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Krug Champagne Blanc De Noirs Clos D'ambonnay 1996 750ml

size
750ml
country
France
region
Champagne
WA
95
VM
95
WS
92
Additional vintages
WA
95
Rated 95 by Wine Advocate
Somewhat surprisingly, Krug presents the much-anticipated 1996 Blanc de Noirs Clos d’Ambonnay as the first wine in our tasting. This incredibly refined Champagne opens with a superb, well-delineated bouquet and an impeccable, almost imperceptible mousse. At first very refined, the wine tightens up in the glass considerably as the acidity comes to life on the palate. The purest essence of crushed rocks and minerals define the finish. Today the 1996 Clos d’Ambonnay comes across as incredibly young and searing, in fact at this stage, it reminds me most of the vins claires I tasted at the estate last year! The wine will require considerable patience, but given its lack of track record, it seems reasonable to wonder whether the wine will ever be truly as expressive as the 1995, or the other wines in Krug’s 1996 lineup. No disgorgement date provided. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026. ... More details
Image of bottle
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Krug Champagne Blanc De Noirs Clos D'ambonnay 1996 750ml

SKU 880722
Sale
Long-term Pre-Arrival
$3870.68
/750ml bottle
$3843.95
/750ml bottle
Quantity
* This is a Long-term Pre-arrival item and is available for online ordering only. This item will ship on a future date after a 4-8 months transfer time. For additional details about Pre-arrival Items please visit our FAQ page.
Professional Ratings
WA
95
VM
95
WS
92
WA
95
Rated 95 by Wine Advocate
Somewhat surprisingly, Krug presents the much-anticipated 1996 Blanc de Noirs Clos d’Ambonnay as the first wine in our tasting. This incredibly refined Champagne opens with a superb, well-delineated bouquet and an impeccable, almost imperceptible mousse. At first very refined, the wine tightens up in the glass considerably as the acidity comes to life on the palate. The purest essence of crushed rocks and minerals define the finish. Today the 1996 Clos d’Ambonnay comes across as incredibly young and searing, in fact at this stage, it reminds me most of the vins claires I tasted at the estate last year! The wine will require considerable patience, but given its lack of track record, it seems reasonable to wonder whether the wine will ever be truly as expressive as the 1995, or the other wines in Krug’s 1996 lineup. No disgorgement date provided. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026.
VM
95
Rated 95 by Vinous Media
Krug's 1996 Clos d'Ambonnay comes across as quite nuanced and understated, with precise, crystalline fruit and tons of detail.
WS
92
Rated 92 by Wine Spectator
A warm, inviting Champagne, despite its vivid structure. Sweet spices, leather, cedar and kumquat aromas give way to Meyer lemon, candied berry and briar flavors. This is racy, with a clean, bracing finish. Still very young, with the acidity dominating the finish. Best from 2014 through 2040.
Product Details
size
750ml
country
France
region
Champagne
Additional vintages
Overview
Somewhat surprisingly, Krug presents the much-anticipated 1996 Blanc de Noirs Clos d’Ambonnay as the first wine in our tasting. This incredibly refined Champagne opens with a superb, well-delineated bouquet and an impeccable, almost imperceptible mousse. At first very refined, the wine tightens up in the glass considerably as the acidity comes to life on the palate. The purest essence of crushed rocks and minerals define the finish. Today the 1996 Clos d’Ambonnay comes across as incredibly young and searing, in fact at this stage, it reminds me most of the vins claires I tasted at the estate last year! The wine will require considerable patience, but given its lack of track record, it seems reasonable to wonder whether the wine will ever be truly as expressive as the 1995, or the other wines in Krug’s 1996 lineup. No disgorgement date provided. Anticipated maturity: 2012-2026.
green grapes

Varietal: Champagne Blend

There are few areas in the world with a reputation quite as famous and respected as that of Champagne in France, and almost every wine region on earth has imitated or has been influenced by the careful process mastered by the wineries of Champagne. However, it is in the grape varietals which thrive in this region where the secrets to the Champagne's success can be found – the acidic, flavorful Chardonnay grapes meeting the characterful Pinot Noir varietal, and coming together to produce something wonderful in the bottle. There are actually seven varietals allowed by French wine law for the production of Champagne wines, all of which are used by wineries to accentuate each others finest points and maintain the reputation of this very special region, the home to some extremely high quality grapes.
barrel

Region: Champagne

The north-easterly region of Champagne in France is amongst the most famous and well respected wine regions in the world. It's principle produce, the elegant sparkling white wines made with a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Petit Meunier grape varietals, have consistently grown in popularity for hundreds of years, and are still the sparkling wines of choice for most people across the globe. The region is quite an unusual one, in many ways. The high altitude and cool climate make it difficult for the grapes to ripen, but it is helped enormously by the mineral-rich, chalky soils which typify the region, and the heavily forested areas which help maintain moisture in the soil and an even temperature. The wineries of the region have generations of expertise, and know exactly how to make the most of their grape varietals, resulting in the distinctive and famous wines of Champagne we know and love.
fields

Country: France

France is renowned across the globe for its quality wines and the careful expertise which goes into making them, but what is truly remarkable about this relatively small country is the vast range of wines it produces in such huge amounts each year. Not only are the finest red wines in the world said to come from the beautiful regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but elsewhere in the country we find the Champagne region, and areas such as the Rhone Valley and the Loire, whose white wines consistently receive awards and accolades by the plenty. This range is a result of the great variety of climatic conditions and terrain found in France, coupled with generations of wine makers working within single appellations. Their knowledge of specific terroirs and grape varieties has, over time, perfected the production of wines within their region, and the end results continue to impress the world to this day.
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Customer Reviews

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Winery Krug
green grapes

Varietal: Champagne Blend

There are few areas in the world with a reputation quite as famous and respected as that of Champagne in France, and almost every wine region on earth has imitated or has been influenced by the careful process mastered by the wineries of Champagne. However, it is in the grape varietals which thrive in this region where the secrets to the Champagne's success can be found – the acidic, flavorful Chardonnay grapes meeting the characterful Pinot Noir varietal, and coming together to produce something wonderful in the bottle. There are actually seven varietals allowed by French wine law for the production of Champagne wines, all of which are used by wineries to accentuate each others finest points and maintain the reputation of this very special region, the home to some extremely high quality grapes.
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Region: Champagne

The north-easterly region of Champagne in France is amongst the most famous and well respected wine regions in the world. It's principle produce, the elegant sparkling white wines made with a blend of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Petit Meunier grape varietals, have consistently grown in popularity for hundreds of years, and are still the sparkling wines of choice for most people across the globe. The region is quite an unusual one, in many ways. The high altitude and cool climate make it difficult for the grapes to ripen, but it is helped enormously by the mineral-rich, chalky soils which typify the region, and the heavily forested areas which help maintain moisture in the soil and an even temperature. The wineries of the region have generations of expertise, and know exactly how to make the most of their grape varietals, resulting in the distinctive and famous wines of Champagne we know and love.
fields

Country: France

France is renowned across the globe for its quality wines and the careful expertise which goes into making them, but what is truly remarkable about this relatively small country is the vast range of wines it produces in such huge amounts each year. Not only are the finest red wines in the world said to come from the beautiful regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy, but elsewhere in the country we find the Champagne region, and areas such as the Rhone Valley and the Loire, whose white wines consistently receive awards and accolades by the plenty. This range is a result of the great variety of climatic conditions and terrain found in France, coupled with generations of wine makers working within single appellations. Their knowledge of specific terroirs and grape varieties has, over time, perfected the production of wines within their region, and the end results continue to impress the world to this day.