High-end Rhone Dinner at a friend's house. (Hollywood): Dark yellow gold color. Initially quite funky on the nose, but it blew off fairly quickly. Nose of ripe lemon, blood orange, apricots, mango and roasted nuts. Medium+ body, with really good acidity. Long finish.
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I swear these 1988 Krug Clos Du Mesnil are getting younger and younger 🤣
One of my favorite champagnes of all time, the last few have felt like they are re-emerging from their evolution and Benjamin Buttoning on us
This bottle was so focused and acid driven for the first couple of hours. While there were some aged notes of hazelnut and warm yellow fruit it seemed to be limited in comparison to the powerful and bright profile left by the acidity and texture. With air it started to all integrate more, but it definitely needed way more air than prior bottles to get there. By the end of the night it was a glorious integration of a champagne and the pinnacle of what these Krug Mesnil have to offer.
Usually with older bottles of Krug I find it needs oxygen to express itself from a closed state opposed to needing oxygen to tame itself.
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From a well preserved bottle purchased many years ago from Crush, the ‘88 Mesnil is definitely alive. Moderately dark color. A few straggly tiny bubbles when first poured and a bit of prickle. Lovely dark pit fruit flavor with a delicate touch of caramel. Perhaps more elegant the the standard ‘88 Krug but the difference becomes less as the wines enter old age. Holds up well. Interesting but not compelling.
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Maybe not the most perfect bottle, but still so much fun. Dark color, and seemingly tired aromatic start. But so rich and complex on palate, this brought together honeycomb, baked apple, underripe apple and so much more in an enticing combination.
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Not blind Awesome, sublime. This is champagne perfection. Yuzu and decent honey notes. Nearly no roasted aromas. So delicious elegant but the power is unbeatable. After 2 hours you still taste it. If you like young champagnes you drink it over the next 5 years. If you like older champagnes you have time for the next 20-30 years. Best vintage of cdm with 81 and 79. 100
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Clayfu's recent note is a perfect description of the bottle we had last night. Complexity, nutty oxidation, so intense. The 88 Mesnil is in a great place right now. Perfect bottle.
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Instant acid kick - tons of energy immediately racing across. A tinge of nutty oxidation follows along with it but it fully integrates into the complexity of the wine with air. That hint of nut gets mixed into a warm rich orchard fruit that's deep and persistent. The wine has presence and an all-encompassing saturation in your mouth. The acidity pulls in the reigns of it being too rich which takes it over the top from the 90 Mesnil for me.
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Cellared since release. Opens with a sigh, not a pop. Gold color, still some fine bubbles, incredible depth and richness, mature fruit but only minimal traces of oxidation, very complex and long. One of the top Champagnes I’ve ever had. Well cellared bottles should continue to drink well for at least a few more years, maybe we’ll beyond that. Outstanding.
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Only Krug Mesnil can achieve this level of sheer beauty at this age. Not at all a shy delicate flower, it impresses with its depth of flavor and perfect balance. No oxidation or fatigue just poised in its regal maturity. A modest spray of pinpoint bubbles gives it a prickle on the tongue. Catch it now before it slowly descends into the sunset.
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Disjointed with advancing aromatics but still searing levels of acidity. Clearly there are much better bottles out there. That said, my hit rate on this the past couple of years has been mixed so at 33 years old it just may be increasingly difficult to get bottles that hit the highs this wine has been capable of.
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Krug Clos du Mesnil – Complete Vertical 1979-2006 tasted blind (Singapore): The last flight was blessed with several “as good as it gets” bottles. Lightly oxidative nose with nutty flavors, dried fruit, orange peel. Rich and generous palate, may be at tad too rich for me but really impressive though. The group’s runner up in this flight. 98+
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Complete Vertical tasting of Clos du Mesnil en Magnum with Olivier Krug (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): Complete Clos du Mesnil Magnum tasting, all bottles opened 3 Hours before, not blind The most contravesary wine of the evening. Most of the participants preferred the also nearly perfect 1990 which was for the most more accessible and more charming. They "critized" the youthful acidity and it is not balanced. For me though too young it is perfection. Amazing elegance and concentration likewise. After six hours it started to show his beauty. For at least two more decades. 100
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Legends (MG): not blind This is/was my all time favorite champagne. Today the nose started cheesy but after half an hour it was getting better and better. Fresher, more focused with a great acidity. Typical honey and nut notes but Lemon zest dominated. I had this wine a bit fresher in the past. But the concentration is phenomenal. 97
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Just an eternal wine. Everything about this wine is sensational. An endless array of crushed rocks, minerals and citrus. The elegance is really in the texture. The wine has acquired an element of vinosity over the years, with the tiniest and finest of bubbles and simply extraordinary finesse. It is a wine of mind-blowing purity and breathtaking elegance.
