Krug - Champagner Vintage Brut 2008

JAMES SUCKLING: "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. Disgorged in beginning of 2020. Drink or hold."

FALSTAFF: "Helles Goldgelb, silberfarbene Reflexe, feines, lebendiges und anhaltendes Mousseux. Zunächst frisches Backwerk, Biskuit und Mandeln, unterlegt mit Akazienhonig und -blüten, feine Nuancen von kandierten Limettenzesten, reife Kirschen und Orangen im Hintergrund, symphonisches Bukett. Stoffige Textur, die große Frische vermittelt, straffe Kalkigkeit verbindet sich mit fruchtiger Säure, wirkt jung und straff, zeigt ein kraftvolles Finale mit enormer Länge, auf diese klassische Schönheit haben sich alle wahren Champagnerfreunde zu Recht gefreut. Lebendig, vielschichtig und präzise, getragen von einer unglaublichen Leichtgkeit und Trinkfreude. Besser kann Champagner nicht sein."

DECANTER: "Just at the beginning of its life, this powerful and structured wine is still a bit restrained, yet even at this stage there are exquisite aromas of ripe pear, marzipan and spice. Although the aromas are still not very expressive, the texture and feel on the palate give the impression of immense potential. There is plenty of extract and thrilling acidity, but always in perfect balance. As Cavil notes: 'This is a wine marked by verticality and intensity'. The wine was disgorged with an extra-brut dosage in the summer of 2020. This will live for 50 years at least."

THE WINE CELLAR INSIDER: "Had this twice over the past few weeks, and it was incredible both times. Sharp as a razor's edge, the wine is marked by its blinding, razor's edge of acidity. Crisp, crackling, bright, perfectly ripe, yellow citrus, crushed rocks, almonds, and brioche are all over the place. The resilient finish just keeps on going This is a Krug to age."

WINE SPECTATOR: "This is delightful, with a fine chalky thread running through the middle of gently crushed plum and black cherry fruit flavors while sweet tobacco and bay accents hang in the background. Sneaky long. Merlot and Cabernet Franc. Drink now through 2032."

WINE ENTHUSIAST: "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."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Pale greenish coppery colour. Intense evolved nose. A certain nuttiness and lots of lime flavour. Masses of acidity still but real depth too. Light bitterness. Lack of flesh. Structure dominates the filling. Mineral, almost wet cement on nose! Very dry finish. This one should run and run. Extremely zesty."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Since I reviewed the Krug 2008 Brut last year, I have drunk the wine on five or six occasions, but I still struggle to understand it. This bottle, tasted at the cellars in Reims, was among the best I've encountered to date; but between the chiseled muscularity of the Clos du Mesnil and the complexity and plenitude of the 164ème Édition of Grande Cuvée, the vintage itself simply seems less compelling and complete. Offering up aromas of citrus oil, freshly baked bread, orange zest, dried white flowers and a discreet hint of buttered toast, it's medium to full-bodied, racy and saline, with a pretty pinpoint mousse and a tightly wound core. Will it unfurl with time to reveal more mid-palate volume and authority, or will it remain a comparatively lean, understated vintage for Krug? As ever, time will tell, and given the house's track record I certainly wouldn't be surprised to see the 2008 take flight with more time on cork."