Charles Krug Napa Valley Chardonnay 2002

The 2002 Charles Krug Napa Valley Chardonnay is a big boned, old-fashioned Napa Valley Chardonnay. It sports a ton of varietal flavors that are then etched with butter and plenty of toasty vanilla oak. The 2002 Napa Valley Chardonnay, like all Krug offerings, is not for wimps. There is both flesh and bone in this powerful Chardonnay, and plenty of alcohol, too. Nevertheless, the wine remains well balanced and never appears clumsy; it finishes with power as well as pride, and lingers for at least fifteen seconds on the palate after swallowing. If you can wait a few additional months, time will release more of this wine's varietal tones, offering buttered apples and the waft of forsythia and other spring flowers that make old-fashioned Napa Chardonnay so attractive. We suggest serving the 2002 Krug Napa Valley Chardonnay at approximately 45º-50º F for maximum enjoyment.

You won't easily run out of choices of foods to serve with the 2002 Krug Napa Valley Chardonnay because this big ol' wine can stand up to more than the usual Chardonnay fare. Put aside the grilled trout and other delicate morsels. Instead, we suggest grilled halibut, with a pungent fresh pineapple sauce, or a rare Ahi tuna steak, prepared with a teriyaki sauce and served with shitake mushrooms. Other flavorful pairings include grilled pork tenderloin, served with a tropical fruit chutney, and shrimp and whole-wheat linguine, laced with a spicy tomato cream sauce. Most other white meats and cream based pastas will pair nicely as well. In fact, the 2002 Krug Napa Valley Chardonnay should be able to hold up to just about anything you serve with it short of a t-bone steak or a braised lamb shank. Enjoy!

Charles Krug is the oldest winery in Napa Valley. It is also the Peter Mondavi Family winery, the original Mondavi Napa Valley winery that was established by Caesar Mondavi, Robert and Peter's father. Krug has also been referred to as "the other Mondavi winery" and "the road less traveled" because, unlike brother Robert's winery, Krug has eschewed the limelight and kept a relatively low profile, except among critics and connoisseurs. Originally founded in 1869 by Charles Krug, this historic property, like most others in Napa Valley, languished during Prohibition. Purchased by Caesar Mondavi, Krug first began producing wine under the Mondavi name in 1943. Today, the Krug Winery comprises more than 800 acres of prime Napa Valley vineyards. All of this estate's vineyards are located in the most acclaimed regions of Napa Valley and are farmed exclusively under the direction of Peter Mondavi and his family. The Charles Krug Family of wines includes a fine Carneros Pinot Noir, a traditional full-throttle, oak aged Napa Valley Chardonnay, and a couple of excellent full-bodied Cabernet Sauvignon and Merlot wines. Krug also offers a Reserve Sangiovese and a few other special bottlings of Napa treats. However, the two characteristics we like best about Krug wines is the consistent high quality of fruit that is found in each of the winery's offerings and a no smoke and mirrors approach to producing traditional, full-flavored Napa Valley wines. At Krug, no fainthearted or overly sculptured wines need apply; this is real Napa Valley wine, the way it ought to be.