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1988 Krug Mesnil (served blind) one of my favorite champagnes ever. Thanks to the generosity of the Maharaja cellar (insert other India related references and cellar) I’ve had the opportunity to have this bottling a few times and it is truly the most impressive champagne I have ever consumed. Especially great when consumed over @wine_cat ‘s Ted talks on how he would survive in prison as a small 5’7 Jewish man. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ But that was another occasion and this bottle is now. This was a great bottle of champagne but didn’t have the youthful vibrancy of the prior bottlings I’ve had. It still had a ton of energy and bold acidity but it didn’t have that extra boost of citrus push. But it was massively complex as the aged fruit notes started to show and they were still bold and rich. The wine had significant weight and presence. I finished two glasses of it before I finished one glass of anything else. Just drinking it I knew it had to be the 1988 by just how complete the wine was. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Just shows incredible the 88 is, even when it doesn’t show its best it’s still an amazing wine.
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This bottle was right in its sweet spot and firmly in its drinking window, appearing less advanced than the 1985. There was so much vibrancy and no real signs of oxidation. It had a beautiful golden color and persistent bubbles. The nose was a gorgeous mix of citrus, apple, toast, and brioche. The palate showed a great balance of roundness and crisp acidity. It paired perfectly with a salmon and truffle dish at Nobu. A perfect start to a great evening!
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This vintage of CdM is deep into its secondary stage and should be consumed fairly quickly in order to appreciate it best. Slightly dark color and modest fine mousse. The fragrance is complex and interesting with notes of rye and caraway, which I have never before detected in any vintage of CdM. Deep and full bodied, savory, graceful and sumptuous. Beautiful unique champagne. It no longer had that ethereal camomile perfume of younger versions but lovely all the same.
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From both bottle and magnum. Both purchased new on release and broken out of their original cases hours before. The bottle was intense and complex. With great depth of citrus and green apple fruits. It had some nuttiness and real volume and power. The magnum was fresher and sheer Champagne perfection. It had some notes of struck match and fine white peach. There was a hint of toast and truffle and it had layers of flavour, fabulous tension and drive and great citrus cut and length.
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More advanced flavors than the 85 Mesnil. More butterscotch and caramel. Some oxidation on the palate but not overly so. Lemon and Brioche. Still good acidity and balance. This was v good but out shined by the 85.
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Relative to the ‘85 this was more advanced and had darker fall spice notes to the browning yellow fruit. I liked this more than most people at dinner as I found the was a great deal of redeeming cinnamon and vanilla spice in the brioche in lieu of the brighter and fresher citrus you can still get in these old bubbles. ‘85 is a masterpiece, ‘96 a youthful classic, this seems to be slowing down but was still great.
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Is Krug Clos du Mesnil the most distinctive champagne in all of Gaul? As soon as you open the bottle, the intriguing aroma of camomile and vanilla wafts from the bottle. The creamy texture is most pleasing, the acidity is fine. And yet, and yet - the energy of this bottle, fine at first, faded quite a bit over a couple of hours, so maybe better to consume the ‘88 sooner rather than later.
Nose is great but the palate is on another lvl. Power elegance and finesse all in one. A perfect harmony. My constant question is for how long 5 , 10 yrs?
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World's Greatest - Night I (Eleven Madison Park): Somewhat oxidative nose, wet slate, lemon lime citrus, creamy. This is very subtle and elegant. More developed and ripe orchard fruit as opposed to intense citrus. Best of the three, '96, '90, '88. Beautifully fresh.
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Stunning Clos du Mesnil. Impeccably fresh and lively, incredibly elegant, graceful and harmonious. Delicate yet flavorful, fragrant of white flowers and baby powder. Held up very well in the glass for two hours at Nobu. The ne plus ultra of champagne.
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A complete vertical tating of Clos du Mesnil. Richard Juhlin joined as special guest. 16 participants. It was not a blind tasting, starting 2003 and ending up with 1979. My rating average was the second highest followed by RJ.
The overall Top 5: 1979, 1981, 1988, 1982, 1996 (1981 was rated 7 times at 1st place, 1979 only 3 times)
My Top 5: 1988, 1979, 1996, 1985 and 1981
Still a baby, Crispy acidity, great balance, wonderful structure, feels like a young wine, no oxidation, ripe yellow fruits, ripe yuzu with a great fruit sweetness reminding me to great Rieslings, a hint of honey and macadamia nuts, marzipan, my first champagne with a perfect rating, far away from his peak, a wine made for decades, 100
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Similar style as the standard cuvee, but more of everything; richness, depth, generousity, acidity and also delicacy. Extremely tight and focused. I don't see how a champagne, or a wine in general, can get better than this.
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A private tasting (Restaurant Behrens Am Kai *, Düsseldorf, Germany): Perfection. Perfect balance, perfect harmony, perfectly seamless, so fresh yet so complex, a perfect expression of vintage, vineyard and house style. Everything that Clos du Mesnil can be. Lives among the stars. A true vino da meditazione. Will age forever.
