Krug Dinner at Hakkasan in the Fountainebleau

Burgundy makes you think of silly things, Bordeaux makes you talk of them and Champagne makes you do them. -- Jean-Anthelme Brillat-Savarin

If there was one wine that I would call the ultimate celebration wine it would have to Champagne and if money is no object the wine that I will be celebrating with is Vintage Krug Champagne.  Krug is the ultimate collectors Champagne and although all of the wines at this famous house are at the pinnacle of quality, the vintage Champagne produced at this famous house is the most sought after in the world of collectible bubbly.

We always end the year with a high level Champagne event and this year we have three with my favorite Champagne house Krug.  Tonight, we start the Krug festivities at Williams Island with a private event for the members here. 

Sunday night we have a Krug Champagne dinner at Hakkasan in the Fountainebleau Hotel on Miami Beach. 

Dinner combines a decadent five-course menu prepared by chef de cuisine Jian H. Loo with wines hand-selected and presented by Trevor

Mclachlan and Trisha Cancilla, Champagne Specialist and Regional Marketing Manager respectively of the prestigious Krug.

Krug Dinner at Hakkasan
Sunday, November 30th
7:30pm

Dim Sum Platter
Butter and Egg Soft Shell Crab

Krug “Grande Cuvée”

Crispy Duck Salad
Crispy Almond Prawns with Pear

Krug Vintage 2000

Stir-Fried Grouper with Sugar Snap Peas and Black Truffle
Yeung Chow Fried Rice with Homemade X.O. Sauce
Sugar Fried French Beans with Preserved Olive Oil and Dried Shrimp

Krug Vintage 2003

Black Pepper Beef Tenderloin
Wok-Fried Udon with Duck and X.O. Sauce

Krug Rosé

Vanilla Mousse
Pinenut, green apple, lychee

Seating is limited, and priced at $300++ per person excluding tax and service charge.

For resevartions call 877-326-7412

And to finish off our Trilogy of Krug events we have a vintage Krug tasting here at the Wine Watch as our grand finali for the year featuring the rarest of all the Krug Wines the Clos D'Ambonnay. 

That's all for this year in terms of wine drinking events and now we will be focused on our special gift box items that keep us busy the month of December into the wee hours of the morning.  For a complete list of our gift box selections for 2014 check out the Wine Gift Box section of our web page. 

Vintage Krug Tasting at Wine Watch
Friday, December 5th
7pm

Join us as we experience some of the top vintages from Champagne's most sought after producer along with a special menu prepared by Wine Watch Caterings Toni Lampasone.  The fee for this tasting is $499 + tax, for reservations call 954-523-9463.

Reception:

Krug Grande Cuvee Brut Champagne
Price: $191.25                    Sale $139.00

200-250 different wines go into this cuvee with great vineyards like the Clos du Mesnil going into the blends. Very complex bouquet of hazelnuts, marzipan and exotic spices like ginger and candied dried fruits. The true art of this cuvee being the consistency of the taste as Olivier pointed out he worked for the firm which carries his namesake for 15 years to discover the key to making this wine the same way it has been produced since 1845!

Tasting Line-up

1982 Krug Brut Champagne

(90 points)  If you like your Champagne very mature, drink this. Superbly rich with bread dough and vanilla and ripe fruit aromas and flavors. Full bodied yet fine with mature and rich flavors.  Wine Spectator (12/ 1993)

1985 Krug Brut Champagne 

(96 points) "A full-bodied, muscular Champagne, still very fresh and complex. Hints at mushroom and sous-bois, spice and leather, with biscuit, coffee and citrus elements. The firm structure comes though on the finish, which remains fresh and smoky for minutes. Though this is rich, there's an austerity as well. Drink now through 2028." Wine Spectator (11/08)

