Krug Champagne Grand Cuvee

[TheEngineer]

This thing was packed. Tons of stuff going on. I loved it. Coconut, pineapple, acidity, ginger, etc, and lots of etc,... then a great acidity comes in and seems to hold all of that in a frame so tha tyou can see it for some time....what a super long finish. I loved this thing...too bad its so expensive.

[wdonovan]

How would you compare it to a La Grande Dame from a good year, say 1996? Richer? More complex?

[TheEngineer]

Damn....I wish I could say that I can compare but I've had so precious little experience with Krug (due mainly to the price hehehe).

I would however, expect tthat since the grand cuvee has such a complicated blend (around 45 percent pinot noir, 23 percent pinot meunier and 32 percent chardonnay and will contain as many as 50 wines from 25 villages and 10 vintages) that it would be a more complex expression of the house's style and that the vintage version would be truer to the vintage characteristics as handled by the house's style.

[wdonovan]

Sorry for the confusion. La Grande Dame is a Veuve Clicquot vintage. But I would describe it similarly to your above notes. I meant (if you have tasted any GD's) how did this Krug compare? I've never laid out the bucks for a Krug and all my friends are likewise too cheap to buy one and give me a taste.

[TheEngineer]

Oopss Sorry WD. You were right. I miss read you. I've not had the 96 but the 95 I once from VV Grande Dame and it was no where near the Krug. The Grande Dame as lighter, less of an attack on the palate, but that might have more to do with the vintage as a 95 Dom Perignon I had had similar qualities. This Krug was intense. Of course the 96 vintage was suppose to be really good too so the 96 Grande Dame might just give the Krug a good kick....gotta find someone who will finance this [img]http://wines.com/ubb/smile.gif[/img]....

(Voice disappearing down the hall way,...) HONEY????

[TheEngineer]

Maybe WDon will come back. I've had many of the 1998 La Grande Dame's lately but not of the Krug so we ordered one for dinner. While I might might might give the overall to Krug, Krug is Krug. There is as always, a wholelotta stuff going on in that glass. Might need to put it side by side to determine the winner clearly though. LGD is a good comparison as there is so much PN in there, more than Krug, but after I've come back from Champagne, I've been spoiled. The best bottle of '98 LGD I've ever had was in the caves at VC. It was clearly some much fresher than any bottle this side of the Atlantic and might have given the Krug a critical body blow.

[winoweenie]

You been GONE??????????????????ww :-T

[TheEngineer]

It's all relative WW. Not sure which direction I'm heading in sometimes. I left Toronto for the fourth time in Three weeks yesterday.......in those four trips, I stayed in exactly 9 different hotels.....

[winoweenie]

Man do Motel 6 love youse!!!!! :-T B-) WW