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At Christopher Constanceau. Beautiful texture, still has a sting from youthful acidity, layers of structure. This was an exceptional wine but still not showing all it has to offer.
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Very nice and enjoyable with some spice (?) and aged Champagne notes. I really liked this, though I think that I still preferred the ’96 Brut from the prior flight.
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Farve-a-thon 4.0: We started our Mesnil fight with 1988, which is always a star. Tonight's bottle was no exception, and took us to a step above where we had been in the vintage flight. Classy juice.
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Lemon rind, light white clay, faint vanilla, wine barrel must, bright brie rind, and chalk on the brilliant nose. Lemon pound cake and light vanilla cake to top it off on the palate. Gorgeous wine. Paired with sea scallops and cauliflower puree (with meyer lemon and brown butter which went perfectly with the wine). Pure, expressive and crystalline with crisp acidity as the wine warms.
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At first there's a beautiful rush of warm biscuit. Lively prickle of tiny bubbles. Good acidity, delicate yet flavorful. But there is a persistent note of sherry creeping into both nose and palate, so living on the edge. While still elegant and complex, based on this bottle, it may be beginning its descent into (too) old age.
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A small impromptu dinner - Bordeaux and Champagne (Washington D.C.): I had no idea that I had this wine almost ten years ago. It has developed beautifully. Just like the 90, very rich and ripe yet laser like precision. It once again reminded me a grave Blanc. As B noted, beguiling red fruits, apricots, anise, yeast, a hint of orange peel, light honey and mineral. Rich palate, beautifully layered fruits, rich sweet red fruit driven palate impression, perfect balance and precision and seamless long finish. Incredibly unique, so much red fruits to be a BdB. Incredibly richness and perfect precision.
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I've had this about 10 times over the past few years, and this is the first sub-par bottle. Lots of oxidation, so likely a heat or storage issue somewhere along the line. All good runs must come to an end.
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Superb! I was waiting for this. Citrus, pie dough, good fruit. Complex. It really developed in the glass with some air. Some butter aromas developed with time in the glass. More acidity than the '88 vintage. Very long…..98 pts.
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Even the lofty Clos du Mesnil can have a slightly off day. An excellent pop and mousse means this 24 year old was well stored. For the first couple of seconds I got a whiff of goat cheese but that evaporated immediately. Then, notes of dried apricot and unfortunately sherry took over. Lively on the palate but not as fresh as it should be at its best. We didn't even finish the bottle after giving Chef Dean a healthy pour.
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Colore dorato, perlage finissimo e molto denso, subito agrumi, spezie stile zafferano, cera d'api, miele e pandoro, poi arancia e limone. Dopo escono note floreali, quasi di panforte. Bocca austera e ricca insieme, lunghissima e potente, bella acidità ma quasi sovrastante. Nel tempo però il naso si ferma su una nota netta di fungo porcino misto a miele.
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Saturday Dinner.: I'd been looking forward to the 88, and it did not disappoint. The combination of sheer intensity along with its approachability is stunning. A nose to die for, and simply extraordinary champagne. And the best value for money of all the Krug CdM's IMHO.
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Un vino enorme, potente, persistente, pieno, grandissimo. Al naso erbe officinali e balsamico, roccioso. Molto più tagliente e dritto del 1990, anche se spaventosamente indietro e quindi molto meno esplosivo e più sottile, quasi cerebrale.
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It's usually a thrill to drink a CdM and this bottle was no exception. Fully mature as evidenced by the light gold color, open bouquet of peach skin, apricot and a hint of smoke. Modest mousse. Full body, luscious, complex, delicious. The pundits claim this is still young but I don't see that.
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This was the highlight of the holiday. The most vinous sparkling wine I've ever had....like Batard-Montrachet with bubbles. Caressed the mouth with delicate pear fruit folding into a rich vanilla and coffee-bean mousse...with a long and powerful finish. A special treat.
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Now I understand the hype re. Krug C. du M. Elegant in style with a beautiful mousse, rich feel in the mouth. May well improve over the next 3-5 years.
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Dan D's Home Coming (Chateau D Massive Stearns): Cork was a bit shrunken and all around a bit a gasp when she gave a small "pop" on opening. But after a quick wiff inside we knew all was well.
Fantasatic light golden color. Pear and almonds. Long deep finish. Still many years to come, acid in perfect balance. Amazing with bits of food, finish almost chokes you it is so deep and full.
Large bouqet, very well rounded.
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Light to medium yellow colour. Scents of popcicle and vitamin pills. Large bodied with a huge, powerful core of fruit. Superb structure and definition, with great purity, and a vivid, fresh and clean character. Nice and tight mousse with very small bubbles. This wine is a baby and was somewhat rejective in nature, but with unmistakeable, underlying greatness. Intense, yet light on its feet with a multi-dimensional complex, balanced and clean aftertaste. 96+ points
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Dinner at a Friend's house (Seoul, Korea): Beautiful champagne. Typical Krug, yeast and honey. Beautifully drinking, very intense yet not overwhelming. Apple and citrus very fine bubble, delicate.
