EMRinVT wrote:

> Greetings. I will try posting my inquiry again in hopes that someone can clear
> up my confusion regarding this. I gave the example of the latest Krug MV which
> ("our favorite") WS rated 95 points. (Okay, they probably DID get that one
> right!) When in a wine shop, how do I know if the Krug there is the new release
> or one that has been on the shelf for a year or longer?
> Thank you....Eric

Eric,
As far as I know, there is *no* identification on the bottle to indicate the
"base" vintage or release date. However, a scrupulous retailer ought to be able
to tell you when they purchased their stock. Since Champagne is especially
sensitive to storage conditions, I'd suggest only buying from a retailer with good
storage conditions and high sales volume (to ensure rapid turnover of stock). If
you've got one of them, their supply ought by all rights to be the most recent
release -- and they should be willing to tell you if asked.

HTH
Mark Lipton