Description
Winemaker Notes
At Krug, every vintage is crafted to celebrate the distinctive character of a particular year. The 2011 Brut is so opulent yet crisp, the House’s Tasting Committee nicknamed this Champagne “Spirited Roundness.”
A nose of white fruits give way to tangy star fruit and citrus followed by nuances of licorice and basil leaf. In an interplay of delightful contrast, this Champagne opens with enveloping roundness of pastry and stewed fruit. These give way to a hint of smokiness and herbs on the palate. As if by surprise, the chiselled finish lingers with salivating notes sea salt and grapefruit zest.
This Vintage will pair deliciously with spicy dishes, grilled meats such as Greek brochettes, shellfish with character, and mouth-watering desserts.
Blend: 46% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay, 17% Pinot Meunier
Professional Ratings
100Tasting Panel
Especially given the difficulties of the vintage, this blend of 46% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay, and 17% Meunier is a triumph: at once majestic and incredibly soulful. Aromas of hazelnut praline, light-roast coffee, truffle, and potpourri entrance as they enhance the golden apple and pear at the core of both nose and palate, where gorgeous, sweeping, lemony acidity hones an almost brown-buttery roundness amid hints of Brazil nut, jellied tangerine, and pink peppercorn. Chalky, yeasty, and zesty by turns, the finish is near-endless.
98James Suckling
It shows reserved character but with a lot of energy and tension. Concentrated citrus fruit, candied lemons and mandarin peel with hints of savory herbs and spices. Notes of brioche and caraway seeds. Full-bodied, complex and nervy on the palate. It has fine, silky bubbles yet it’s structured and firm with a lot of power. It builds up on the finish with freshness and vibrancy.
97Jeb Dunnuck
Because 2011 was a challenging vintage for Champagne, it would be very easy to over-generalize, as many readers may have had less than ideal experiences elsewhere. But Krug’s 2011 Champagne Millesime Brut is not your average Champagne. With a rounded nose, it pours a medium golden straw hue and is creamy with aromas of orange blossoms, custard, fresh pear, hazelnut, and delicate smoky incense. Medium to full-bodied and refined on the palate, it has a rounded and pristine profile, with ripe, balanced fruit floating through the palate, a pinpoint mousse, and a delicate hint of almond skin on the finish that I would expect to become more pronounced with age. Following the more tension-driven vintage of 2008, which was characterized by a more high-toned and lemon-tinged profile, this wine will be accessible sooner (probably also the case for the future release of 2012) and will undoubtedly provide an open window for drinking over the coming 15 to 20 years. Drink 2028-2048.
97Wine Spectator
There’s an exuberant appeal to this vivid, fragrant Champagne, with wafts of lime blossoms, cardamom, ground coffee and anise aromatics finely layered with flavors of crushed black cherry, glazed tangerine and grilled nut that show a streak of salinity. Yet this reveals its true class with the deft integration of rich flavors with chiseled acidity and refined, plush texture. Long and seamless, this is not just a catchy tune but a maestro conducting a symphony. Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay.
94Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
Ahead of their respective releases, few would have anticipated the 2011 Brut to turn out better than the 2008—still less so from a house like Krug—yet few would argue against it when tasting the two side by side. Disgorged at the end of 2022 with a dosage of five grams per liter, the wine unfurls in the glass with a bouquet evocative of lemon confit, nectarine and nashi pear mingled with hints of quince and warm bread overlaid with a delicate toasty patina. On the palate, it is medium-bodied and incisive, with electric acids, a pretty pinpoint mousse and a long, intensely saline, lemon-tinged finish. In some respects akin to the 2013, albeit less structured and authoritative, it derives from a fresher, higher-acid vintage, contrasting with the more aromatically demonstrative and textural 2006, and presents itself as somewhat more balanced than the 2008.
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