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Wow! This is one of those wines that screams Greatness from the moment your nose goes into the glass. Fairly pale. Beautiful, persistent mousse. Nose > Powerful, elegant, complex, ethereal. Lime-flesh, lime-oil, grape-blossom, white flowers & limestone essence (whatever that is) up front. Just an otherworldly Cotes des Blancs nose. Underneath is fresh cream, fresh bread (no toast), & lees (To yeasts who had to die; We salute you!) Palate > Insanely fresh Cotes des Blancs Chardonnay. Amazing intensity & length. The intensity making it seem at once both linear & round. A sort of crushed rock, limestone, lime-oil/lime-flesh, petrichor, honeysuckle-sap, lemon-cream essence of Cotes des Blancs. With beautiful leesy cream, & a touch of steely honey giving an undertow to the intense, elegant power of the raw material. Power, intensity, elegance & length go to eleven here. I usually don't wonder what the dry extract of Champagne is, but I wonder here ... Great, ripe, integrated acidity. Extended finish & aftertaste. That typical Krug house style, little bit of barrel/honey/oxidation almost completely subsumed by the brilliant heaven that filled the glass. This put a Killer '85 Bollinger R.D. that preceded it quite into the shade. Again, Wow!
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3/26/2024 - jfpwine Likes this wine: 94 Points
High-end Rhone Dinner at a friend's house. (Hollywood): Dark yellow gold color. Initially quite funky on the nose, but it blew off fairly quickly. Nose of ripe lemon, blood orange, apricots, mango and roasted nuts. Medium+ body, with really good acidity. Long finish.
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1/28/2024 - aquacongas wrote: 100 Points
Krug Lover Dinner with Olivier Krug (Daniel Dal Ban 1876 (Tafelspitz) Düsseldorf): not blind
One of my top 3 all time champagnes ever. from a great cellar. Still young. Lemon peel, saline. fresh and precise. At least 10 more years. 100
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10/24/2023 - clayfu wrote:
I swear these 1988 Krug Clos Du Mesnil are getting younger and younger 🤣
One of my favorite champagnes of all time, the last few have felt like they are re-emerging from their evolution and Benjamin Buttoning on us
This bottle was so focused and acid driven for the first couple of hours. While there were some aged notes of hazelnut and warm yellow fruit it seemed to be limited in comparison to the powerful and bright profile left by the acidity and texture. With air it started to all integrate more, but it definitely needed way more air than prior bottles to get there. By the end of the night it was a glorious integration of a champagne and the pinnacle of what these Krug Mesnil have to offer.
Usually with older bottles of Krug I find it needs oxygen to express itself from a closed state opposed to needing oxygen to tame itself.
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7/17/2023 - sdr Likes this wine: 92 Points
From a well preserved bottle purchased many years ago from Crush, the ‘88 Mesnil is definitely alive. Moderately dark color. A few straggly tiny bubbles when first poured and a bit of prickle. Lovely dark pit fruit flavor with a delicate touch of caramel. Perhaps more elegant the the standard ‘88 Krug but the difference becomes less as the wines enter old age. Holds up well. Interesting but not compelling.
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4/13/2023 - Burgundy Al wrote: 93 Points
Maybe not the most perfect bottle, but still so much fun. Dark color, and seemingly tired aromatic start. But so rich and complex on palate, this brought together honeycomb, baked apple, underripe apple and so much more in an enticing combination.
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9/16/2022 - aquacongas wrote: 100 Points
Not blind
Awesome, sublime. This is champagne perfection. Yuzu and decent honey notes. Nearly no roasted aromas. So delicious elegant but the power is unbeatable. After 2 hours you still taste it. If you like young champagnes you drink it over the next 5 years. If you like older champagnes you have time for the next 20-30 years. Best vintage of cdm with 81 and 79. 100
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4/6/2022 - BradE wrote:
Clayfu's recent note is a perfect description of the bottle we had last night. Complexity, nutty oxidation, so intense. The 88 Mesnil is in a great place right now. Perfect bottle.
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3/28/2022 - clayfu wrote:
Instant acid kick - tons of energy immediately racing across. A tinge of nutty oxidation follows along with it but it fully integrates into the complexity of the wine with air. That hint of nut gets mixed into a warm rich orchard fruit that's deep and persistent. The wine has presence and an all-encompassing saturation in your mouth. The acidity pulls in the reigns of it being too rich which takes it over the top from the 90 Mesnil for me.
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3/11/2022 - dbg wrote:
Cellared since release. Opens with a sigh, not a pop. Gold color, still some fine bubbles, incredible depth and richness, mature fruit but only minimal traces of oxidation, very complex and long. One of the top Champagnes I’ve ever had. Well cellared bottles should continue to drink well for at least a few more years, maybe we’ll beyond that. Outstanding.
