| Score: |
96 JG.
"As is the case with the 1981 Krug Vintage, the 1976 Vintage Brut is rather unique in the history of this superb bottling, as it is the only vintage in recent memory to rely so heavily on the pinot meunier grape, which comprised fully twenty percent of the blend in this year. The reason for this was that pinot meunier was simply outstanding in this year and so Henri Krug decided that a larger percentage of the grape should be included in the Krug Vintage bottling to reflect accurately the unique character of this growing season . . . . the 1976 Krug Vintage is drinking splendidly at age thirty-five, soaring from the glass in a brilliant and almost exotic bouquet of apple, pear, a touch of coconut, almond cream, fresh-baked bread, chalky soil tones and spring flowers. On the palate the wine is deep, full-bodied, pure and very, very complex, with really excellent acidity, laser-like focus, a wonderful core of fruit, still very vigorous mousse and superb length and grip on the perfectly poised finish. I have had the ’76 Krug on several occasions over the years, but this . . . was the finest example I have yet tasted of this vintage. A beautiful glass of wine." John Gilman, View From the Cellar, Nov/Dec 2011, Issue #36 |