KRUG Brut Vintage 2006 Bottle

Description

Krug Brut Vintage 2006 is a complex, generous Champagne marrying opulent fruit with crystalline precision and toasty depth. Deep straw with a faint gold sheen and fine persistent bead, it opens with pear, baked apple, nectarine and quince, then toasted brioche, roasted almond, hazelnut and warm spice; a mineral wet stone seam gives focus. Medium plus with a broad silk textured mid palate, ripe yellow apple, quince and lemon pith are supported by creamy pastry, marzipan and a subtle roast coffee note. Fine acidity and a saline mineral thread carry to a long, resonant finish. Approachable now yet long lived. Drink 2026 to 2045. Critics: Wine Advocate 97 "Complex and expressive"; Vinous 97 "Fabulous balance"; James Suckling 96 "Deep and layered."

ABOUT THIS CHAMPAGNE
Krug Brut Vintage 2006 is a complex and generous expression of the house style, combining opulent fruit with crystalline precision and the toasty depth that extended lees ageing confers. The colour is deep straw with a faint gold sheen and a persistent fine bead. The nose opens with ripe orchard fruit of pear and baked apple, moving to nectarine and honeyed quince; with aeration richer notes of toasted brioche, roasted almond and hazelnut unfold alongside warm spice, ginger and a faint saffron like savoury warmth. A distinct mineral clarity and a hint of wet stone underpin the aromatics, giving the wine focus.

On the palate the wine is medium plus in weight with a broad, silk textured mid palate and superb tension. Primary fruit of ripe yellow apple and pear sits against a bright seam of lemon pith and quince that keeps the profile fresh. The autolytic character from prolonged lees contact brings creamy pastry, toasted brioche and marzipan, while a subtle roast coffee and dark chocolate note adds depth on the finish. Fine, integrated acidity gives the wine drive and lift, and a saline mineral thread carries the flavours to a long resonant close with a lingering citrus and nutty echo.

The 2006 vintage produced grapes with generous ripeness and good natural acidity, and Krug’s meticulous blending and extended cellar time have translated that into a vintage with both immediacy and ageing potential. Approachable now, the wine will continue to develop further complexity over the next two decades as tertiary notes of dried honey, tea leaf and autumnal spice integrate.

Drink 2026 to 2045, peaking 2028 to 2038. Serve well chilled with lobster, seared scallops, caviar, smoked salmon blinis, roasted chicken with truffle, or with refined creamy cheeses. Krug 2006 rewards contemplation and pairs particularly well with dishes that mirror its nutty, toasty and saline complexity.

THE WINE ADVOCATE 97 points
Drink Date: 2020 - 2045
"Krug's superb 2006 Brut, which will be released this year, numbers among the vintage's high points, unfurling in the glass with a complex and expressive bouquet of tarte tatin, warm biscuits, ginger, honeycomb, dried white flowers, smoke and toasted nuts. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and textural, with a fleshy attack that reflects the warm vintage but segues into a beautifully vibrant palate that's deep and surprisingly reserved, displaying superb definition, delicately chalky structure and a long, lively finish. While this is a powerful vintage Krug, it's also beautifully balanced and will give immense pleasure for decades."