The House of Krug is delighted to present Krug Clos du Mesnil 2006 to honour the year 2006

The year 2006 was considered a hot one in Champagne, with extreme highs and 23 days recorded over 30°C. It was a capricious climate that went from dry periods to intense rainfall, and in August, the equivalent of 2 months of rain fell within only 2 weeks. The sun returned to complete the ripening period, shining on a beautiful harvest. The natural harvest showed beautifully mature generous grapes with a balance similar to those of 2002 and 1989, making the year 2006 an exceptional one.

KRUG CLOS DU MESNIL 2006: THE SOLOIST

Krug’s Clos du Mesnil perpetuates the nonconformist spirit of Joseph Krug, founder of the House of Krug. It epitomises the House’s singular approach to Champagne making, which involves an in-depth knowledge of each plot and its individual wine, in order to create a Champagne of the undisputed quality envisioned by the founder.

The Krug Clos du Mesnil 2006 is the result of a single grape variety, a single year, and a single historic vineyard that has been protected by walls since 1698 and is located in the heart of Mesnil-sur-Oger, one of the most iconic villages for Chardonnay in the Champagne region. The highly unique circumstances of 2006 lent the year’s grapes a rare beauty and poise, which expresses the music of this 1.84-hectare walled plot. The House of Krug chose to create Krug Clos du Mesnil 2006 with the promise of revealing the full potential of this walled plot of vines (clos in French) of a single grape variety – Chardonnay – from a single year, 2006.

At first sight, Krug Clos du Mesnil 2006 emits a vibrant luminosity and an intense golden colour redolent of ripe wheat. On the nose, savour delicate aromas of citrus, barley sugar, and dried fruits with balance and freshness. On the palate, the wine is generous and round with beautiful intensity, with initial hints of madeleine cake and brioche that give way to notes of pastry, tarte tain, lemon meringue, bitter orange, and some spice. The finish is long, with great tension and notes of candied ginger.

Krug Clos du Mesnil 2006 pairs beautifully with fish or shellfish dishes such as fillet of flounder in saffron sauce, zander with beurre blanc, seared scallops, or tuna carpaccio. It may also be enjoyed with delicately flavoured meat dishes such as a classical blanquette de veau, or French veal ragu.