Incredibly fresh and vibrant, this stunning Champagne weaves a tightly knit skein of ripe pear and tangy yellow plum fruit flavors together, with accents of rich pastry cream, toasted brioche, elderflower, ground cardamom and coffee liqueur. Shows a beautiful texture. A thread of salinity winds through to the lasting finish. Disgorged fall 2013. Drink now through 2029. 832 cases made.

See score and full tasting note at champagneclub.com.

Incredible precision, typicity and citrussy elegance from this ripe and powerful year. Salty minerality and lime notes converge nicely with the Krug-perfume, underlying nuttiness and honey.

The 2003 Clos du Mesnil is insanely beautiful. Vivid, resonant and textured in the glass, the 2003 boasts magnificent depth and pure breed. Since I last tasted it a few months ago, the 2003 has begun to shut down, which is probably a great sign for its future and overall longevity. Hints of smoke, slate and dried pear gradually open up in the glass, but the 2003 mostly stands out for its exceptional finesse.

19/20 Essi Avellan MW – “Deep golden. Strong, oaky, charred, super-intense nose showing beautiful evolution and yeasty depth. Really powerful, with mild oxidative notes but backed up by plenty of acidity and vibrancy. Thisiis still youthful, and the oak will get better integrated over time.”

2003 was especially difficult in Mesnil, because the frost in early April halved the crop. 8,671 bottles and 659 magnums were made. Harvested 27 and 29 August. Really impressive nose – very broad, creamy, and flinty, with a little bit of reductiveness combining with a smoky flavour and a lovely dairy yoghurt character. Dry and savoury, fabulous length and intensity on the palate. The reputation of this cuvée is deserved in the sense of the sheer quality of flavours and the massive depth on display. It doesn’t seem clumsy in the way that some 2003s do – but it isn’t doesn't have the defining acidity of, say, Salon 2002. In fact it is quite soft. The real attraction, though, is the range and power of the nose. (RH)

ID 314058. Less explosive on the nose than the Clos du Mesnil 1999 (tasted but not released because not deemed up to scratch) but with real presence on the palate. Lots to bite on. Neat and a little more obviously exuberant than the 2000 Clos du Mesnil tasted the previous evening. Certainly no shortage of acidity. And lots of potential to age. (JR)