See score and full tasting note at champagneclub.com.

An extraordinary champagne. Profoundly intense and complex with a fabulously opulent texture and nougat infused depth. A dazzling effort which still needs several more years to approach its peak.

A barrel-fermented style. Shows a slight oxidative character, with whole-grain toast, ginger, exotic citrus and honey notes. Big and dry, with a firm structure and a tactile sensation on the finish. A Champagne for food. Drink now through 2015. 120 cases imported.

The 1996 Clos du Mesnil is every bit as stratospheric as it has always been. An iconic, epic Champagne of the highest level, the 1996 Clos du Mesnil captivates all the senses with its breathtaking precision and crystalline purity. The flavors are bright, sculpted and intensely mineral driven to the core. There isn't too much to add. Put simply, the 1996 Clos du Mesnil is one of the greatest and most moving Champagnes I have ever had the privilege to taste and drink.

Robert Parker''s Wine Advocate 30/11/2010 Once again I am completely floored by Krug’s Clos du Mesnil, which remains in my opinion the very finest wine to emerge from Champagne in 1996, and one of the greatest wines ever made in any region. The clarity, precision and focus of the fruit are simply breathtaking, while the overall sense of balance is phenomenal. The wine dances on the palate with the grace of a ballerina in a stunning display of class and elegance from start to finish. In a word: perfect. ()