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- 2017-11-24
- Krug
The House of Krug Presents Krug Clos Du Mesnil 2004 & Du Soliste à l’Orchestre En 2004 Acte I
Close to 13 years after it entered Krug’s cellars, today the House of Krug presents its most recent Champagne from a small walled plot of Chardonnay vines in the heart of the village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger: Krug Clos du Mesnil 2004.
To the delight of Krug Lovers all over the world, Krug Clos du Mesnil 2004 will be available in a limited-edition case comprising three of Krug’s creations from the year 2004, a journey of discovery offering three different musical expressions.
At Krug, each individual plot, through its wine, is considered to be a fine musician contributing its own unique character to a Krug Champagne.
Thus, Krug Clos du Mesnil 2004 – the purity of a single walled plot of Chardonnay harvested in 2004 – is a virtuoso soloist, while Krug 2004 is an ensemble of musicians playing the music of the year. Finally, Krug Grande Cuvée 160ème Édition, composed around the harvest of 2004 with wines from 12 different years, is the full orchestra playing the most complete symphony Champagne can perform.
This limited-edition offer is a tribute both to this remarkable year and to the unique craftsmanship of the House of Krug, which enables the creation of different expressions of nature, all of the same level of distinction.
The Circumstances of 2004
The year 2004 called for patience with a crisp winter and chill spring keeping temperatures in Champagne cool for an exceptionally long time. May brought a gentle warmth to the region and in late summer the grapes ripened perfectly in the radiant sunshine. The beautiful weather from mid-September made for generous year following the challenging extremes and limited yields of 2003. Nature’s elation afforded a breadth of choice in 2004, offering more characterful yet mature grapes than any previous harvest.
"The wines of the year held great promise, they were at once highly expressive, bright and undeniably elegant. The vivacity, tension and citrus notes of the Meuniers and the shining Chardonnays combined with the backbone of Pinot Noirs gave rise to a very balanced year." - Eric Label, Cellar Master, House of Krug
To the delight of Krug Lovers all over the world, Krug Clos du Mesnil 2004 will be available in a limited-edition case comprising three of Krug’s creations from the year 2004, a journey of discovery offering three different musical expressions.
At Krug, each individual plot, through its wine, is considered to be a fine musician contributing its own unique character to a Krug Champagne.
Thus, Krug Clos du Mesnil 2004 – the purity of a single walled plot of Chardonnay harvested in 2004 – is a virtuoso soloist, while Krug 2004 is an ensemble of musicians playing the music of the year. Finally, Krug Grande Cuvée 160ème Édition, composed around the harvest of 2004 with wines from 12 different years, is the full orchestra playing the most complete symphony Champagne can perform.
This limited-edition offer is a tribute both to this remarkable year and to the unique craftsmanship of the House of Krug, which enables the creation of different expressions of nature, all of the same level of distinction.
The Circumstances of 2004
The year 2004 called for patience with a crisp winter and chill spring keeping temperatures in Champagne cool for an exceptionally long time. May brought a gentle warmth to the region and in late summer the grapes ripened perfectly in the radiant sunshine. The beautiful weather from mid-September made for generous year following the challenging extremes and limited yields of 2003. Nature’s elation afforded a breadth of choice in 2004, offering more characterful yet mature grapes than any previous harvest.
"The wines of the year held great promise, they were at once highly expressive, bright and undeniably elegant. The vivacity, tension and citrus notes of the Meuniers and the shining Chardonnays combined with the backbone of Pinot Noirs gave rise to a very balanced year." - Eric Label, Cellar Master, House of Krug
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THE SOLOIST EXPRESSING THE PURITY OF A SINGLE WALLED PLOT OF CHARDONNAY IN THE YEAR 2004
Located in the heart of the village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, one of the most iconic villages for Chardonnay in the Champagne region, the Clos du Mesnil is a 1.84-hectare vineyard has been protected by walls since 1698.
The House of Krug invites Champagne lovers to discover the extreme purity of this Champagne from a single plot, one single grape variety – Chardonnay – and the harvest of the year 2004.
The harvest took place between 24 and 26 September 2004 and afforded 12,548 bottles and 500 magnums, all individually numbered. Because the House of Krug gives each one of its Champagnes and the different bottle formats the time they need to develop their
unique expression and elegance, the magnums are not yet available. Just like the 0.75 litre bottles being presented now, the magnums will leave the cellars when the winemaking team decides they are ready.
Krug Clos du Mesnil 2004 is an extremely elegant Champagne offering expressive aromas of toffee apple, caramel, ripe citrus fruits and lightly toasted nuts. On the palate, it opens with astonishing generosity and breadth. Initial hints of brown sugar, candied ginger and pecan give way to notes of citrus fruits as it bursts into an explosion of freshness enhanced by a very long and elegant finish. This Champagne is a tribute to the House of Krug’s unique savoir faire with respect for the individuality of each plot and the character of its wine at its very heart.
Located in the heart of the village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, one of the most iconic villages for Chardonnay in the Champagne region, the Clos du Mesnil is a 1.84-hectare vineyard has been protected by walls since 1698.
