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Wine Description
The Story
Golden yellow tones shimmering with green highlights accentuate a constant stream of lively, delicate bubbles. The nose opens on deep aromas of candied citrus mixed with scents of white peaches, Granny Smith apples, ginger and lime-flower. The palate shows a lovely delicacy, evolving towards a balance of roundness and power: lively and mature on the attack with chalky, lemony notes underlining a mineral quality that is offset by a suggestion of almonds, nectarines and bergamot.
Pure Chardonnay, 100% Grand Cru, the “Exception Blanche” (white exception) blends together wines from our Mailly Champagne vineyard and the best soils on the Côte des Blancs. This special Vintage Blanc de Blancs will enchant you by its subtle harmony and its balance between minerality and roundness.
Vintage 2012
The next most exceptional vintage since 2008. A truly difficult growing season saw severe frosts in the winter. March brought warmth but early budbreak made the vines vulnerable to spring frosts. Overall, the early growing season was wet, and mildew became a serious issue. However, conditions improved dramatically in the later summer months. An August heatwave resulted in a rapid accumulation of sugar, but fortunately the nights remained cool, which helped to preserve acidity. Although yields were low (averaging at 9,210 kg/ha) due to frost, hail and disease early in the season, the 2012 harvest was exemplary in its maturity, acidity and grape health. A rare high acid, high sugar September harvest with impeccable concentration of flavour and refreshing vibrancy. Pinot Noir is the superstar of the vintage, though Pinot Meunier excelled too. A vintage that promises great longevity for the finest cuvées, it was widely declared by producers. However, Krug decided to invest in its reserve wines on this great year, and no Vintage was produced. The quality of 2012 is universally high, with the greatest releases so far including Louis Roederer Cristal and Cristal Rosé, Bollinger La Grande Année and La Grande Année Rosé, as well as Perrier-Jouët Belle Epoque Rosé.