Rob's "Wine of the Week" Archives
So here is my wine review for the week of December 15th, 2008...
KRUG BRUT CHAMPAGNE 1998
Description: Krug only produces a vintage champagne in years that they feel the quality is worthy of their long storied name. There was no vintage produced, for example, for 1997 or 1999. Thus, when I heard there would be a 1998 I had to grab a bottle, all be it expensive and hard to find. This is a champagne you should enjoy on the most special of occasions (or if you are writing a wine column).
How and when I drank it: Saturday December 6 at my house.
How to get it: It’s a hard wine to find in most years and now that Wine Spectator has named it a collectible, it will get more rare. It can be found, however. Wine specialty stores may have it; I found it easy to find online stores who were selling it.
How Much: The bottle is $350 from the winery, although I saw it for as little as $289 online.
My Thoughts: The nice thing about Krug is that they basically tell you when their champagne is going to be fantastic; it’s in the years they actually produce a vintaged product. I find basic, non-vintage Krug to be mediocre, but have rarely been disappointed by their vintage wines. This is no exception. Unlike Cristal and Dom, which are painfully overpriced for their quality, this bottle delivers. It is a fantastic champagne that starts with mild toasty flavors, quickly segues to honey and creamy herb and a lingering bubbly finish. A fantastic champage that is perfectly balanced and opulent.
Overall Score: I admit this is a decadent champagne with an enormous price tag, but it is worth it. Everyone that loves wine should have a bottle like this once per year for the right reasons. Indulge! 5 vines
KRUG BRUT CHAMPAGNE 1998 = 
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