Krug Brut Rose NV 0,75L

ROBERT PARKER ” Krug’s NV Brut Rose featuring slightly fewer and younger components than the Grande Cuvee, and an addition of still red Pinot – makes a bright, juicy impression of red raspberry and red currant mingled with fresh lime and tingling with mouthwatering mineral salts. Firmer in feel than the Grande Cuvee and without that bottling’s remarkable juxtaposition of creaminess with brightness, nor indeed its complexity, this finishes with the invigoration of red berry seed-crunching; a piquant hint of orange rind; and fascination of alkaline, saline and chalky nuances. It might well prove interesting to follow for a few years, though I haven’t the experience to address this cuvee’s track record. ”

Krug – part of the Louis-Vuitton-Moet-Hennessy luxury goods empire since 1999 – continues to release wines fully worthy of their house’s exalted reputation that reflect inter alia the effects of micro-vinification in barrel and an (in the best sense) laissez-faire and leisurely attitude toward elevage and bottle-aging. (Although – for what little this may be worth – count me among those who find the metalicized labels that now adorn their bottles glitzy, and as such slightly incongruous with their contents). Director Olivier Krug represents his family’s sixth generation, assisted by veteran cellarmaster Eric Lebel and oenologist Julie Cavil. Most Champagne lovers will realize that each bottle from Krug nowadays comes with an identification number enabling the consumer to research its approximate disgorgement date – and sometimes other details specific to the bottle in question – via the house’s web site; but in keeping with the convention established for my reports, I have only referenced this number for the purpose of disambiguating non-vintage cuvees.