Krug Collection 1996

Krug Collection 1996 offers a rare opportunity to experience one of Champagne’s most celebrated vintages with the added benefit of extended cellar ageing at the estate. Harvested in late September and disgorged at the end of 2023, this mature Brut combines remarkable freshness with developed, savoury complexity. Krug has deliberately retained selected bottles from certain vintages for later release since 1976, making Collection editions particularly compelling for collectors and lovers of aged Champagne.

Tasting Notes
The wine presents a luminous golden-yellow colour. Its mature bouquet is rich and layered, revealing gingerbread, espresso roast and dried apricot alongside quince and fragrant lemon oil. On the palate, it is medium- to full-bodied, structured and generously textured, with the pronounced, vintage-defining acidity of 1996 providing a firm backbone. A subtle, cultivated character leads into a saline finish marked by a delicate touch of lemon. Already drinking with considerable generosity, it is best enjoyed now, although its concentration and acidity should allow it to develop further in the near term under excellent storage conditions.

Production
The grapes were harvested in late September during the acclaimed 1996 Champagne vintage. After its initial maturation, selected bottles were held back by Krug for extended ageing before being disgorged at the end of 2023 with a dosage of 6 grams per litre. The late disgorgement gives the wine additional bottle-aged complexity while preserving the energetic freshness characteristic of the vintage. Specific vineyard and grape-variety details are not provided.

Food & Serving
Serve well chilled, ideally at around 10–12°C, in a tulip-shaped Champagne glass rather than a narrow flute to encourage the wine’s aromatic development. Its mature, savoury profile makes an excellent partner for roast poultry, veal, lobster, scallops, aged Comté or other refined hard cheeses, as well as dishes featuring mushrooms or lightly smoked flavours. Decanting is not essential, but a careful short decant—or allowing the wine to open in the glass—can reveal additional layers. As with any mature Champagne, pour gently and avoid excessive agitation.

Producer
Founded in Reims in 1843 by Johann-Joseph Krug, Krug has built its reputation on the pursuit of expressive, finely structured Champagnes made with an uncompromising focus on quality. The house is particularly renowned for its prestige cuvées and its meticulous approach to reserve wines, bottle ageing and blending. Its Collection releases reflect Krug’s long-term vision: selected bottles are kept in the cellars and released only when the house considers them ready to offer a different, more mature expression of the original vintage.

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