Krug Vintage 2011

At the House of Krug, every Krug Vintage celebrates the distinct character of a particular year. Krug Vintage is created as Joseph Krug wrote, “according to the circumstances.” Krug Vintage is not the selection of the best wines of a good year, but the selection of the wines which better express the story of the year, those wines which better play the music of the year. The creation is then enhanced by a stay over ten years in Krug’s cellars. Celebrating nature’s bounty with a statement such as a Krug Vintage has been at the heart of Krug since Joseph Krug founded the House in 1843.

2011 Harvest
The year was split in two, with reversed seasons and abrupt swings. Unbridled summer weather arrived in spring, spurring the vines to develop rapidly followed by rainfall and cool weather. The paradoxical climate then reached peak unpredictability on the eve of harvest with four scorching days followed by intense rain and a sudden drop in temperature. These conditional extremes have imbued ripe and juicy fruit aromas with the wines showing wonderful freshness.

Krug 2011 has a distinctive character and imposing presence, testaments to the vibrant and contrasted year from which it was born. The pinot noir wines of the year 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’ them with the heat, while the sugar content remained moderate. Surprisingly, the most distinctive performers were plots one would not expect.
Julie Cavil, Cellar Master, House of Krug

Tasting Notes
Marzipan, barley sugar, praline, honey and hazelnut take hold with hints of smokiness, thyme and rosemary. Almost by surprise, the chiselled, lively finish lingers with mouth-watering notes of blood orange, sea salt and grapefruit zest. The music of the year 2011 performed by the small ensemble is generous yet assertive.