Photo courtesy: Johnny

Champagne Krug 1990 (750ml bottle)

Tasted in end Sep, 2009

Served upon uncorking, and left open in ice-bucket for breathing

Lemon robe with slight amber hue. Pinpoint bubbles with extremely fine, almost ‘smoky’  effervescence.

The nose opens with truffle, smoke and damp wool. Deep and serious.

On the palate: succulent and luscious fruit as the first attack, then bursting of beautifully ripe acidity on the mid palate, with honeyed and almost malt-sugared finish. Seamless integration with amazing finesse – rich, intense, yet highly polished and ultra-refined.

The evolution in the glass is very personal – elegant and leisurely. Toast, milk chocolate, roasted nut, honey, toffee, then oak and vanilla. To me, there are two particularly impressive episodes, occurring between 30 and 40 minutes or so after uncorking: “FERRERO ROCHER”, followed by “vanilla ice-cream” – totally delicious!

But then it goes into a totally different stage: the mature, milky, chocolaty black grapes fade away, leaving behind only the still youthful, acidic, mineral rich chardonnay on the stage! Now we find how tough the acidity of a great Krug vintage is! - It is ALWAYS there, but just  becomes dominant now. Though such acidity is beautifully ripe and warm, it is still biting and “stomach-corrosive” with each and every sip! (Of course, it is the tough acidity that ensures the legendary longevity of Krug vintages!)

More than 2 hours after uncorking, the palate softens to lightly candied fruit.

A very young and healthy bottle. Just gorgeous!

P.S. notes of previous tasting:

http://blog.sina.com.cn/s/blog_517ac8680100d9m3.html