Thinking of the great wine producers in 19th-century France, aristocratic landowners,
enlightened bankers or powerful merchants come to mind.
However, these rich and noble origins do not belong to one of the most important dynasties
in Champagne: the Maison Krug.
Joseph Krug was born in Mainz into a family of humble origins, his father was a butcher,
and at a young age he emigrated to France to seek his fortune; these are the years in which
champagne is all the rage and is served at the courts and the most important European families,
and the young Joseph does not miss the opportunity of a good job at the Maison Jacquesson,
one of the most ' known champagne labels of those years.
Joseph is curious, he takes care of communication for the Maison, and soon learns
both production and sales techniques and in parallel with his work, he starts
experimenting with new blends of grapes with a local negotiant.
He wants to create a champagne that is always of the highest quality, regardless of
the weather conditions of the year in which it is produced.
After a few years, in contrast with the culture of the producers of the time who
preferred vintage wines to blended wines (cuvee), he broke away from Jacquesson,
whose daughter he had also married, and inaugurated his own maison, where he would
use only the best vineyards in the region to create a unique blend of wines that
can express the best of each vintage.
One of his notebooks is famous, in which he jotted down all the results of his
research, which he will leave to his son Paul as a testament and compass of the
maison Krug is now run by the sixth generation of the Krug family and is considered
one of the most exclusive champagne houses in the world.
Production is limited to around 500,000 bottles a year, with great attention to
detail and quality.
The main feature of Krug champagne is its blend of different vintages, which is
created for each new edition.
Krug's maître de cave, Julie Cavile, personally selects wines from the house's more
than 250 vineyard parcels and blends them to create a perfectly balanced cuvée.
Each bottle of Krug thus brings together the best of many different vintages,
creating a unique and inimitable experience.
Julie is the first maître de cave of a major champagne brand.
Krug champagne is known for its complexity and depth. The notes of ripe fruit,
spices and citrus blend harmoniously, creating an intense and rich bouquet.
The persistence and elegance of the taste are characteristics that make it one of
the most appreciated wines in the world.
Krug produces several labels, including Krug Grande Cuvée, Krug Rosé and Krug Vintage.
Krug Grande Cuvée is Krug's main cuvée and represents the house's philosophy of
always creating a perfect blend.
Krug Vintage is only produced in exceptional years and represents the highest quality
of the maison.
Each bottle of Krug Vintage contains a blend of wines from a single vintage, which
are aged for at least 10 years in wooden barrels. The result is a complex and
sophisticated champagne, with an intense and deep bouquet and an elegant and
persistent flavour.
An important Krug Viantage 1988 will be auctioned at the next ANSUINI ASTE auction of wines
and spirits.
To tell it, we report the words of Alberto Lupetti (one of the greatest Champagne
experts in Italy):
“ 1988 was the first of three consecutive exceptional vintages, the champagne trio
of wonders (1988, 1989 and 1990), even if today more than ever with different
characteristics: the 1990 is opulent and mature, the 1989 is soft and persuasive,
taut and 1988 was full of energy. And Henri Krug, Oliver's father and for over 40
years chef de cave of the family maison (even if the vins clairs were always done
together with his father Paul and brother Rémi) immediately understood that the 1988
was an out of the ordinary vintage, also considering that he had to repeat the blending
ofthe Grande Cuvée as many as 5 times because, due to the exceptional characteristics
of the vintage, he was not satisfied each time as it "seemed too much of a vintage".
And enthusiasts will go crazy knowing that Henri Krug's three favorite
vintages are 1962, 1973 and, of course,… 1988! “
“As soon as you bring your nose to the glass, you immediately understand that you are
dealing with a Krug, indeed the deepest essence of Krug. The wine is very fresh,
marked above all by notes of roasting, by a beautiful, just ripe fruit, lots of
minerality and even dark citrus nuances: fantastic! The mouth is extraordinarily
tense, even explosive both for the energy inherent in the wine and for the acidity,
very powerful but elegant, which enhances the dark citrus returns and a dry minerality.
Very long, savory, succulent, satisfying finish. Extraordinary champagne, complex and
mature but, even if it seems a paradox, incredibly fresh.
So much so that he still looks very young. “
Krug champagne is produced using only the best grapes of the region, personally selected
by house.
The grapes are harvested by hand and the harvest always takes place when the grapes
are fully ripe.
The vinification takes place with traditional methods, with great attention to detail
and quality.
In addition to the quality of its champagnes, Krug is also famous for its production
philosophy.
In fact, the maison believes that the quality of a champagne should not only depend
on the climatic conditions of the year in which it is produced, but should be the
result of constant and meticulous work in the vineyard and in the cellar.
For this reason, Krug uses only the bes vineyards and personally selects each wine
that goes into its cuvée.
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Furthermore, Krug is known for its commitment to reducing the environmental impact of its
production. The house uses only renewable energy in its cellars and has implemented a water
management system to reduce water consumption during production. Furthermore, Krug has adopted
a policy of reducing the weight of bottles, using lightweight glass to reduce the environmental
impact of transport.
In conclusion, Krug champagne is a product of the highest quality, characterized by a unique
blend of wines from different vintages and an intense and sophisticated flavour. The Krug maison
has achieved success thanks to its attention to detail and quality, its production philosophy
and its commitment to environmental sustainability. Krug therefore represents a true symbol of
excellence in the world of wine and champagne.
In 1999, the Krug maison became part of the luxury giant LVMH which wanted to keep
both the constant search for excellence and the management unchanged in the hands of
the Krug family.
