Krug’s vintage comprises just 4–5% of production, making a statement to reflect the story of the year, rather than a creative expression. It comes as a surprise that the house dropped more fruit during green harvest than usual in the magnificent and bountiful season of 2002. ‘We don’t green harvest every year, but when we do so, we do it to reduce the yield and avoid wastage, rather than to concentrate the fruit,’ Olivier explains. Eric Lebel describes the vintage as extremely serene and generous, consistently warm and relatively dry. To Olivier, every still wine was great, with both structure and richness. ‘The trick for Eric,’ he says, ‘was to avoid falling into the trap of using everything; it was more about fine-tuning. 2002 is very much a vintage in which nature is talking, so we call it the “Ode to Nature”.’ Krug 2002 is one of the most anticipated releases of the year, and it surpasses even its lofty expectations. This is a vintage that unites remarkable definition with grand generosity, and Krug encapsulates this dramatic contrast with thrilling flair. Even at 14 years of age it finds a new lease on life in Krug’s capable hands, singing with brilliant focus, remarkable vitality and breathtaking freshness of lemon, locut, fig and glacé peach. A taut yet silky line of malic acidity charges it with phenomenal energy and endurance, yet at every moment stunningly integrated and enticingly captivating. It resonates with all the signature layers of Krug in rumbling depth of molten bees wax, incense, truffle, nougat, white Christmas cake and fruit mince spice. Yet for all of its exuberance and sheer, expansive proportions, it pulls gracefully into a tightly honed finish of deep-set mineral presence that rises, churns and froths for minutes upon minutes. This is a Krug of magical poise, in which profound concentration meets impossible tension. I bought every bottle Krug would allow me, poured them at every tasting I could, and only wish I could hold every one of them for another decade yet. That is when the true magic will begin.
Source: Tyson Stelzer.