1985 Krug Brut Blanc de Blancs Clos du Mesnil Grand Cru
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Tasting notes
Intense aromas of dried apples and yeast-bisquet character. Full and very dense with beautiful fruit and density. Layers and layers of fruit. Spice, white pepper and cooked apples. It is near perfection now.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The wines from the mid-1980s were very good, but not as viscerally thrilling as some of the very top vintages. I am not sure why these wines were served last; I imagine some of us wanted to get to the legendary vintages right away! It didn't much matter, though, as the small group setting gave everyone a chance to revisit their favorite vintages. The 1985 Clos du Mesnil is soft, delicate and forward. On its own, I am sure it would be fabulous, but this is a tough set of wines to follow. The 1985 is another vintage that needs to be enjoyed sooner rather than later.
Ash, butter and smoke are some of the notes that emerged from this finely chiseled, taut wine. The 1985 Clos de Mesnil was drop-dead gorgeous.
Fabulous aristocratic nose of minerals, lemon, toast, and grilled nuts. Big, rich and ripe, but vibrant and incredibly penetrating. Extraordinarily nuanced in the mouth: minerals, lemon peel, caraway seed, and a smoky, hazelnutty yeast autolysis character. Uncanny intensity of sweet fruit given delineation by bracing acids. Explosive finish offers great cut. An extraordinary wine, and the best Clos du Mesnil to date.
About the producer
Krug is a remarkable Champagne House which only makes prestige cuvées. The wines – with their distinctive rich, complex, oxidative style – are some of the region’s best.