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10/31/2021 - nash151 Likes this wine: 100 Points
This wine is indestructible. Still the champagne closest to my idea of perfection. Emotional resonance.
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5/29/2021 - sdr Likes this wine: 96 Points
Only Krug Mesnil can achieve this level of sheer beauty at this age. Not at all a shy delicate flower, it impresses with its depth of flavor and perfect balance. No oxidation or fatigue just poised in its regal maturity. A modest spray of pinpoint bubbles gives it a prickle on the tongue. Catch it now before it slowly descends into the sunset.
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3/20/2021 - bill00 wrote:
Disjointed with advancing aromatics but still searing levels of acidity. Clearly there are much better bottles out there. That said, my hit rate on this the past couple of years has been mixed so at 33 years old it just may be increasingly difficult to get bottles that hit the highs this wine has been capable of.
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3/10/2021 - Collector1855 wrote: 98 Points
Krug Clos du Mesnil – Complete Vertical 1979-2006 tasted blind (Singapore): The last flight was blessed with several “as good as it gets” bottles. Lightly oxidative nose with nutty flavors, dried fruit, orange peel. Rich and generous palate, may be at tad too rich for me but really impressive though. The group’s runner up in this flight. 98+
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1/2/2021 - Tony Ling Likes this wine: 96 Points
2021 New Year's Celebration Tasting (Private Cellar): PNP into Zalto Burgundy glass ("Fruit" day): Deep golden to the eyes. Brilliant colours.
Very elegant but ultra ethereal notes with stone fruits like apricots. Emerging caramel and Golden citrus fruits like grapefruits. Deep.
Just perfect palate for a Champagne? Incredibly well integrated with bright acidity and tons of minerality that lengthens the finish.
Wow. 96 points. Reserved for observations.
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9/20/2020 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 100 Points
Complete Vertical tasting of Clos du Mesnil en Magnum with Olivier Krug (Berens am Kai 1 star Restaurant): Complete Clos du Mesnil Magnum tasting, all bottles opened 3 Hours before, not blind
The most contravesary wine of the evening. Most of the participants preferred the also nearly perfect 1990 which was for the most more accessible and more charming. They "critized" the youthful acidity and it is not balanced. For me though too young it is perfection. Amazing elegance and concentration likewise. After six hours it started to show his beauty. For at least two more decades. 100
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4/18/2020 - aquacongas wrote: 97 Points
Legends (MG): not blind
This is/was my all time favorite champagne. Today the nose started cheesy but after half an hour it was getting better and better. Fresher, more focused with a great acidity. Typical honey and nut notes but Lemon zest dominated. I had this wine a bit fresher in the past. But the concentration is phenomenal. 97
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4/4/2020 - TinMan Likes this wine: 92 Points
Used up. Still, amazingly, very fine effervescence. The wine is done and past. I feel bad but it is what it is.
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1/31/2020 - BradE wrote:
A rare bottle of 88 Mesnil that was "very good" vs outstanding. Showing less fresh than typical. Again, very good.
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1/31/2020 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
DRC in AZ - Tucson Comes to Scottsdale: The aroma was quite sherried, but the palate was spot on. Impressive.
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11/10/2019 - bartgab Likes this wine: 97 Points
Just an eternal wine. Everything about this wine is sensational. An endless array of crushed rocks, minerals and citrus. The elegance is really in the texture. The wine has acquired an element of vinosity over the years, with the tiniest and finest of bubbles and simply extraordinary finesse. It is a wine of mind-blowing purity and breathtaking elegance.
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10/14/2019 - clayfu wrote:
1988 Krug Mesnil (served blind) one of my favorite champagnes ever. Thanks to the generosity of the Maharaja cellar (insert other India related references and cellar) I’ve had the opportunity to have this bottling a few times and it is truly the most impressive champagne I have ever consumed. Especially great when consumed over @wine_cat ‘s Ted talks on how he would survive in prison as a small 5’7 Jewish man.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
But that was another occasion and this bottle is now. This was a great bottle of champagne but didn’t have the youthful vibrancy of the prior bottlings I’ve had. It still had a ton of energy and bold acidity but it didn’t have that extra boost of citrus push. But it was massively complex as the aged fruit notes started to show and they were still bold and rich. The wine had significant weight and presence. I finished two glasses of it before I finished one glass of anything else. Just drinking it I knew it had to be the 1988 by just how complete the wine was.
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
Just shows incredible the 88 is, even when it doesn’t show its best it’s still an amazing wine.
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2/17/2019 - BradE wrote:
Showing a touch of oxidation, but nonetheless a great bottle of champagne.
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1/8/2019 - BradE wrote:
Close to perfection. Nice acidity, great intensity. Love this champagne.
