100pts Wine Enthusiast - Cellar Selection

This is a fabulous wine from the greatest Champagne vintage so far this century. Still young, it blends almost equal amounts of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay fleshed out with Pinot Meunier. The minerality and the rich apple and green fruits are balanced, and acidity cuts into the wine with a pure, perfumed line of freshness. The wine could be drunk now, but it will age well into the the 2020s.

100pts James Suckling

The much-anticipated 2002 has impeccable detail and depth with a lot of chalky, stony and flinty elements on the nose as well as a very fresh edge. The nose is very complex and wound up tight but presents itself as very integrated and compressed. There are aromas of lemon rind, lime juice and a lime custard all at once, complemented in turn by a super-restrained hazelnut-like edge. Undertones of brown mushrooms, chalky minerals and lemon leaf. The palate has a core of sizzlingly intense, concentrated chardonnay framed whitin a powerful phenolic structure that will underpin the future of this Champagne. Flawlessly fresh and as perfect as it gets. Give this time as it needs to settle: best from 2020 and then for another decade beyond.

97pts Robert Parker's Wine Advocate

Krug's 2002 Brut (ID 415064 – disgorged IV/2015) has an intense citrus color and opens with a generous, intense yet fine and precise bouquet that indicates great depth and elegance. Red fruit flavors on the nose lead to a generously rich yet pure, highly refined and elegant palate, with lots of ripe cherry fruits and delicious yeasty flavors. This is a highly complex and tensioned but beautifully balanced 2002 with a charming dosage that gives perfect roundness. The finish, however, is clear, fresh and well-structured, if not taut, and very mineral. Tasted in Reims in April 2018.

96pts Wine Spectator

Beautifully aromatic, this leads with aromas of ground clove, coffee liqueur and mandarin orange peel, adding crystallized honey, dried cherry, acacia blossom and toasted brioche notes on the expansive palate. Rich in flavor and broad in structure, with verve driving this through to the long, satiny finish. Drink now through 2027.

94pts Vinous

This is perhaps the best bottle of Krug's 2002 Vintage I have tasted. Expansive and creamy on the palate, with lovely finesse and brightness, the 2002 is quite expressive today. I don't see the depth or pedigree that might place this wine among the best examples of the year. Instead, the 2002 Vintage continues to be an underwhelming wine by Krug standards.

Tasting Notes

At first sight, a lovely bright golden colour. Charismatic and fresh on the nose, this
Champagne promises natural intensity and elegance with a strong presence of fruits of all types. It reveals a diverse bouquet of orange aromas with some notes of liquorice and light chocolate biscuit.

On the palate, Krug 2002 is astonishing, balanced and delicate with significant fresh, tropical, wild and crystalised fruits. It is a hymn to fruit: red, white and citrus fruits with notes of cassis, chocolate, candied-orange peel, cocoa beans, honey with hints of smoke and toast enhanced by a vibrant, persistent long finish.

Recipes like duck breast with its juice in reduction, roasted butternut squash and
kumquat chutney or a lentil curry stew marked with orange zest can pair deliciously with Krug 2002. As a dessert, an orange tiramisu or a cinnamon brioche with a carrot, ginger and lemon mousse would also combine beautifully

Winemaker Notes

At the House of Krug, every Krug Vintage celebrates the distinct character of a particular year. A Krug Vintage is a blend of the most expressive wines from a single year enhanced by a stay of over ten years in the cellars. Every Krug Vintage is different: it is the Music of the year, captured by Krug.

The expression of the year 2002 as revealed by Krug: Ode to Nature. Krug 2002 is a charismatic Champagne which beautifully combines natural intensity, delicacy and bold elegance. It is the first Krug Vintage of the Millennium and was presented after Krug 2003, just as Krug 1988 left the cellars after Krug 1989. As with all Krug Champagnes, Krug 2002 will continue to gain with the passage of time.

It is a balanced dialogue between Pinot Noir (40%), Chardonnay (39%) and Meunier (21%). The elegance of Krug 2002 Magnum comes after 13 years in the cellars gaining in harmony and finesse. The generous aromatic and expressive profile of Krug 2002 (75cl) comes after 12 years in the cellars, gaining in balance and finesse. Due to its size, the Magnum has spent at least one year longer on the lees than the 75cl format.

All formats above 75cl are hand riddled and hand labelled.