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Wine Description
The Story
Krug Clos du Mesnil, a very rare Champagne, showcases the unique character of a single plot of Chardonnay, harvested in a single year. Our 1.84-hectare vineyard overlooked by the village church has been protected by walls since 1698. The vineyard is located in the heart of Mesnil-sur-Oger, one of the most iconic villages for Chardonnay in the Champagne region. Krug Clos du Mesnil has an expansive generous personality enhanced by the finish which powers through with extreme precision.
The vineyard was secretly replanted over eight years, and it was not until 1979 that the first harvest was deemed to fulfil expectations. When the wine was tasted, it proved so outstanding that the Krugs decided to bottle it on its own. There would be no "assemblage” – a bold decision amply justified by the exquisite quality of the single ingredient.
Wine Information
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 2006 – the purity of a single walled plot of Chardonnay harvested in 2006 – is a virtuoso soloist, while Krug 2006 is an ensemble of musicians playing the music of the year. Finally, Krug Grande Cuvée 162ème Édition, composed around the harvest of 2006 with wines from 11 different years, is the full orchestra playing the most complete symphony Champagne can perform.
Close to 13 years after it entered Krug’s cellars, the House of Krug presents its most recent Champagne from a tiny walled plot of Chardonnay vines in the heart of the village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger: Krug Clos du Mesnil 2006.
It is an extremely elegant Champagne offering delicate aromas of citrus, barley sugar and dried fruits with balance and freshness. The palate is lace-like, generous and round with beautiful intensity. Initial hints of madeleine cake and brioche give way to notes of pastry, tarte tatin, lemon meringue, bitter orange and a little spice. The finish is long, with great tension and notes of candied ginger. After over 12 years in Krug's cellars, Krug Clos du Mesnil 2006 reveals a precise signature and striking grace. As all Krug Champagnes, Krug Clos du Mesnil 2006 will continue to gain with the passage of time.
At first sight, vibrant luminosity and an intense golden colour redolent of ripe wheat.
On the nose, delicate aromas of citrus, barley sugar and dried fruits with balance and freshness.
On the palate, it is generous and round with beautiful intensity. Initial hints of madeleine cake and brioche give way to notes of pastry, tarte tatin, lemon meringue, bitter orange and a little spice. The finish is long, with great tension and notes of candied ginger.
Vintage 2006
The year 2006 was considered a hot one in Champagne, with extreme highs and 23 days recorded over 30°C. It was a capricious climate that went from dry periods to intense rainfall - in August, the equivalent of 2 months of rain fell in only 2 weeks.
Fortunately, the sun returned to complete the ripening period, shining on a beautiful harvest. The grapes showed balance similar to that of 2002 and 1989, which were also beautiful and generous years.
The 2006 harvest at Clos du Mesnil took place between 14 and 16 September, affording 14,973 bottles and 800 magnums (to be presented at a later date).
