Krug, Grande Cuvée, Edition, 169TH
The task of composing a new Grande Cuvée must be mind-boggling. For this, the 172nd Edition, Julie Cavil, Krug’s Cellar Master, has selected 146 different reserve wines spanning 11 different vintages (the oldest 1998) and threaded them together around the 2016 vintage. The potential permutations of such a blend are endless – no wonder there’s an official tasting committee to help decide the final composition. Producing the goods year in year out is an incredible feat, testament to quality of Krug’s vineyards, winemakers and blenders; rarely does a bottle not captivate the senses. This is a quintessential Krug, full of detail, structure, freshness and density. Its qualities embody the Krug Grande Cuvée style, though if we had to be ultra specific, we’d suggest this is a particularly generous, structured, and expressive rendition. It is quite simply a Champagne of the highest order, guaranteed to give pleasure now, or at any time over the next 10 to 20 years. Scratched essential citrus oils and fine toast and salt. Glorious savoury depth and essential oil character. This is inimitable Krug. Such deep citrus and toast and chalk over an extract heavy structure. Fine patisserie with some air - crisp flaky pastry - lemon flesh, white flowers and chalk. Lovely rich pink grapefruit flavours command the back palate. Juicy, bitter, mouthwatering. Impeccable - combining depth with chiselled vitality and the grip of structured dry extract. Long, extract laden yet fine. Its final composition is 44% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier. Reserve wines from the House’s extensive library made up 42% of the final blend.
critic reviews
Krug"s NV Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition is brisk and finely cut, with terrific energy driving the citrus, floral and light tropical notes. Even with all of its energy, the 169 balances the vibrancy of the late-ripening 2013 vintage it is built on, with the depth that the reserve wines added to the blend. The 169 drinks well now but clearly has the potential to age. The 169 is a blend of 146 separate wines back to 2000. Krug ID: 120003. (Originally published in May 2021)
Based on the 2013 vintage and complemented by some 40% reserve wines dating back to 2000, Krug's newly released NV Grande Cuvee 169eme Edition is showing very nicely, unfurling in the glass with notes of citrus oil, buttered toast, dried apricot, warm biscuits and marmalade. Medium to full-bodied, deep and incisive, it's a tauter, more chiseled rendition of Grande Cuvee by comparison with the richer, more textural and more demonstrative 168eme Edition (based on the 2012 vintage) that preceded it; but its bright spine of acidity is nicely cloaked in fruit. Concluding with a long and sapid finish, this is a very classically balanced Champagne that will reward bottle age