Krug - Clos du Mesnil 2004 (750ml)

2004 was a fantastic Chardonnay vintage in Champagne, and there's no more definitive statement of its grace and beauty than this 1.84 ha walled vineyard dating from 1698. The cool winter ceded to gentle mid-summer heat, followed by a prolonged Indian Summer when cooler nights engendered complexity and an almost cerebral linearity. Scents of yellow flowers, nectarine, hints of smoke and slate seduce and beguile, leading to a palate where hints of exoticism are tempered by a firm citric grip and an astonishingly long finish.