1990 Krug Brut Champagne 

(97 points) An aristocrat. Big-boned and intense, yet with finesse and complex flavors of coconut, whole-grain bread, ginger, citrus and honey. Waves of flavor saturate the palate and the long finish picks up a mineral and smoke note. Very harmonious from start to finish. Drink now through 2020. Wine Spectator (11/ 2005)

1995 Krug Brut Champagne  

(98 Points) "A very youthful '95. Delicate. Intense aromas of ginger, citrus, candied berry and multigrain bread turn to honey, roasted almonds and graphite on the palate. It's all underscored by a precise structure and creamy texture. Its structure keeps it persistent through the long finish. A picture of precision and intensity. Drink now through 2025." Wine Spectator

1996 Krug Brut Champagne 

(99 Points)  A powerful, majestic Champagne. Deep and compelling, with aromas of whole-grain toast, coconut and dried citrus that draw you in. Lean and racy on the palate, with a creaminess that's yet to be integrated. A classic '96, with ripe, exotic aromas and a steely structure. Still a baby, with the long, resonant finish confirming its potential. Best from 2009 through 2040."  Wine Spectator - "Number 10 on Wine Spectator's Top 100 of 2007!

1998 Krug Brut Champagne

Characterized by the warm glow of yellow gold and the fragrant aroma of flowers in bloom, Krug 1998 is an enchanting champagne of astonishing purity and precision. From its creamy, caressing texture, through its full, finely balanced flavors, to its extraordinarily long finish, it is a study in harmony, delicate, refined, and captivating. Think notes of red berries, stewed fruit, brioche, almond, gingerbread, and citrus.

2000 Krug Brut Champagne
Price: $313.50    Sale $275.88

(95 points)  Very aromatic, with lots of rose water, pickled ginger, ground coffee and cardamom accents on the nose and finely textured palate. The flavors of ripe black cherry, grapefruit granita, piecrust, fleur de sel and spun honey are enlivened by well-honed acidity, creating a mouthwatering impression on the lightly chalky finish. Drink now through 2028. Wine Spectator (11/ 2013)

Krug Clos D'Ambonnay 1998 Wood Box
Price: $2475        Sale $2103.75

Krug Vintage Champagne Clos D'Ambonnay 1998 is the rarest of all Krugs. Krug Clos d'Ambonnay is the exceptional product of a single walled vineyard in the village of Ambonnay, which for generations has been one of Krug's best-loved terroirs. In this supremely elegant champagne, Ambonnay's Pinot Noir grapes are elevated to their ultimate expression by Krug's legendary craftsmanship and long years of aging in the cellars.  The launch of Krug Clos d'Ambonnay is a landmark because it is a Champagne which three members of the Krug family - Henri Krug, Rémi Krug and Olivier Krug - all worked together on in unison.

Menu:

Petite Fours with hackleback caviar and traditional accoutrements

Salmon Carpaccio with dill aioli, Salmon Roe and whole wheat crostini

Chicken Kiev with Bearnaise Sauce and Roasted mushroom and vegetable succotash

Vintage Single Vineyard Krug Available:

Krug Brut Rosé Champagne
Price: $360.00    Sale $316.80

(95 points)  Very expressive and beautifully balanced, this is all in the details, from the palate-caressing texture to the vibrant acidity, finely meshed with flavors of black raspberry, plum, wild strawberry, candied citrus peel, honey and ground spice, accented by rich hints of espresso, treacle and pastis. Drink now through 2025. (11/ 2013) Wine Spectator

2003  Krug Vintage Brut Champagne
Price: $337.50    Sale $297.00

Krug made less than 1/3 of the amount that they usually vintage in 2003, an amount that will only represent 5% of production. Grand Cuvee is 80-85%. The cepage is a surprising 46% Pinot Noir, 31% Meunier and 23% Chardonnay.

