Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.5

There are certain occasions that call for Krug Rosé. So, HBTM! The bottle was corked in the summer of 2014. It’s a blend of 45 reserve wines with the oldest being from 2007 and the youngest 2002. This is why I think Champagne Makers are some of the most talented people making wine. They are constantly blending up to 100 plus wines to bring that bottle to bottle and year to year branded flavor of consistency. On the nose; red & pink spring flowers, cherries, strawberries, watermelon, black cherry, black raspberries, notes of blood orange citrus, baked bread, soft volcanic mineral and elegant chalkiness. The palate is always ridiculously delicate. Micro bubbles, silky rich texture with beautiful soft acidity. The palate fruits are similar to the nose; rich & ripe cherries, strawberries watermelon, black cherry, black raspberries, notes of blood orange citrus with hints of marmalade. Red & pink spring flowers, baguette crust, soft powdery minerals that give the palate a slight sting and super powdery chalkiness done just right. The finish is beautifully rich, textured, revealing itself in layers and lasts minutes. Photos of; Founder Joseph Krug, House of Krug, Winemaker Eric Lebel, Krug’s Clos du Mesnil, a small plot of 1.85 hectares of Chardonnay...one of the world’s greatest vineyards and their salon tasting room. Producer history & notes...Krug was founded by Joseph Krug in 1853. They are based in Reims, the main city in France’s Champagne region. It is one of the famous Champagne houses that formed part of the Grande Marques. Today the house is majority owned by the multinational conglomerate LVMH, which owns Moët Hennessy, Louis Vuitton S.A. and who’s wine producer portfolio includes other well known wine brands such as; Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Château d'Yquem, Ruinart & Cheval Blanc, Dom Perignon and many others. Despite LVMH's majority ownership, the family is still actively involved in all the key decisions of the house but does not manage the day-to-day operations. Joseph Krug was born Johann-Joseph Krug, a butcher’s son, in Mainz, on the Rhine in 1800 when the city was part of the Napoleonic Empire. Having dispensed with the name Johann, he left Mainz in 1824 and in 1834 moved on to Paris. Germans were in demand in France as accountants and bookkeepers. So, Joseph joined Champagne Jacquesson in Châlons-sur-Marne. He spent eight years with Jacquesson. His work took him beyond accountancy. He went around Europe testing the market and assessing criticism from wine sellers and customers. He learned about composition and taste so that by 1840 he already seemed to have been blending Champagne for at least one other house. In 1841, he married Emma-Anne Jaunay. The daughter of a French hotelier based in London’s Leicester Square. The following year their son Paul Krug was born. In 1842 he moved to Reims and following a year later, Krug et Cie was founded with his partner, Hyppolite de Vivès. Joseph was fluent in French, English and German and even spoke some Russian, putting the company in position to exploit key overseas markets. Joseph died in 1866 and was succeeded by his son Paul Krug, who had been trained by his father to takeover. Joseph under the supervision of Paul, Krug was established as a Grande Marque. By the 1880s the prestige of Krug was acknowledged in the United Kingdom and became the primary overseas market for Champagne. In 1866, the House moved into Rue Coquebert, in Reims as it remains. After Paul’s death in 1910, he was succeeded by his son, Joseph Krug II. However, during World War I Joseph II was taken prisoner and his wife Jeanne played a key role in the House at a time when the Western Front divided the region between the Allies and the Germans. After the war, Joseph II’s slow recovery led to his nephew Jean Seydoux becoming joint manager in 1924. In that decade, the Krug 1926 and 1928 vintages were created, which have been considered by critics to be amongst the greatest Champagnes. Lawyer and wine writer Maurice Healey declared “Krug” the king of all Champagnes. Further, “that the 1928 Krug was the best wine made in the present century.” By the mid-1930s, Paul Krug II, the son of Joseph II, was active in the business and would become head of the House from 1959 to 1977. His father died in 1967, by which time he was, according to Patrick Forbes, “one of the most popular and respected figures in the Champagne district.” In 1962 Henri Krug, the son of Paul II, joined the management, as did his brother Remi three years later. Their arrival was followed by a series of innovations, including extensions in the range of Champagnes. In 1979, for the first time, a graduate winemaker joined the House. In January 1999, the House became part of LVMH and by 2007, the brothers, while remaining on the tasting committee, had stepped down from day-to-day responsibilities. In 2009 Olivier Krug, the son of Henri, became House Director. At harvest, Krug grapes are pressed close to their plots with the first juice kept for 24 hours in a vat prepared for the fermentation stage. The pressing from each plot is vinified separately. A pressing contains 4,000 kilos of grapes and yields 20.5 hectolitres of first juice (cuvée), which is poured into twelve oak casks chosen at random. Once fermentation is complete, the eleventh and twelfth casks are used to top up the other ten casks in order to protect the new wines from oxidation. For fifteen days, each cask is topped up with wine from the same plot. Krug uses small 205 liter oak casks tailor-made from trees that are more than two centuries old in the forests of Hautes Futaies in Central France. The average age of Krug oak casks is 20 years. They are retired after approximately 40 years of use. The wines remain in the casks for several weeks. During this period, clarification occurs naturally from the cool temperature of the cellar given the coming winter, as does a micro-oxygenation process from the use of natural containers, making the wine more resistant to oxygen over time. Finally, between December and January, the wine is drawn off into small stainless-steel vats. From here, depending on the decisions of Krug’s tasting committee, the wines will either contribute to that year’s assemblage or be stored in steel vats in the House’s library of 150 reserve wines to be used in the blend of a future Krug Grande Cuvée and or Krug Rosé. — 7 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.5

