This bottle spent at least 11 years in Krug's cellars, receiving its cork in winter 2014. Composed of a selection of the year's most characterful wines, Krug 2003 is the expression of the year 2003 revealed by Krug.

A year of such extremes as 2003 was unheard of in living memory. After an early bud break, two extreme frosts had a particularly significant impact on the Chardonnay vines. The summer that followed was a record-breaker, with an average temperature in August of 28.5°C - a staggering ten degrees above the norm.

The harvest began on 23rd August, making it the earliest since 1822. As anticipated, many of the grapes showed a high level of ripeness, but our careful observation of each plot also revealed an unexpected under-ripeness, the result of certain vines protecting themselves from the intense heat by stopping maturation. This extreme variation meant that the harvest continued in waves until early October, ensuring the grapes from each plot were gathered at the optimal moment.

When we came to taste the wines of the year, our respect for the individual character of every plot revealed the different ways in which the year's dramatic conditions had affected each of them. We were particularly surprised to discover a number of fresh, aromatic and balanced wines with vivacious fruit.

The composition of Krug 2003 includes an unusually high quantity of wines from black grapes, while Chardonnays were used with discretion due to their remarkable richness. Its draws its vivacity from the Meuniers of Sainte-Gemme, Villevenard and Courmas, with balance and freshness coming from the Pinot Noirs on the slopes of the Montagne de Reims. With intense expression and finesse, Krug 2003 tells the story of this challenging year.

The final composition of this bottle of Krug 2003 is 46% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay and 25% Meunier.

At the House of Krug every Vintage is crafted to be different, celebrating the distinct character of a particular year. It is as if Krug 2003 were the music of the year, captured by Krug.