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1/5/2019 - DrinkBordeaux wrote: 95 Points
This bottle was right in its sweet spot and firmly in its drinking window, appearing less advanced than the 1985. There was so much vibrancy and no real signs of oxidation. It had a beautiful golden color and persistent bubbles. The nose was a gorgeous mix of citrus, apple, toast, and brioche. The palate showed a great balance of roundness and crisp acidity. It paired perfectly with a salmon and truffle dish at Nobu. A perfect start to a great evening!
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1/5/2019 - sdr Likes this wine: 93 Points
This vintage of CdM is deep into its secondary stage and should be consumed fairly quickly in order to appreciate it best. Slightly dark color and modest fine mousse. The fragrance is complex and interesting with notes of rye and caraway, which I have never before detected in any vintage of CdM. Deep and full bodied, savory, graceful and sumptuous. Beautiful unique champagne. It no longer had that ethereal camomile perfume of younger versions but lovely all the same.
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10/14/2018 - aquacongas wrote: flawed
The best 88 Champagnes from 1988 Part 3/3 Prestige Cuvees from Magnum (L'assiette champenois): Regular bottle, not blind
Unfortunately a bit oxidized, missing depth, length and concentration
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8/13/2018 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
From both bottle and magnum. Both purchased new on release and broken out of their original cases hours before. The bottle was intense and complex. With great depth of citrus and green apple fruits. It had some nuttiness and real volume and power. The magnum was fresher and sheer Champagne perfection. It had some notes of struck match and fine white peach. There was a hint of toast and truffle and it had layers of flavour, fabulous tension and drive and great citrus cut and length.
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8/4/2018 - Kemo Sabe Likes this wine: 94 Points
More advanced flavors than the 85 Mesnil. More butterscotch and caramel. Some oxidation on the palate but not overly so. Lemon and Brioche. Still good acidity and balance. This was v good but out shined by the 85.
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8/2/2018 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 95 Points
Relative to the ‘85 this was more advanced and had darker fall spice notes to the browning yellow fruit. I liked this more than most people at dinner as I found the was a great deal of redeeming cinnamon and vanilla spice in the brioche in lieu of the brighter and fresher citrus you can still get in these old bubbles. ‘85 is a masterpiece, ‘96 a youthful classic, this seems to be slowing down but was still great.
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3/1/2018 - BradE wrote:
Close to perfection.
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12/19/2017 - sdr Likes this wine: 93 Points
Is Krug Clos du Mesnil the most distinctive champagne in all of Gaul? As soon as you open the bottle, the intriguing aroma of camomile and vanilla wafts from the bottle. The creamy texture is most pleasing, the acidity is fine. And yet, and yet - the energy of this bottle, fine at first, faded quite a bit over a couple of hours, so maybe better to consume the ‘88 sooner rather than later.
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11/19/2017 - fatboi Likes this wine:
Nose is great but the palate is on another lvl. Power elegance and finesse all in one. A perfect harmony. My constant question is for how long 5 , 10 yrs?
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8/1/2017 - BradE wrote:
Simply fantastic. One of my favorite all time Champagnes.
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5/11/2017 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 96 Points
World's Greatest - Night I (Eleven Madison Park): Somewhat oxidative nose, wet slate, lemon lime citrus, creamy. This is very subtle and elegant. More developed and ripe orchard fruit as opposed to intense citrus. Best of the three, '96, '90, '88. Beautifully fresh.
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5/11/2017 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 95 Points
Golden pear nose. Both the nose and palate took on more depth with air time. Sightly more advanced than the best bottles. 95-96
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4/9/2016 - BradE wrote:
This was gorgeous as always. Loved it.
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12/5/2015 - sdr Likes this wine: 97 Points
Stunning Clos du Mesnil. Impeccably fresh and lively, incredibly elegant, graceful and harmonious. Delicate yet flavorful, fragrant of white flowers and baby powder. Held up very well in the glass for two hours at Nobu. The ne plus ultra of champagne.
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12/5/2015 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 100 Points
A complete vertical tating of Clos du Mesnil. Richard Juhlin joined as special guest. 16 participants. It was not a blind tasting, starting 2003 and ending up with 1979. My rating average was the second highest followed by RJ.
The overall Top 5: 1979, 1981, 1988, 1982, 1996 (1981 was rated 7 times at 1st place, 1979 only 3 times)
My Top 5: 1988, 1979, 1996, 1985 and 1981
Still a baby, Crispy acidity, great balance, wonderful structure, feels like a young wine, no oxidation, ripe yellow fruits, ripe yuzu with a great fruit sweetness reminding me to great Rieslings, a hint of honey and macadamia nuts, marzipan, my first champagne with a perfect rating, far away from his peak, a wine made for decades, 100
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10/31/2015 - AudunG wrote: 100 Points
Similar style as the standard cuvee, but more of everything; richness, depth, generousity, acidity and also delicacy. Extremely tight and focused. I don't see how a champagne, or a wine in general, can get better than this.
