KRUG Brut Vintage 1988 Bottle (Gift Box)

Description

Krug 1988 exemplifies the house’s artistry, capturing a year of ideal conditions. It displays vibrant structure and bright acidity, with aromas of orange blossom, dry figs, ripe quince, and subtle spices like cinnamon and ginger. On the palate, it offers a full, textured experience with lively notes and a crystal-clear finish. Rich yet refined, it reflects decades of savoir-faire, balancing depth with finesse. Critics praised its complexity and ageworthiness: Wine Spectator awarded 98 points for its honeyed, ginger notes; The Wine Advocate echoed with another 98, highlighting its layered richness and searing finish. With a drinking window until 2030, Krug 1988 is a timeless treasure. Ideal with rich dishes like turbot hollandaise or creamy poultry, it showcases elegance and concentration in perfect harmony.

*****

At the House of Krug each Krug Vintage is crafted to be different, created to reveal the expression of a year’s specific character, captured uniquely as only the House of Krug can. Upright structure and the solid acidity not found in particularly hot years, Krug 1988 reveals sharp purity. In the mouth, it is full of sensations: orange blossom, dry figs, ripe quince, and mild spices such as cinnamon and ginger. With a crystal finish and lingering palate, Krug 1988 is a treasure trove of emblematic savoir-faire from the House of Krug.

WINE SPECTATOR 98 points
"A superb Champagne and still youthful. Honey, ginger, lemon confit, coffee and mineral aromas and flavors come to mind, all kept focused by a firm, tightly wound structure. The finish is where its pedigree shines through, lingering like warm gingerbread and coffee."

THE WINE ADVOCATE 98 points
Reviewed by: William Kelley
Drink Date: 2020 - 2040
Krug's 1988 Brut has long numbered among my very favorite vintages for this house, with the best bottles flirting with a three-digit score. Offering up complex aromas of apricot, citrus oil, candied peal, toasted brioche and honeycomb, it's full-bodied, concentrated and incisive, with a deep, layered and tightly wound core, racy acids and a searingly chalky finish. If on release the 1988 got less attention than the more immediate, head-turning 1990 and 1989 vintages, with time it is proving itself the most serious of those three consecutive releases.

DECANTER 98 points
Tasted by: Yohan Castaing (at Paris, 14 Sep 2020) Part of First taste: Krug’s 2006 releases
Drinking Window: 2020 - 2030
When Krug 1988 was first released, a few bottles remained stored in the Krug cellars to see how they aged. The result today is a bouquet of incredible complexity, a veritable spice box full of seductive scents including sandalwood, mocha, and leather as well as a waxy note. The palate is perfectly balanced with both ample flesh and breathtaking freshness, and a wide-ranging flavour and textural profile having elements of quince, candied fruit, and spices. A floral freshness takes the upper hand on the long finish of this supremely subtle and light-footed Champagne. Such a beguiling mix of youthful energy with eminent ageworthiness. Readers who can find the 1988 should not hesitate, as it is stellar.

JANCIS ROBINSON 19.5 points
2017-11-23 - Disgorged autumn 2005. First release. 50% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnay, 18% Pinot Meunier from 21 villages. 1988 alternated perfectly between heat and rain (until harvest which took place between 26 September and 6 October), a year without excesses that created the conditions for a slow maturation keeping a very high level of freshness. This wine, always seen as very backward, had not yet been released in the Krug Collection series.
Tasted blind. Deep tawny gold. Less concentrated on the nose than most. Medium weight with creamy mushroom-soup notes. A lovely, deep-flavoured wine. Not that young but with great intensity. Umami? Neat and clean. (JR)

VINOUS 97 points
Drinking Window: 2018 - 2038
Antonio Galloni, June 2018
The 1988 Krug makes for a fabulous start. Tasted from a perfect bottle, the 1988 remains bright and focused, with all of the energy of this great vintage very much on display. Time has naturally softened some of the contours and added a good bit of nuance, but the 1988 Krug remains a Champagne of crystalline precision. I loved it.

Grape Varieties: 50% Pinot Noir, 32% Chardonnnay, 18% Meunier
Ageing: 25 years on the lees
Disgorged: Spring 2015
Drink: Now to 2030+

Food Pairings - The delicacy, elegance and charm of Krug 1988 creates a delicious contrast with rich and unctuous dishes. Perfect with turbot in hollandaise sauce, bass in butter, chicken served with a cream sauce and desserts with a base of dried fruits. Both almonds and dishes bearing hints of vanilla would also be wonderful companions, enlivening the most daring of palates.