Clos du Mesnil is the most famous vineyard in all of Champagne and one of the finest Chardonnay sites outside the Grand Cru of Burgundy itself. In the heart of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, the vines were planted and the protective wall built in 1698. Although Krug purchased the plot in 1971, it wasn't until the outstanding 1979 harvest that Olivier's father suggested they make a single wine: from one grape, one year and one little garden. Based on pure chalk, this tiny 1.84-hectare east-facing plot achieves less ripeness than some of Le Mesnil's south-facing slopes, making it all the more suited to Krug's long-ageing style. Clos du Mesnil is an extremely rare and exclusive champagne produced only in the very best vintages. Just 12,548 bottles and 500 magnums of Clos du Mesnil were produced in 2004, each individually numbered.

"Today, Krug Clos du Mesnil 2006 expresses a precise signature and striking grace This Champagne is a combination of outstanding purity and freshness with tension, vivacity, and great balance." - Julie Cavil, Cellar Master

Krug ID: 419052 | Each bottle of Krug has a Krug ID on the back label which enables you to discover the story of that very bottle. You can do so using the smartphone App or on the Krug website. The 2006 harvest at Clos du Mesnil took place between 14 and 16 September, affording 14,973 bottles and 800 magnums (to be presented at a later date) Krug Clos du Mesnil 2006 Magnum has rested in Krug’s cellars for over 12 years.

Weather: The year 2006 was considered a hot one in Champagne, with extreme highs and 23 days recorded over 30°C. It was a capricious climate that went from dry periods to intense rainfall - in August, the equivalent of 2 months of rain fell in only 2 weeks. Fortunately, the sun returned to complete the ripening period, shining on a beautiful harvest. The grapes showed balance similar to that of the vintages of 2002 and 1989, which were also very generous years.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Clos du Mesnil
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Ageing: 12.5 years on the lees
Disgorged: Summer 2019
Drink: Now to 2035+

Tasting Note: At first sight, a vibrant luminosity and intense golden colour redolent of ripe wheat. On the nose, expressive aromas of toffee apple, caramel, ripe citrus fruits and lightly toasted nuts.
On the palate, it opens with astonishing generosity and breadth. Initial hints of brown sugar, candied ginger and pecan give way to notes of citrus fruits as it bursts into an explosion of freshness enhanced by a very long and elegant finish.

Krug Clos du Mesnil 2006 is presented in a beautifully branded wooden gift box (as shown in the bottom left picture). There is a very limited quantity available due to its extreme scarcity and popularity.

Just five years after Joseph Krug founded his eponymous Champagne House in 1843, he documented his great vision for Krug in a cherry-red leather notebook. In it, he revealed the principles of creating a champagne of incredible richness yet great elegance, of selecting only the finest elements from the greatest terroirs, rejecting mediocre fruit and making both a non-vintage and a vintage cuvée - revolutionary at the time. Discovered in 2010 by current House Director and sixth generation of the founding family Olivier Krug, the ideals in this notebook and Krug's resolute commitment to them have secured their position as the most luxurious and exclusive of all Champagne producers.

Unlike other Champagne Houses, Krug's range consists of prestige cuvées only. Their iconic non-vintage Grande Cuvée is a masterful blend of some 120 wines, vintage Krugs are renowned as true classics, majestically displaying the characteristics of each harvest and their unique and exclusive single-vineyard champagnes, Clos du Mesnil and Clos d'Ambonnay are the ultimate rarities. The recent introduction of ID codes displayed on the back of every bottle - revealing base year, disgorgement periods and product information - has helped revise the vision of Krug in line with the great founder's philosophy.

Cellar Master: Julie Cavil
Winery Location: Reims | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Montagne de Reims
Annual Production (bottles): 760,000