The weather in 1998 was somehow classic, very contrasted as is often the case in Champagne. After a particularly hot August which broke the record set in 1962, the winemaking team watched nervously as temperatures crept up to 39°C and began to burn the leaves, damaging 5 to 10% of the potential harvest.

At the end of the month, heavy rains caused more consternation. Luckily, by early September dry, mild weather offered relief and the third week of the month bestowed perfect conditions for harvesting. Despite the sharp climatic contrasts, 1998 will be remembered as a year of quantity as well as high quality grapes.

The Chardonnays of the year, especially those from the Côte des Blancs and Trépail played a key role in calming the opulence of the other wines affected by the summer heat and re-injected the necessary dynamism to guarantee good cellaring potential.

To tell the story of 1998, the Chardonnays were shining stars (46%). Almost all the Pinot Noirs (35%) were selected from the southern Mountain of Reims, which explains the solid foundation of Krug 1998, and finally the Meuniers (19%), mainly selected from the left side of the Marne Valley, Leuvrigny, which was less sunny than the right bank, gave unique freshness.

This was my first vintage at the House of Krug and only the second Krug Vintage – after Krug 1981 – to be driven by Chardonnay. At the time, Henri Krug had agreed that in a year where the winners were the Chardonnays, the story should be a tribute to that winner. For the tasting committee, Krug 1998 shares the round and warm characteristics of 1989 as well as the extreme elegance and freshness of Krug 1988. Krug 1998 is a story of astonishing purity, precision, elegance and a very long finish.

Time in cellar: 

This bottle spent around 14 years years in Krug's cellars developing its expression and elegance, receiving its cork in Winter 2011-2012.