Review: Wines of Charles Krug, 2024 Releases
California’s Charles Krug has had a busy few months. Today we catch up on its latest releases, four in total, spanning a wide range of styles and price levels.
2023 Charles Krug Sauvignon Blanc Napa Valley – Outstanding balance here in a sauvignon blanc that melds various styles with aplomb, mixing lemon curd with a gentle grassiness, some slightly floral notes developing as the more citrusy qualities of the wine let off the gas just a bit. There’s loads of acidity but, thankfully, no heavy ammonia character weighing it down. Summer’s here. A- / $23
2021 Charles Krug Chardonnay Carneros – Amazingly balanced chardonnay from the southern Sonoma Carneros region, this wine hits all the high points one wants in the varietal: fresh apple butter, lemon curd, coconut milk, and light lashings of vanilla — its oak kept in check. The wine is a touch on the sweet side, but this helps the wine work both as a summery aperitif and as a deft pairing with seafood or pasta dishes, while some brighter acidity on the finish helps keep things lively and approachable. As versatile a California chardonnay as you’re likely to find at this price. A- / $29
2019 Charles Krug Cabernet Sauvignon Napa Valley – Aggressive with its notes of currants and blackberries, this lightly woody, chocolate-scented cabernet ticks off all the boxes of Napa expectations. At five years old, it’s already showing a light balsamic quality, tempered by ample, lightly sweet raspberry and elements of tea leaf and cola. The jammier qualities of the wine, driven by a 14.9% abv, endure well into the finish, which can make it a tougher meal pairing depending on what’s on the plate. For my money, it’s a little too over the top for drinking solo. B+ / $41
2019 Charles Krug Generations Napa Valley – This blend of 87% cabernet sauvignon, 7% merlot, and 6% petit verdot, all estate grown, sees Krug at its most refined — and a huge step up from the cabernet. Plummy purple fruit melds with denser notes of licorice, anise, and dark chocolate to form a fruit-forward wine that keeps one foot in the orchard, one in the cellar. Nutty and layered with fresh tobacco leaf, the wine has endless complexity as it makes its way toward a finish of brambly blackberry preserves and Andes mints, tinged with hints of nutmeg and rosemary. Amazing and enduring. A / $85
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