Krug, Vintage Brut, Champagne, France, 1990

Overview of the Wine
Since 1843, six generations of the Krug Family have been creating the finest and rarest Champagnes. Behind every precious drop of Krug stands the dream of a visionary. One man who, long before others, understood that the essence of Champagne is pleasure. So, over 170 years ago, Joseph Krug broke with convention to follow his vision: to create the most generous expression of Champagne every year, regardless of climatic unpredictability. Thanks to an uncompromising craftsmanship, a unique individual plot by plot approach from harvesting to blending, an unparalleled library of 150 reserve wines, and an exceptional cellar aging, Krug is the benchmark when it comes to the best champagnes in the world.

Krug Grande Cuvée is the flagship of the House and the archetype of Krug’s philosophy of craftsmanship and savoir-faire: a blend of more than 120 wines from ten or more different years. Its exceptional finesse is the result of a stay of at least another six years in the cellars. Over twenty years are needed to craft each bottle of Krug Grande Cuvee.

Every year since the foundation of the House in 1843, one creation, one blend, one bottling and thus one new Edition of Krug Grande Cuvée has come to life. The number of the Edition is now featured on the front label, and this year we celebrate the 164th Edition.

Winemakers
Henri & Remi Krug

Grape / Blend
Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier

Origin
Champagne, France

Tasting Notes
Ahead lies an extraordinary adventure through the complex tapestry of the 1990 Krug from Krug. This laudable vintage unfolds like a riveting tale, thrusting us into an unforgettable narrative of nature and viniculture. The year of 1990 was characterised by a generous climate, gallantly augmenting the grapes maturity and thus bestowing this champagne with a profound depth and complexity. The initial contact of this wine with your palate may feel akin to a masterful ballet performance. Complex choreographies of ripe stone fruits, bejewelled citrus layers, and lusciously spiced honey intertwine in graceful pirouettes. The 1990 Krug mirror reflects the climate's generosity with powerful waves of flavour, marked by astonishing vitality and elegance.

What sets the 1990 vintage apart from its siblings in time is undoubtedly its remarkable longevity. As an investor, one finds the promise of unwavering quality appealing. Produced under meticulously managed weather conditions, this vintage transcends conventional champagne characteristics encompassing both power and delicacy. Time has moulded it subtly, shades growing vibrant yet restrained, like a sumptuous aria sung in hushed tones. Yet, there remains life in this silent symphony, a longevity still to be determined.

98 Points - Wine & Spirits
When I tasted this wine pre-release last year, it already showed itself to be great. Now with the benefit of an additional year of age, it may be the greatest Krug I've tasted. The wine has perfect harmony, all the elements in balance, a complex chord of flavor that lasts more than a minute after each sip. There's not much to say when a wine's internal energy and drive are so in tune with the flavors. Buy it if you can. Now 15 years old, it may have another 15 more to go without slowing down.

97 Points - Burghound
1990 is one of my favorite vintages ever for this storied cuvée because while the vintage was on the riper side the high yields allowed the fruit to retain a very good level of acidity which made for balanced and ageworthy wines. While I have had the pleasure of tasting the '90 on a number of occasions since its release, the last time was alongside the 1985 and the 1988, and as admirable as those two vintages are, the 1990 is head and shoulders above them to my taste. The fantastically complex nose is comprised of an abundance of yeast and toast characters that don't completely dominate the essence of apple, pear, citrus, spice, acacia blossom and discreet orange peel scents. There is equally good depth to the delicious, full-bodied and powerful flavors that possess a lovely sense of vibrancy thanks to the still firm but fine mousse that shapes the delineated, delicious and impeccably well-balanced finale. In my view 1990 is one of the greatest vintages for this wine of the last 25 years and one that is still drinking well.

97 Points - Int'l Wine Cellar
Full copper-gold color. Initially restrained, brooding nose exploded with aeration, showing apple, orange, apricot, honey, iodine, smoke, hazelnut, macadamia and a suggestion of dry oloroso sherry. Dense, full, chewy and rich; an extraordinarily solid Champagne with an intriguing suggestion of Calvados. Broadens toward the back and goes on and on on the echoing aftertaste, with rich, mellow notes of toffee, brown butter and marrow. Like the '92 Clos du Mesnil, this displays its powerful underlying acidity with aeration (Krug's wines never go through malolactic fermentation) and should be long-lived.

97 Points - Wine Spectator
An aristocrat. Big-boned and intense, yet with finesse and complex flavors of coconut, whole-grain bread, ginger, citrus and honey. Waves of flavor saturate the palate and the long finish picks up a mineral and smoke note. Very harmonious from start to finish. Drink now through 2020.

95 Points - Wine Advocate
At its finest, the 1990 Vintage is superb, revealing a slightly oxidized style, but a full-bodied, rustic, rich personality with the body of a red wine, but loads of character. (RP)

95 Points - Wine Enthusiast
A bit dark in color and lacking in bubbles, but when it comes to aromas and flavors it’s out of this world. Vanilla, cinnamon, almond and apple scents are ethereal and mature as can be, while the palate deals layered apple and spice in multiple layers. Runs a mile long but soft on the finish. Unique in style; not the least bit zesty.

94 Points - Vinous
The 1990 Vintage, tasted from magnum, was remarkable for its opulent and exuberant personality and incredible finesse. (AG)

Product size: 750ml