Krug Champagne Vintage Brut 2004

Krug 2004 is internally nicknamed "Luminous Freshness" by the House — a name the Tasting Committee gave it for the vibrant clarity of a vintage shaped by a notably fresh, balanced growing season in Champagne. The blend is a dialogue between shining Chardonnay (39%), a backbone of Pinot Noir (37%) and the vivacity, tension and citrus notes of Meunier (24%) — drawn, as with every Krug Vintage, from the House's most expressive wines of the year, enhanced by over ten years ageing in Krug's cellars before release. Krug avoids malolactic fermentation to maintain mineral sharpness, and enforces a lengthy cellar ageing of five to ten years before each Champagne sees the world — the painstaking, plot-by-plot attention that has defined the house since Joseph Krug's founding vision of uniform excellence across every release. 

Highly expressive, bright, undeniably elegant and discreet, Krug 2004 combines citrus notes of all kinds — evoking the sensation of early summer mornings in Champagne. A pale gold in the glass, with fresh and fruity aromas of lemon meringue and plums developing into more floral notes; on the palate, full of fresh citrus-fruit flavours with the slightest touch of mint, and a long, luminous freshness that plays on the tongue. On the palate, a very balanced Champagne, with light notes of brioche and honey giving way to an array of fresh citrus — oranges, lemons and mandarins — enhanced by a very elegant finish. Readers who can find it should not hesitate, as it is a magical bottle — one critic called it the finest Krug Vintage since 1996. A Champagne of extraordinary poise, drinking beautifully now and with real potential to continue developing for years to come.