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10/30/2015 - Xavier Auerbach wrote: 100 Points
A private tasting (Restaurant Behrens Am Kai *, Düsseldorf, Germany): Perfection. Perfect balance, perfect harmony, perfectly seamless, so fresh yet so complex, a perfect expression of vintage, vineyard and house style. Everything that Clos du Mesnil can be. Lives among the stars. A true vino da meditazione. Will age forever.
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10/21/2015 - Burgundy Al wrote: flawed
Some Wine Tasted at the Zachys Auction (Four Seasons Restaurant - New York NY): I wanted to cry. Slightly corked.
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8/28/2015 - Alex G. Likes this wine:
Rich, with secondary nuances and primary pear fruit.
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8/27/2015 - Russell Faulkner wrote:
At Christopher Constanceau.
Beautiful texture, still has a sting from youthful acidity, layers of structure. This was an exceptional wine but still not showing all it has to offer.
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7/10/2015 - mjg87 wrote:
Very nice and enjoyable with some spice (?) and aged Champagne notes. I really liked this, though I think that I still preferred the ’96 Brut from the prior flight.
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7/10/2015 - BradE wrote:
Farve-a-thon 4.0: We started our Mesnil fight with 1988, which is always a star. Tonight's bottle was no exception, and took us to a step above where we had been in the vintage flight. Classy juice.
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4/23/2015 - BradE wrote:
A great bottle that for me was WOTN.
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4/22/2015 - tinybubbles Likes this wine: 97 Points
Lemon rind, light white clay, faint vanilla, wine barrel must, bright brie rind, and chalk on the brilliant nose. Lemon pound cake and light vanilla cake to top it off on the palate. Gorgeous wine. Paired with sea scallops and cauliflower puree (with meyer lemon and brown butter which went perfectly with the wine). Pure, expressive and crystalline with crisp acidity as the wine warms.
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3/1/2015 - rnellans wrote: 96 Points
Citrus, pear, dough, toast, citrus, good acid, spice. Floral , big palate.
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11/29/2014 - sdr Likes this wine: 92 Points
At first there's a beautiful rush of warm biscuit. Lively prickle of tiny bubbles. Good acidity, delicate yet flavorful. But there is a persistent note of sherry creeping into both nose and palate, so living on the edge. While still elegant and complex, based on this bottle, it may be beginning its descent into (too) old age.
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8/13/2014 - dcwino wrote: 99 Points
A small impromptu dinner - Bordeaux and Champagne (Washington D.C.): I had no idea that I had this wine almost ten years ago. It has developed beautifully. Just like the 90, very rich and ripe yet laser like precision. It once again reminded me a grave Blanc. As B noted, beguiling red fruits, apricots, anise, yeast, a hint of orange peel, light honey and mineral. Rich palate, beautifully layered fruits, rich sweet red fruit driven palate impression, perfect balance and precision and seamless long finish. Incredibly unique, so much red fruits to be a BdB. Incredibly richness and perfect precision.
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2/25/2014 - BradE wrote:
Italian Lunch: A beautiful bottle of 88 Krug Mesnil. This continues to be reference standard Champagne.
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6/8/2013 - BradE wrote:
Absolutely gorgeous. These bottles are stunning when they are on.
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5/25/2013 - BradE wrote:
I've had this about 10 times over the past few years, and this is the first sub-par bottle. Lots of oxidation, so likely a heat or storage issue somewhere along the line. All good runs must come to an end.
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1/20/2013 - BradE wrote:
Rock solid, and simply spectacular.
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10/11/2012 - BradE wrote:
Utterly perfect.
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9/25/2012 - rnellans wrote: 98 Points
Superb! I was waiting for this. Citrus, pie dough, good fruit. Complex. It really developed in the glass with some air. Some butter aromas developed with time in the glass. More acidity than the '88 vintage. Very long…..98 pts.
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9/22/2012 - BradE wrote:
A very good bottle, but an A performance from an A+ champagne.
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5/19/2012 - sdr Likes this wine: 88 Points
Even the lofty Clos du Mesnil can have a slightly off day. An excellent pop and mousse means this 24 year old was well stored. For the first couple of seconds I got a whiff of goat cheese but that evaporated immediately. Then, notes of dried apricot and unfortunately sherry took over. Lively on the palate but not as fresh as it should be at its best. We didn't even finish the bottle after giving Chef Dean a healthy pour.
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4/20/2012 - BradE wrote:
Really, really good. This is an amazing Champagne.
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3/6/2012 - BradE wrote:
One experienced taster commented tonight: Best champagne I've ever had. Enough said. Killer.
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1/13/2012 - BradE wrote:
Sadly, corked.
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12/5/2011 - Le Musigny wrote:
Ass the Cardinal say's "I would never turn down a bottle of 88 Krug". Another stellar bottle.
