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- 1988 Krug, Vintage Brut
$KRUG
1988 Krug, Vintage Brut
Bottle size (ML)
Current price
$819
Start Your Wine Collection with 1988 Krug, Vintage Brut
Begin your portfolio with a prestigious wine that has a history of growth.- Enjoy fully managed, secure storage facilities with insurance coverage.
- Get expert advice on when to hold and when to sell.
Vinovest 100Part of our index that tracks the 100 most investment-worthy wines in the world
11.6% of All Producers of Fine Wine
Grand MarqueMajor Champagne house with international brand recognition & undying customer loyalty
3.2% of Fine Wine Producers in Region
Top VintageBehold! One of the finest vintages of this wine ever made.
61.1% of Vinovest Wines
Top 5A top 5 wine in the region
17.0% of All Fine WineCritics Scores
Wine Spectator
A superb Champagne and still youthful. Honey, ginger, lemon confit, coffee and mineral aromas and flavors come to mind, all kept focused by a firm, tightly wound structure. The finish is where its pedigree shines through, lingering like warm gingerbread and coffee. Drink now through 2015. 5,000 cases made.
Burghound
I have always very much admired the '88 vintage in Champagne because it produced wines that tended toward austerity when they were young and they have aged exceptionally well. The nose here is consistent with this because even though it is fully mature and highly complex, there is a certain calm restraint that accompanies the attractively fresh citrus, cooked apple and toasted bread elements. There is equally good punch and freshness to the powerful and concentrated flavors that possess impressive mid-palate density before concluding in a mouth coating and strikingly long finish. The '88 should continue to hold for years to come.
Burghound.com
I have always very much admired the '88 vintage in Champagne because it produced wines that tended toward austerity when they were young and they have aged exceptionally well. The nose here is consistent with this because even though it is fully mature and highly complex, there is a certain calm restraint that accompanies the attractively fresh citrus, cooked apple and toasted bread elements. There is equally good punch and freshness to the powerful and concentrated flavors that possess impressive mid-palate density before concluding in a mouth coating and strikingly long finish. The '88 should continue to hold for years to come.
Decanter
When Krug 1988 was first released, a few bottles remained stored in the Krug cellars to see how they aged. The result today is a bouquet of incredible complexity, a veritable spice box full of seductive scents including sandalwood, mocha, and leather as well as a waxy note. The palate is perfectly balanced with both ample flesh and breathtaking freshness, and a wide-ranging flavour and textural profile having elements of quince, candied fruit, and spices. A floral freshness takes the upper hand on the long finish of this supremely subtle and light-footed Champagne. Such a beguiling mix of youthful energy with eminent ageworthiness. Readers who can find the 1988 should not hesitate, as it is stellar. Drinking Window 2020 - 2030
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Tasted at a hotel in Zurich, this remains a stunning Krug. Deep and lucid in colour, it retains that show-stopping, honeyed bouquet with breathtaking definition, offering hints of cut lime, cooking apple, cold granite, citrus lemon and a hint of walnut. The palate is taut, driven by vibrant acidity, hints of passion fruit and white peach, but at its heart is that sense of precision and poise. The finish has a beguiling candied quality that flirts daringly and beckons another sip. Heavenly and perhaps starting to drink at its peak.
Region Summary
Champagne is the original gold standard. For centuries, this famous fizz has been synonymous with opulence, celebration, and romance. Combine that preeminent status with surging demand, and Champagne offers a surefire way to add sparkle to any portfolio.
Why We're Investing
Champagne is the most famous and lauded producer of sparkling wine in the world. While other wine regions have imitated this bubbly beverage, none have duplicated its success. Its trademark on the word has only reinforced the region’s reputation as ground zero for authentic Champagne. Unlike most prized wine regions, Champagne experiences cool temperatures that can slow ripening and leave grapes more acidic and less sugary. While the conditions contribute to Champagne’s unique style, frost poses a perennial problem. A single cold front can devastate an entire harvest. As a result, great Champagne vintages are exceedingly rare (e.g., 2004, 2008, 2012). The solution: a reserve stock system. The region’s governing body requires that Champagne producers store 20 of their wine during bountiful years to meet demand during lean ones. This uniquely Champagne safety net provides a hedge against poor vintages and allows houses to manage supply and prices. That way, buyers see less volatility in price performance than in other regions. Stability isn’t the only reason we’re investing. Champagne has been the best-performing wine region over the last five years. It also ranks second best since 2003, behind only Burgundy. That’s not all. According to the Liv-ex Champagne 50, an index that tracks top Champagnes, the region has appreciated every year since the index’s inception, save for 2015. While glitzy brands like Dom Pérignon, Krug, and Louis Roederer dominate the headlines, Champagne’s hallowed grounds are also home to the humble yet equally compelling grower Champagne. This name typically refers to Champagne made and bottled by the same person. By contrast, most Champagne houses use a blend of grapes from dozens or even hundreds of regional growers. Only produced in small batches, these eclectic wines have made stars out of Jacques Selosse, Ulysse Collin, and Cédric Bouchard and have brought more demand to the region. Here’s the most important part. While the most expensive Burgundies will cost you a small fortune (re: tens of thousands of dollars), Champagne has relatively affordable entry prices, on par with those from Napa Valley and Bordeaux. With this blend of performance and accessibility, it’s easy to see why Champagne is the toast of the fine wine industry.
What's the Latest
If there is a limit to the global demand for Champagne, we have yet to reach it. Clever marketing and shifting consumer tastes have fueled continued growth despite headwinds, including rising inflation and a sluggish global economy. In 2021, Champagne exported a record 179.6 million bottles. That figure marked a 37.31 increase from the previous year, and a 15.1 increase from 2019, before the Covid-19 pandemic. The surge in demand has cascaded into the secondary market. A decade ago, Champagne accounted for only 2 of trade share by volume. Today, it is the third most traded region at 8.4, trailing only Bordeaux (38.8) and Burgundy (21.4). Buyers are also becoming more adventurous. More than 570 different Champagnes were traded on the secondary market, a sevenfold increase in the past ten years. The strongest demand has come for large format bottles, which are rarer than the 750 mL format and a uniquely Champagne offering. According to Liv-ex, big bottles have risen from 5.9 to 18.0 of Champagne’s trade share over the last three years.
Looking Forward
The white-hot performance makes Champagne a coveted region amongst any wine enthusiast. With the prestigious brands, relative value, and global demand, there’s reason to think this trend is here to stay. Even though trade is concentrated among a few well-known houses, the region has more than enough depth to appease all degrees of connoisseurs. The numerous strengths should buoy Champagne even in choppy economic waters. That’s in part because of Champagne’s reputation as a luxury good and connections with French luxury holding companies like LVMH and EPI. Luxury goods tend to fare better than other sectors during downturns thanks to steady demand from high-net-worth clients. The extra layer of recession resistance will serve Champagne collectors well no matter what the future has in store.