1989 Krug "Collection" Brut Champagne
Price: $675.00    Sale $594

(97 points)  Shows a lovely interplay between the creamy bead and rich notes of almond financier, apricot preserves, treacle and cardamom, with finely cut, persistent acidity and flavors of pastis, raspberry puree, fennel seed and fleur de sel. Offers a refined, lasting finish, with a push of saline-tinged minerality. Drink now through 2029. (Insider) (9/ 2013) Wine Spectator

Krug Clos De Mesnil 2003 Wood Box
Price: $1089        Sale $925.65

Krug Clos du Mesnil Magnum 1998 Vintage Champagne is a very rare Champagne, showcasing the unique character of a single plot of Chardonnay harvested in 1998. The 1.84-hectare vineyard overlooked by the village church has been protected by walls since 1698 located in the heart of Mesnil-sur-Oger, one of the most iconic villages for Chardonnay in the Champagne region. Krug’s savoir-faire has successfully revealed the intense and calm purity, chiselled structure and persistent aromas of this single walled plot in the year 1998, enhanced by over ten years in the cellar gaining finesse and elegance.

Krug Clos De Mesnil 2000 Wood Box (Magnum)
Price: $2700        Sale $2295

Krug Clos De Mesnil 2000 Wood Box
Price: $955.50    Sale $813.00

(97 points)  **Collectibles** A vibrant and expressive version, showing a pleasing tension to the interplay of mouthwatering acidity and fleur de sel-tinged minerality, with fine layers of poached quince, peach skin, ground coffee, toasted hazelnut, clover honey and cumin flavors. Spice and mineral notes ring out on the finish. Drink now through 2030. (11/ 2013) Wine Spectator

A bit about Krug:

"The Krug taste is both majestic and magisterial...there is the raw material, the attention to detail, the ageing, the handmade quality.  And there are the Krugs themselves, with their adherence to a certain vision of their wine, the palate memory of five generations, their lack of compromise...the "Krug taste" is an idée fixe, an obsession of the noblest kind.

Krug Champagne is a name that is synonymous with the highest quality - its aficionados claim that it belongs in the company of those stellar stalwarts like Rolls-Royce and Cartier.  To achieve this recognition, one needs more than just dedication or expertise (both of which the Krugs have in no short supply) or a large advertising budget.  One needs a philosophy of excellence that is steeped in history and is as solid and unconditional as a rock.  While many other Champagne firms have altered their styles to conform to modern tastes, the Krugs have basically never wavered from the traditions and styles established five generations ago.  And how successful has this policy been?  Robert Parker, perhaps America's foremost wine critic says: "There are a lot of fine Champagnes made in the world, but there is no better than that made by the very small house of Krug, whose champagnes are legendary not only for their quality but for their aging potential."  Serena Sutcliffe, a renowned British wine authority, in her marvelous book titled Champagne says: "In a changing world, where one is constantly reappraising values and beliefs in the light of experience and shifting ethical standards, Krug stands as solid and as reassuring as ever.  This edifice to quality and consistently high standards remains a monument to our ideas of excellence and a bastion in our fight against mediocrity."  This is a sampling of the high praise that comes from both sides of the Atlantic, but one need only ask a Champagne connoisseur from any part of the world: "Who produces the best Champagne?"  On everybody's short list will be the inimitable House of Krug.

Krug was founded in 1843 by Jean-Joseph Krug who was born in 1800 in Mainz, Germany, moved to Paris and then eventually settled in Champagne.  He rented a cellar in Reims and quickly established a reputation as a blender of cuvées.  His flair for quality soon attracted other Champagne houses whose owners solicited him to make up their own blends.  In a very short time the Krug firm began to prosper and export wine all over the world.  Jean-Joseph's son Paul succeeded him; and when Paul passed away in 1910, his eldest son, Joseph II (who harbored a true love of the sea more than a love of Champagne) reluctantly assumed control of the firm.  Joseph II was badly wounded during the fighting that raged in and around Champagne during World War I; and at war's end, his doctors had a very pessimistic prognosis for his survival.  Because his only son (Paul II) was still a child, he appointed a nephew as a general manager.  The doctors turned out to be wrong.  Joseph II eventually lived to be 98 years old, outlasted his nephew, and remained involved with Krug almost until his death.  Serena Sutcliffe instructs us that the moral of this happy ending is "...with champagne at one's side it does not do to be pessimistic about one's life expectancy."

