Krug Brut Champagne 2002

100 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): " It is hard to believe that two and a half years have now passed since Champagne Krug unveiled its long-awaited 2002 Vintage Brut. I do not know if there have been different disgorgements of this bottling, but this one is the same as the last bottle that swept me off of my feet back in the spring of last year, having been disgorged in the autumn of 2015. The wine is a blend of forty percent pinot noir, thirty-nine percent chardonnay and twenty-one percent pinot meunier in 2002 and is already one of the legendary vintages of Krug ever produced. The bouquet is deep, pure, ripe and vibrant, wafting from the glass in a marvelous blend of pear, apple, almond, a stunningly beautiful base of soil tones, subtle spice shading, patissière, a touch of citrus blossoms and that signature Krug smokiness in the upper register. On the palate the wine rock solid, mineral-driven and shows off stellar purity, with its full-bodied format seamlessly supported by great structure and grip. The mousse is impeccable, the complexity still youthful and growing with each visit and the finish, long, refined and absolutely perfect. This will last almost forever and I suspect at age fifty-seven, I will never drink it at its absolute zenith of evolutionary perfection. But, I admit very much enjoying my occasional visits as the wine is in climbing mode to that future peak! 2022-2095. (Jul/Aug 2018)"

100 points James Suckling: "The much-anticipated 2002 has impeccable detail and depth with a lot of chalky, stony and flinty elements on the nose as well as a very fresh edge. The nose is very complex and wound up tight but presents itself as very integrated and compressed. There are aromas of lemon rind, lime juice and a lime custard all at once, complemented in turn by a super-restrained hazelnut-like edge. Undertones of brown mushrooms, chalky minerals and lemon leaf. The palate has a core of sizzlingly intense, concentrated chardonnay framed whitin a powerful phenolic structure that will underpin the future of this Champagne. Flawlessly fresh and as perfect as it gets. Give this time as it needs to settle: best from 2020 and then for another decade beyond. (10/12/16)"

100 points/'#1 Top 100 Cellar Selections 2016,' Wine Enthusiast: "This is a fabulous wine from the greatest Champagne vintage so far this century. Still young, it blends almost equal amounts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fleshed out with Pinot Meunier. The minerality and the rich apple and green fruits are balanced, and acidity cuts into the wine with a pure, perfumed line of freshness. The wine could be drunk now, but it will age well into the the 2020s. (Dec 2016)"

100 points Wine & Spirits: "This has the stamina of the 2002 vintage from the first scent, a fragrance like pear skin and butterscotch, and something fresher, like meadow flowers. All of that fragrance comes in a wine that’s expansive and dry, almost austere in the power of its acidity. Over the course of several days, the wine remains impervious to the fraying of oxidation, instead building on its flavors, deepening to scents of white truffles. Initially, the power of the acidity not only cleans up after the wine’s substantial flavor, but also seems to lash all those notes together and rocket them through a buzz of energy that lasts for minutes. That energy, undiminished four days later, when the bubbles have finally gone, takes on a gentler power, presenting the harmony and elegance at the center of the wine. The 2002 may well be the greatest vintage wine Henri Krug produced during his four-decade career. (Dec 2016)"

99 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(40% pinot noir from Ambonnay, Bouzy, Ay, and Mareuil-sur-Ay; 39% chardonnay from Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, Oger, Avize, Trépail and Villers-Marmery; 21% meunier from Saint-Gemme, Villevenard and Coulommes; aged more than 12 years on lees and 1 year on cork). Krug 2002 is one of the most aticipated releases of the year, and it surpasses even its lofty expectations. This is a vintage that unites remarkable definition with grand generosity, and Krug encapsulates this dramatic contrast with thrilling flair. Even at 14 years of age it finds a new lease on life in Krug's capable hands, singing with brilliant focus, remarkable vitality and breathtaking freshness of lemon, locut, fig and glacé peach. A taut yet silky line of malic acidity charges it with phenomenal energy and endurance, yet at every moment stunningly integrated and enticingly captivating. It resonates with all the signature layers of Krug in rumbling depth of molten bees wax, incense, truffle, nougat, white Christmas cake and fruit mince spice. Yet for all of its exuberance and sheer, expansive proportions, it pulls gracefully into a tightly honed finish of deep-set mineral presence that rises, churns and froths for minutes upon minutes. This is a Krug of magical poise, in which profound concentration meets impossible tension. I bought every bottle Krug would allow me, poured them at every tasting I could, and only wish I could hold every one of them for another decade yet. That is when the true magic will begin. (2018-2019)"

99 points/'Coup de Coeur de l'Année,' La Revue du Vin de France: "With its insolent youthfulness, this 2002 (40% pinot noir, 39% chardonnay and 21% meunier) displays phenomenal energy on the palate. Citrus zest, white and yellow fruits, carried by a salivating structure, express a rare complexity. (2017)"

99 points John Stimpfig (Decanter): "Without question one of the most perfect vintages in Champagne, in which Krug has once again excelled. Released after the 2003 (as with the '89 and '88), this is a sumptuously magnificent 2002 which manages to eloquently express both the vintage and the maison’s unique savoir-faire. To my palate, this majestic effort is drinking exquisitely now, but will keep and improve for many more years. It is dense, exotic and powerful, underpinned and framed by a firm spine of acidity. There are so many hedonistic sensations to tease the supply textured palate, including honey, roasted almonds, cream, minerals, stone fruits and hazelnuts. Superbly constructed, this is a symphony of flavours that linger effortlessly on the palate for minutes, it is pure pleasure. Sixteen years on, this is just hitting its stride. Drinking Window: 2017-2045. (Nov 2017)"

99 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Medium golden-yellow, silver shimmers, very delicate mousse. Scents of orange marmalade, white blossoms, a delicate nutty undertone of biscuits, a multi-faceted, well-evolved bouquet. Substantial texture, fresh yellow fruit, finesse and well balanced, notes of blossom honey, a little peach, seems incredibly youthful, fine caramel, delicate dried fruit, very, very long finish, juicy and animating. Great length, promising ageing potential, nothing less than a perfect Champagne. (6/15/20)"