Krug Clos d'Ambonnay 1998

Aged in complete secrecy in Krug cellars for twelve years, this rarest of all Krug champagnes immediately affirmed its personality, with a sustained robe in brilliant gold, heightened by a splash of copper.

The nose of the Krug Clos d'Ambonnay resonates the body and character with delicate charm, providing a foretaste of the champagne's superb structure. The palate is deliciously fresh and dynamic, seducing with its richness and maturity, a magnificent harmony of brioche, grilled almonds, caramelized spices and luxuriant red fruit.

The finish is both elegant and infinite, the signature of a truly great wine and an unforgettable champagne.

Background Information:

When Johann-Joseph Krug founded the Krug champagne house in 1843, his dream was to give his name to nothing less than an exceptional champagne- a champagne with a taste all its own. To achieve this, he set himself a few rules, among which, first and foremost: never compromise on quality.

Six generations later, he would approve of his descendents' consistent commitment to excellence. Krug is one of very few champagnes houses that produce only premium blends. This commitment to only the best quality and Krug's unique expertise in champagne-making explain its worldwide reputation.

The wines are made from carefully selected Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier grapes. Krug is a guardian of Champagne tradition in still fermenting its wines in small oak barrels, which gives them an exceptional finesse.

Another signature of the Krug style, they are made to mature for at least 6 to 8 years, the reward of which is a distinctive complexity and the ability to age gracefully. Each year, the members of the Krug family blend the different wines that 6 or 8 years later will maintain the high quality and style of their predecessors. Truly exceptional years are consecrated vintage blends.

With methods that guarantee the production and blending of only exceptional champagne, its own 19-hectares vineyard, the quality of the 56 hectare vineyards the house buys its precious grapes from and its stock worth 7 years of production, no wonder Krug is the reference for premium champagnes.

Krug is an encounter, an experience, a revelation – and a collection of six extraordinary champagnes: Krug Grande Cuvee, Krug Rose, Krug Vintage, Krug Collection, Krug Clos du Mesnil and Krug Clos d'Ambonnay.

Following the release of Krug Clos du Mesnil—the only exception to Krug's blending rules, since it was made from a single grape variety, a single year and a single legendary vineyard—Henri and Rémi Krug set out on a quest for a second treasure, a vineyard with the potential to one day express the quintessential personality of another terroir cherished by Krug.

They finally found their jewel in the village of Ambonnay, whose elegant and refined Pinot Noir grapes have helped fashion the Krug style for generations.