with a lobster emulsion, parmesan shortbread, pistachio Chaource in pastry sheets, rabbit terrine with sorrel, tagliatelle with mussels and basil, dishes prepared with aromatic herbs like oregano and thyme or whitefish in a lemon and pepper sauce, as well as desserts that contrast vivacity and roundness such as passionfruit and lemon meringue.
James Suckling: 100 Points
This is very structured and framed with an almost red sensibility. Very phenolic. Full-bodied in a tightly wound ball with so much going on. Very pinot like. Mineral and stone. Shell and stone. Iodine. Vinous. The bubbles just fade into the finish of the wine, which goes on for minutes. Turns to toffee and salted caramel with time in the glass. One for the cellar. Great length. Blend of 53% pinot noir, 25% pinot meunier, 22% chardonnay.
Wine Spectator: 99 Points
There's a supernova of sensation with each sip of this powerful 2008 Champagne, starting with the vivid streak of mouthwatering acidity that drives a rich panoply of flavor across the palate. Notes of ripe black currant, Mandarin orange peel and grilled nut are accented by hints of candied ginger, briny oyster shell, verbena and ground cardamom spice. This burns bright from start to finish, yet its fine integration and lovely, raw silk-like mousse pull it all together into a seamless, vibrant package. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.
Decanter Magazine: 97 Points
What a burst of fresh fruit on the nose! The aromatic freshness is evident from the first whiff, suffused with notes of citrus fruits including grapefruit, menthol, and a hint of liquorice. The texture has precise contours, giving an impression of rectangular rectitude and perfect balance. This is a finely chiselled Champagne offering great harmony and a long finish enhanced by delicious underlying notes of nutty bitterness. 53% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier and 22% Chardonnay. Disgorged in the first quarter of 2020. Dosage: 4.5g/L.
Wine Enthusiast: 97 Points
A vintage Champagne from this producer is rare. But 2008 was a great year in Champagne and that shows in this intense, still amazingly young wine. Freshness works with the richness to give concentration, density and the sure-fire possibility of long-term aging. So drink now, but the Champagne will last for many years.