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7/13/2011 - Le Musigny wrote:
Great bottle. KOC claims this is the greatest Krug CDM made and we will see if the 96 betters it in time.
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2/12/2011 - Jossik wrote: 95 Points
Colore dorato, perlage finissimo e molto denso, subito agrumi, spezie stile zafferano, cera d'api, miele e pandoro, poi arancia e limone. Dopo escono note floreali, quasi di panforte. Bocca austera e ricca insieme, lunghissima e potente, bella acidità ma quasi sovrastante. Nel tempo però il naso si ferma su una nota netta di fungo porcino misto a miele.
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12/8/2010 - BradE wrote:
An absolute rock star. I love all the 88 Krugs, and this is simply a staggering bottle of champagne.
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10/10/2010 - BradE wrote:
Saturday Dinner.: I'd been looking forward to the 88, and it did not disappoint. The combination of sheer intensity along with its approachability is stunning. A nose to die for, and simply extraordinary champagne. And the best value for money of all the Krug CdM's IMHO.
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7/2/2010 - Jossik wrote: 98 Points
Un vino enorme, potente, persistente, pieno, grandissimo. Al naso erbe officinali e balsamico, roccioso. Molto più tagliente e dritto del 1990, anche se spaventosamente indietro e quindi molto meno esplosivo e più sottile, quasi cerebrale.
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6/10/2010 - sdr Likes this wine: 94 Points
It's usually a thrill to drink a CdM and this bottle was no exception. Fully mature as evidenced by the light gold color, open bouquet of peach skin, apricot and a hint of smoke. Modest mousse. Full body, luscious, complex, delicious. The pundits claim this is still young but I don't see that.
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12/24/2007 - jheathw wrote: 99 Points
This was the highlight of the holiday. The most vinous sparkling wine I've ever had....like Batard-Montrachet with bubbles. Caressed the mouth with delicate pear fruit folding into a rich vanilla and coffee-bean mousse...with a long and powerful finish. A special treat.
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7/27/2007 - tacman wrote: 98 Points
Now I understand the hype re. Krug C. du M. Elegant in style with a beautiful mousse, rich feel in the mouth. May well improve over the next 3-5 years.
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5/5/2007 - tplskylrk wrote: 100 Points
Dan D's Home Coming (Chateau D Massive Stearns): Cork was a bit shrunken and all around a bit a gasp when she gave a small "pop" on opening. But after a quick wiff inside we knew all was well.
Fantasatic light golden color. Pear and almonds. Long deep finish. Still many years to come, acid in perfect balance. Amazing with bits of food, finish almost chokes you it is so deep and full.
Large bouqet, very well rounded.
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2/10/2007 - nash151 wrote: 100 Points
Pure perfection. So vinous. The nose is huge. Never ending length. The best wine I've ever tasted. I can't imagine a better wine.
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6/18/2004 - Joe Belmaati wrote: 96 Points
Light to medium yellow colour. Scents of popcicle and vitamin pills. Large bodied with a huge, powerful core of fruit. Superb structure and definition, with great purity, and a vivid, fresh and clean character. Nice and tight mousse with very small bubbles. This wine is a baby and was somewhat rejective in nature, but with unmistakeable, underlying greatness. Intense, yet light on its feet with a multi-dimensional complex, balanced and clean aftertaste. 96+ points
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5/1/2004 - dcwino wrote: 96 Points
Dinner at a Friend's house (Seoul, Korea): Beautiful champagne. Typical Krug, yeast and honey. Beautifully drinking, very intense yet not overwhelming. Apple and citrus very fine bubble, delicate.
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6/15/2000 - Rob Hansult Likes this wine: 99 Points
Wow!
This is one of those wines that screams Greatness from the moment your nose goes into the glass.
Fairly pale. Beautiful, persistent mousse.
Nose > Powerful, elegant, complex, ethereal. Lime-flesh, lime-oil, grape-blossom, white flowers & limestone essence (whatever that is) up front. Just an otherworldly Cotes des Blancs nose. Underneath is fresh cream, fresh bread (no toast), & lees (To yeasts who had to die; We salute you!)
Palate > Insanely fresh Cotes des Blancs Chardonnay. Amazing intensity & length. The intensity making it seem at once both linear & round. A sort of crushed rock, limestone, lime-oil/lime-flesh, petrichor, honeysuckle-sap, lemon-cream essence of Cotes des Blancs. With beautiful leesy cream, & a touch of steely honey giving an undertow to the intense, elegant power of the raw material. Power, intensity, elegance & length go to eleven here. I usually don't wonder what the dry extract of Champagne is, but I wonder here ... Great, ripe, integrated acidity. Extended finish & aftertaste. That typical Krug house style, little bit of barrel/honey/oxidation almost completely subsumed by the brilliant heaven that filled the glass.
This put a Killer '85 Bollinger R.D. that preceded it quite into the shade.
Again, Wow!
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