The 2002 Clos du Mesnil is brilliant right out of the gate. Vibrant, focused and crystalline, the 2002 hits all the right notes. Lemon peel, grapefruit, slate and white flowers give the 2002 its high-toned personality. The ripeness of the vintage has softened some of the typically angular young Clos du Mesnil contours. Best of all the 2002 is a rare Clos du Mesnil that drinks well right out of the gate, even if it will surely be more complex with more time in bottle. The 2002 has been absolutely stellar on both occasions I have tasted it so far. The 2002 was vinified by Nicolas Audebert, who is now making the wines at Rauzan-Ségla and Canon. Drink 2016-32
Krug's beautifully citrus colored 2002 Blanc de Blancs Brut Clos du Mesnil (ID 415068 - disgorged IV/2015) shows a deep, complex, very clear and precise if not etherial bouquet with citrus aromas intertwined with chalk and noble brioche notes in the background. Pure, profound and vibrantly fresh on the palate, this is a straight, athletic, very intense and expressive yet highly elegant and finessed Clos du Mesnil with a unique fresh fruit character! The 2002 reveals a great mineral structure and chalky texture on the palate. The highly complex, energetic finish reveals bracing freshness and vitality as well as the charm and creaminess from the vinification in barrels and possibly the dosage wine that seems to boost the Krug style. While terroir wine is the result of hands-off winemaking, Krug's Clos du Mesnil is perhaps a very particular Krug Champagne—it has great quality, style and complexity that is the result of the winemaking and the addition of the dosage wine. How the Clos du Mesnil would taste if farmed biodynamically, picked later and dosed with nothing but itself is a pointless question, but it hasn't left my mind since I tasted the paradoxical 2002, which is terribly fresh on one hand and also has this unique Krug reserve style. Notabene: This doesn't include the hypothesis that the wine could be any better. It would just be different and surely less "Krug," which is not what we really want, do we? Drink 2018-2050.
This vintage, released in May 2016 – a year after the 2003 Clos de Mesnil due to its ageing potential – produced 13,278 bottles and 500 magnums from an ‘ideal’ growing season, with harvesting between 15-17 September.
Seamless, elegant and powerful, this wine is full of ripe white peach, apple and pear fruit, a bracing line of fresh citrus acidity and gentle toasty brioche notes. With air, it opens to reveal exotic star anise and coffee. Long, lingering and complete; a truly great wine.
This vintage, released in May 2016 – a year after the 2003 Clos de Mesnil due to its ageing potential – produced 13,278 bottles and 500 magnums from an ‘ideal’ growing season, with harvesting between 15-17 September.
Seamless, elegant and powerful, this wine is full of ripe white peach, apple and pear fruit, a bracing line of fresh citrus acidity and gentle toasty brioche notes. With air, it opens to reveal exotic star anise and coffee. Long, lingering and complete; a truly great wine.
This vintage, released in May 2016 – a year after the 2003 Clos de Mesnil due to its ageing potential – produced 13,278 bottles and 500 magnums from an ‘ideal’ growing season, with harvesting between 15-17 September.
Seamless, elegant and powerful, this wine is full of ripe white peach, apple and pear fruit, a bracing line of fresh citrus acidity and gentle toasty brioche notes. With air, it opens to reveal exotic star anise and coffee. Long, lingering and complete; a truly great wine.