The House of Krug invites Champagne lovers to discover the extreme purity of this Champagne from a single plot, one single grape variety – Chardonnay – and the harvest of the year 2004.
The harvest took place between 24 and 26 September 2004 and afforded 12,548 bottles and 500 magnums, all individually numbered. Because the House of Krug gives each one of its Champagnes and the different bottle formats the time they need to develop their
unique expression and elegance, the magnums are not yet available. Just like the 0.75 litre bottles being presented now, the magnums will leave the cellars when the winemaking team decides they are ready.
Krug Clos du Mesnil 2004 is an extremely elegant Champagne offering expressive aromas of toffee apple, caramel, ripe citrus fruits and lightly toasted nuts. On the palate, it opens with astonishing generosity and breadth. Initial hints of brown sugar, candied ginger and pecan give way to notes of citrus fruits as it bursts into an explosion of freshness enhanced by a very long and elegant finish. This Champagne is a tribute to the House of Krug’s unique savoir faire with respect for the individuality of each plot and the character of its wine at its very heart.
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THE ENSEMBLE OF MUSICIANS PLAYING
THE MUSIC OF THE YEAR 2004: “LUMINOUS FRESHNESS”
At the House of Krug, every Vintage is crafted to be different, celebrating the distinct character of a particular year. It is as if Krug 2004 were the music of the year 2004, captured by Krug.
It is a composition marked by elegance and bountiful citrus in which the Chardonnays (39%) enjoy a very balanced dialogue with the Pinot Noirs (37%), combined with the vivacity, tension and citrus notes of the Meuniers (24%).
With its delicacy, harmony and bountiful citrus of all types, Krug 2004 evokes the sensation of early summer mornings in Champagne. Its combination of radiant generosity and crisp precision led the House to name it “Luminous Freshness”.
In the close to 13 years since Krug 2004 began its journey to maturity in the House’s cellars this Champagne has achieved a beautiful harmony, expression and finesse. Like all Krug Champagnes, Krug 2004 will continue to gain with the passage of time.
THE MUSIC OF THE YEAR 2004: “LUMINOUS FRESHNESS”
At the House of Krug, every Vintage is crafted to be different, celebrating the distinct character of a particular year. It is as if Krug 2004 were the music of the year 2004, captured by Krug.
It is a composition marked by elegance and bountiful citrus in which the Chardonnays (39%) enjoy a very balanced dialogue with the Pinot Noirs (37%), combined with the vivacity, tension and citrus notes of the Meuniers (24%).
With its delicacy, harmony and bountiful citrus of all types, Krug 2004 evokes the sensation of early summer mornings in Champagne. Its combination of radiant generosity and crisp precision led the House to name it “Luminous Freshness”.
In the close to 13 years since Krug 2004 began its journey to maturity in the House’s cellars this Champagne has achieved a beautiful harmony, expression and finesse. Like all Krug Champagnes, Krug 2004 will continue to gain with the passage of time.
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THE FULL ORCHESTRA PLAYING THE SYMPHONY OF CHAMPAGNE, COMPOSED AROUND THE HARVEST OF 2004
Krug Grande Cuvée is the first and only Prestige Champagne to have been recreated every year since the House was founded. Krug Grande Cuvée 160ème Édition therefore represents the 160th re-creation of the fullest expression of Champagne as envisioned by Joseph Krug. A very limited number of bottles of this Édition were specially kept in the House’s cellars, waiting for this moment.
Every year when creating a new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, Eric Lebel is faced with a new challenge as he chooses from 250 wines of the year and 150 reserve wines to create the blend. Krug Grande Cuvée 160ème Édition, composed around the harvest of 2004, is a blend of 121 wines from 12 different years, the
youngest of which dates back to 2004 and the oldest to 1990. Blending so many different wines from different years lends the fullness of flavours and aromas that would otherwise be impossible to express with the wines of just one year.
A stay of over 12 years in Krug’s cellars gives this Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée its unique roundness, beautiful expression, finesse and elegance. More than 25 years have been necessary to enjoy this very special Krug Grande Cuvée which represents a living embodiment of the dream of the founder, Joseph Krug, and truly expresses the House’s raison d’être.
Krug Grande Cuvée is the first and only Prestige Champagne to have been recreated every year since the House was founded. Krug Grande Cuvée 160ème Édition therefore represents the 160th re-creation of the fullest expression of Champagne as envisioned by Joseph Krug. A very limited number of bottles of this Édition were specially kept in the House’s cellars, waiting for this moment.
Every year when creating a new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, Eric Lebel is faced with a new challenge as he chooses from 250 wines of the year and 150 reserve wines to create the blend. Krug Grande Cuvée 160ème Édition, composed around the harvest of 2004, is a blend of 121 wines from 12 different years, the
youngest of which dates back to 2004 and the oldest to 1990. Blending so many different wines from different years lends the fullness of flavours and aromas that would otherwise be impossible to express with the wines of just one year.
A stay of over 12 years in Krug’s cellars gives this Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée its unique roundness, beautiful expression, finesse and elegance. More than 25 years have been necessary to enjoy this very special Krug Grande Cuvée which represents a living embodiment of the dream of the founder, Joseph Krug, and truly expresses the House’s raison d’être.
