2000 krug, clos d'ambonnay
Why We're Buying
Krug Clos d'Ambonnay is a vintage blanc de noirs that compliments the estate's Krug Grande Cuvée. The legendary Champagne house only releases its pinot noir-dominant sparkling wine during single years, cultivating all the grapes from a 0.68-hectare plot. The wine ages for 12 years before its release, with bottles retailing around $3,000.
Critics Scores
Wine Spectator
An elegant, almost ethereal Champagne, showing a subtle richness and power, with vibrant acidity and a beautifully creamy mousse carrying the finely meshed flavors of Chambord liqueur, singed orange peel, biscuit and spun honey, accented by hints of toasted almond, saline and smoke that gain momentum and echo on the finish. Disgorged autumn 2013. Drink now through 2025.
Vinous
I must admit, Krug's 2000 Clos d'Ambonnay remains a mystery. The first bottle I tasted, in March, at Krug, was utterly spectacular. Rich, creamy and ample on the palate, the 2000 was captivating from start to finish. Two thousand is the first vintage made entirely by current Chef de Caves Eric Lebel. My impression at the time was that Lebel had given his Ambonnay softer, gentler contours than the 1995, 1996 and 1998, all which were much more austere when first released. But then I tasted the 2000 several times in the US, where it has so far been less impressive. I am hoping issues with shipping for a handful of samples will turn out to be the root cause, and that the 'real' Ambonnay will be closer to what I tasted at Krug in March. If that turns out to be the case the 2000 will be due for a major upgrade