Paul II began working in the business in 1935 and passed the firm on to his two sons, Henri and Rémi.  Henri handled most of the winemaking duties while Rémi was the managing director and Krug's ambassador-at -large.  Rémi tirelessly troted the globe promoting Krug in tastings and gatherings of "Krugies" about the world.  In May of 1990 we had the good fortune of joining Rémy Krug in a small luncheon at which was served the entire line of his Champagnes.  Besides this Grand Cuvée, we tasted (while listening to Rémy Krug extol the virtues and uniqueness of his Champagnes) the 1982 and 1964 vintages, the 1981 Clos du Mesnil, and the non-vintage rosé.  The Krug style - a common thread to all of them - was evident across the entire range of these quite different Champagnes.  There was the non-vintage Rosé with its deft balance, touch of raspberry cream, and its very pale color that reminded of the shyly rising sun in one of Monet's "Haystacks in Winter"; the elegant, austere, stylish 1982 vintage; the robust, lively flavors of the 1964 vintage with its honey-praline-hazelnut flavors; and the extremely austere, penetrating 1981 Clos du Mesnil with its toasty, vanilla, wheat-thin bouquet.  All were unmistakably Krug.

By Champagne standards Krug is quite small - less than 500,000 bottles (compared to 27,000,000 bottles annually at Moët) are produced.  Up until 1970, the Krugs purchased all the grapes for their Champagnes - preferring to leave the growing to those who knew how to do it best.  However, between 1970 and 1972 the Krugs acquired about fifteen hectares of land in Aÿ and Les Mesnil including a 1.87 hectare single vineyard known as Le Clos du Mesnil.  These vineyards are rated the top 100% in the échelles des cru (this is the rating system established in Champagne to classify the best vineyards and determine the price which the grapes can command).  The Clos du Mesnil - comprised of 100% Chardonnay - has existed since 1698 and is one of only three single-vineyard Champagnes produced in France.  The vineyards supply about 25% of Krug's needs, but only select growers are used for their remaining requirements.  A lady in Avize, for example, sells half her thirty hectare vineyard to the Krugs under a long term contract established in 1974.

Krug's wines - unlike most of the more "modern" houses - are fermented in oak casks.  The Krugs feel that the oak gives them the extra dimension of complexity and aromatics they seek in their wines.  Only the first pressing is used (Champagne law does not require it; but Krug law does!); the first pressing is known as the cuvée, and all Krug Champagne is cuvée only.  The wine is never filtered and is never released to market until five or more years after bottling (the longest in Champagne, to our knowledge).  The firm backs up its stocks with six years of supply from which to blend.  And for Krug, blending is the key. The Multi-vintage Grand Cuvée is Krug's bread and butter Champagne accounting for almost 80% of its production. Launched in 1978, the Grand Cuvée can be a blend of as many as fifty different base wines from as many as eight different vintages.  Like all Krug Champagnes it has an "intellectual" taste not well suited for all palates and one that goes better with food than most Champagnes (many of which are now relegated to service as forerunners to the meal rather than as companions with it)."  - Jim Turner, Founder of Wine Watch

Although the Krug family no longer owns the Champagne house, the house is now part of global conglomerate Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy (LVMH). Like most of the companies in the group, Krug runs with a certain amount of autonomy and Oliver Krug is now the face of the Krug family in charge of Marketing and still has a good deal to do with production.  The style has remained the same while the production at Krug may be up a little bit (I would bet that Moet is making more than 27,000,000 bottles annually today), Krug is still one of the ultimate collectibles from Champagne today.  This perceived and real autonomy has played a large role in maintaining the house's reputation and consistent style.