In the glass
Aroma: lemon, white flowers, chalk, mature Chablis nuance
Palate: saline minerality, citrus pith, dense extract, crystalline length
A single walled-vineyard Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs of intense purity: bone-dry, dense and saline with crystalline brightness and Krug's intellectual austerity.
What it pairs with
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Oysters
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Bone-dry saline drive and chalk meet the brine of raw oysters head-on. -
Turbot in beurre blanc
Crystalline acidity slices the butter; chalk mirrors the white fish. -
Sushi and sashimi
Saline precision flatters delicate raw fish.
How to serve Krug Clos du Mesnil
Allow 5 minutes from open to pour.
- Open and pour. Open and pour directly. No decanting required for this style.
- Serve at 6-8°C. Cellar temperature (6-8°C) is the band for this style. Warmer pushes alcohol forward; colder dampens aromatics.
- Glassware. Use a tulip flute. A tulip shape rewards the bouquet better than a narrow flute and frames the wine's structure.
- Pair with. Oysters, Turbot in beurre blanc, Sushi and sashimi. Match the wine's structure to the dish's fat and salt.
History
Krug bottled the first vintage of its single 1.84-hectare walled Le Mesnil-sur-Oger vineyard in 1979, releasing it as a vintage-dated Blanc de Blancs that became one of the rarest wines in Champagne.
- 1979 — First vintage of the single-vineyard Clos du Mesnil
Facts
- Producer
- Krug
- Grapes
- Chardonnay (100%)
- Classification
- AOC Champagne
- Oak
- Oak-cask fermentation, single walled-vineyard Chardonnay aged long on lees
- ABV
- 12.0%
- Price
- EUR 1000 to 1800 at retail
- Drinking window
- 10 to 40 from vintage
- First vintage
- 1979
Scores
- Vinous 97 (2008 vintage, reviewed 2020)
Frequently asked about Krug Clos du Mesnil
What does Krug Clos du Mesnil taste like?
On the nose, lemon, white flowers, chalk, mature Chablis nuance. On the palate, saline minerality, citrus pith, dense extract, crystalline length. Structurally full-bodied, racy acidity with a long finish. A single walled-vineyard Le Mesnil Blanc de Blancs of intense purity: bone-dry, dense and saline with crystalline brightness and Krug's intellectual austerity.
When should I drink Krug Clos du Mesnil?
Drink 10 to 40 from vintage. Young vintages benefit from 30-90 minutes of decanting; mature bottles should be handled carefully for sediment.
What food pairs with Krug Clos du Mesnil?
Oysters is the canonical pairing. Other strong matches include Turbot in beurre blanc and Sushi and sashimi. Bone-dry saline drive and chalk meet the brine of raw oysters head-on.
What grapes are in Krug Clos du Mesnil?
The blend is Chardonnay (100%). The wine is classified as AOC Champagne.