Remi approves this loveliness — 9 years ago

Craig Haserot

Founder and Proprietor Sojourn Cellars

9.0

Honey, nice acid and no premox, which was a wow! — 10 years ago

Steven Foster

Wine buyer Belmont Wine Exchange

9.2

@Remi Barrett , hells yes. This is a pure gem of a zin. Super bold yet supple fruits. Not spicy at all. So rounded and mouth filling for a zin. Loved this. — 10 years ago

Julia Altenburger

10

Picnic in Paris — 10 years ago

Ryan Mullins

9.2

Remi photo bomb — 11 years ago

Brandi Morgan

10

I brought a few bottles back from France, this is the first one I'm enjoying. And I am enjoying it well :) but it is making me miss Remi & Pauline! — 12 years ago

Michael Piaker

9.0

22 November 2017. Vine Wine, Brooklyn, NY. — 7 years ago

Elizabeth Lenz

9.0

Liza likes, Remi doesn't — 8 years ago

Tourswede

9.1

Had this last year but something makes this one waay better. It's lively and phenomenal! — 8 years ago

Stanislav Lobanov

9.0

(16.5/20) Ароматы белого яблока, айвы, лимонной цедры, жаренного ореха и кремня. Довольно тельная с умеренной кислотностью. Меловая текстура. Во вкусе моченое яблоко, орехи и кремень. Очень неплохо. — 8 years ago

Matthew Walsh

9.1

Brut non vintage bought in Caves de Forum, Reims for €26 This was a really dry, focused champagne (brut nature zero dosage) appealing bright, rich and fruity. Vinous without losing it's champagne identity. Proof that accurate champagne can be produced in the marls of the Aube. — 9 years ago

Logan Brooks

9.0

Its funky and fruity and delicious #theproperpour — 9 years ago

Seth Morgen Long

Broker • Arterberry Maresh / Winemaker • Morgen Long

9.1

For the money, this way over delivers as does the Cremant from Remi Treuvey. Just slays. So mineral and precise. — 9 years ago

gino CapitalG

Round Pond Wine & Olive oil educator/sales

9.1

Thanks Remi for the tour it was a delight to taste your families quality Champs. — 10 years ago

Steven Foster

Wine buyer Belmont Wine Exchange

9.5

This was just a zin for aging. Wonderful Howell mountain fruit with a roundness. No acid or spice dominating just the perfect age on a perfect Zinfandel. Thanks to @Remi Barrett for this bottle! #zinfomaniacs @Brian Lamborn — 10 years ago

Sarah C

9.9

Gorgeous- this is the bottle Remi have me to take home from Brouillet. Love. — 11 years ago

Helen Keplinger

Owner/Winemaker Keplinger Wines

9.6

Remi I love you and your bubbles — 12 years ago

with Douglas, Claudio and 1 other

David L

9.3

Domaine Remi Jobard Sous La Velle Meursault. Color- Pale yellow Palate- Nose- Toasted almonds, vanilla. Palate- Ripe apple, light butter, hazelnut. Find acidity & well balanced. Needs about 15/20 minutes in the glass to open up. Drinking wonderfully now. @Mike R The group of us thoroughly enjoyed the wine. Once again thank you so much for this gift!! See you soon buddy! — 8 years ago

Elizabeth Lenz

9.0

Remi: "I like this wine" — 8 years ago

Angel Martinez

Brand ambassador GHMumm Spain, Wine reviewer www.theluxury.es"

9.4

Vino de jalapeños — 8 years ago

Mike Hathaway

9.2

Less overt raspberry / cranberry. More on the savory side. Little low in acid but still gorgeous. At Novel in KC. — 9 years ago

Leonardo Lepiane

9.2

Great value — 9 years ago

Jonathan Gray

9.1

Remi Jobard's wines keep getting better and better. I think this Bourgogne Blanc should shake some Mersault producers right off their laurels. — 9 years ago

Sara Nardi

9.5

I want to drink this all day every day. Currently trying... — 10 years ago

Denis Roudenko

8.9

16/20 (89/100) — 10 years ago

Julia Weinberg

9.4

Kicking off #ledeotbn just the way I like - with @Remi Cohen & riesling — 10 years ago

with Remi

Vasudev Vadlamudi

9.3

Leather, dark fruit, soft — 11 years ago

with Mike and Derick

Airi Amer

9.5

Chassagne-Montrachet "Morgeot", Premier Cru 2007 Jobard Chabloz J'ai acheté dans un magasin NICOLAS Paris Madeleine — 11 years ago

Nikita Krasnov

9.1

Remi likes — 12 years ago