Krug 2013

Krug 2013

A cold and rainy start to the growing season delayed flowering. Summer sunshine pushed the vines to develop the fruits, but maturation was still slow. The autumnal harvest took place from September 25 to October 16, yielding superb chardonnay alongside structured yet restrained pinot noirs and meuniers with great length.

To tell the story of 2013, a selection of Pinot Noir plots’ wines constitutes almost half (41%) of the blend, imparting beautiful structure and magnificent balance, while Chardonnay plots’ wines (38%), most affected by the heat spikes, imbue ripe and juicy fruit aromas, and Meuniers (21%) add a wonderful freshness with elegant bitters.

The 2013 Vintage is a wild, exotic beauty. Apricot, passion fruit, lemon confit, marzipan, baked apple tart and a kiss of French are all amplified in a dramatic, vivid Champagne that captures all the pedigree of this great vintage. The 2013 is wonderfully complex and dynamic from the very first taste. Time in the glass brings out layers of dimension and captivating nuance. This is a fabulous effort. 99 Points - Antonio Galloni, Vinous

Krug's 2013 will likely prove itself the finest release of this cuvée since the millenium. It's an exquisite example of the restraint of this cool, late-ripening year meeting beautiful fruit selection and patient ageing, yielding a wine full of pristine, crystal-clear and layered flavour. Starting with bright roasted lemon, grapefruit and citric bitters before richer apricot tart and nougat flavours creep in seamlessly, the whole package feels at once svelte, smooth, light-touch and saturated with flavour. It's bright in acidity and coiled-up potential, yet not unapproachably austere even on release. Just when you think it is done, the energy and finish ramps up again with impressive drive and complexity. This is a Krug vintage that feels timeless, bound to keep its integrity even as the flavour profile transforms over time. 98 Points - Tom Hewsen, Decanter

Originating from an October harvest, Krug’s 2013 Brut has turned out very well, delivering—against the backdrop of the slow, late-ripening season and another high-acid test, qualities rendered all the more evident by the house’s methods—the requisite aromatic plenitude and textural properties. Disgorged in early 2024 with a dosage of five grams per liter, the wine emerges from the glass with a deep bouquet of lemon oil, fresh apricot and quince mingled with nashi pear and brioche crust, complemented by a top note of lightly burnt buttered toast. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, chiseled and racy-fresh, structured around a spine of incisive acidity and chalky extract, concluding with a long, citrus-driven, saline-tinged finish. 96+ Points - Kristaps Karklins, Robert Parker's Wine Advocate