96
points
Charles Krug 2007 Limited Release Cabernet Sauvignon (Howell Mountain)
-
$120
This dramatic, compulsively good Cabernet is the first Howell Mountain Cab ever from the winery. It’s enormous and gigantic in volume, with blackberry and cherry pie filling, cassis and oak flavors that scream, yet the tannins are tight, and the wine is so dry, the rich fruit is cloaked in a veil of control. Really defines an important new step for this veteran…
— S.H.
(3/1/2011)
94
points
Charles Krug 2006 Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
-
$69
What a beautiful Cabernet. It’s dry and classically elegant, with sweet, ripe tannins framing succulent blackberry, black cherry, violet, cedar and mineral flavors. Really a great wine for drinking now, and so balanced, it will easily negotiate a decade in the bottle.
— S.H.
(3/1/2011)
94
points
Charles Krug 2008 Estate Grown Celebrating 150 Years Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
-
$150
Loads of sweet, pure, ripe and refined blackberry fruit in this dry, young Cabernet. It’s very tannic, with a lockdown astringency, but the fruit is so strong, it punches right through. The idea here clearly is the cellar. Eight years seems like no problem. Twenty years may not even be pushing things.
— S.H.
(12/31/2011)
93
points
Charles Krug 1997 Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
-
$50
Unblended as it’s always been, at nearly five years the V.S. is as pure a Cabernet as Krug has ever produced. The mouthfeel is limpid, softly luxuriant, and the flavor is no slouch. The wine is rich, ripe, and endlessly persistent, right down to the curranty finish. This is a beauty you can age for a very long time.
— S.H.
(11/15/2002)
93
points
Charles Krug 2008 Vintage Selection Cabernet Sauvignon (Napa Valley)
- Cellar Selection
- Online Exclusive
-
$75
This is Krug’s flagship Cabernet, produced since 1944. Always 100% varietal, it’s a big, tannic wine, made for aging. The ’08 is a lovely wine, with classic old-style Cab flavors of blackberries, currants, herbs and cedar. It’s certainly higher in alcohol than in the old days, but still maintains balance. Give it six years, at least.
— S.H.
(12/31/2011)
92
points
Charles Krug 2005 Generations Family Reserve Red (Napa Valley)
-
$50
Very plush and lush, offering deep, ripe flavors of blackberries, currants, cassis, violets, herbs and smoky cedar, wrapped into firm tannins. Should develop gracefully over the next 8–10 years. The wine is a Bordeaux blend with a splash of Syrah, which seems to add a meaty note.
— S.H.
(10/1/2009)