KrugGrandeCuvee169thEditionNVMagnum

Joseph Krug founded the house in 1843 after learning winemaking at Champagne Jacquesson, driven to craft the finest champagne every year, regardless of climate. By honouring each vineyard’s individuality and creating a vast reserve library, he achieved his dream & Krug Grande Cuvée 1st Edition was born.rrIn the 1970s, Henri and Rémi Krug modernized production, acquired Clos du Mesnil, 1st vintage 1979, launched Krug Rosé in 1983 and purchased Clos d’Ambonnay in 1991, first vintage 1995. LVMH acquired Krug in 1999; Henri and Rémi stepped down in 2007. Since 2009, Olivier Krug, the sixth generation, is Director of Krug.rrIn 2024, Krug completed Joseph, its new state-of-the-art sustainable winery in the village of Ambonnay, awarded exceptional HQE certification.Krug Grande Cuvée is born from the dream of one man, Joseph Krug, to craft the very best Champagne he could offer, every single year, regardless of annual variations in climate. Since 1843, the House of Krug has honoured this vision with each new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée. Unlike other Maison’s the wines needed for their NV are selected first, in the spring following the harvest. Then Krug considers the elements they want to keep from the last harvest for their reserves and finally they decide if they have the right components to make a vintage from that year. Often in great vintages like 2012 they decide they want more of the great wines in their reserve program rather than make a Krug 2012.rr”Every year since the foundation of the House, a new Edition of Krug Grande Cuvée is created, every year the inspiration will be the same, but the creation will be totally unique and different.â€?Olivier KrugrrThis is the 169th creation of Krug Grande Cuvée and the sixth release to display the Edition on the label. It was composed around the harvest of 2013. A blend of 146 wines from 11 different years, the youngest of which is from 2013, while the oldest dates back to 2000. The final composition is 43% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and 22% Meunier. The season began with a seemingly endless winter followed by a rainy and cool spring. Luckily, summer was hot and sunny, although also marked by hailstorms, which took their toll in the vineyards. The wines of the year were generous, expressive and full of flavours. To realise the final creation, wines of the year from meticulously selected plots were blended with reserve wines from 10 other years. The careful attention given to the vines and Krug’s unique respect for the individual character of each plot enabled the breadth of expression of this Édition. In all, reserve wines from the House’s extensive library made up 40% of the final blend, bringing the breadth and roundness so essential to each Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée.rrKrug ID:120001 | Each bottle of Krug has a Krug ID on the back label which enables you to discover the story of that very bottle. You can do so using the smartphone App or on the Krug website.rrTechnical Information:rVineyards: Predominately Premier & Grand CrurGrape Varieties: 43% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 22% MeunierrBase Vintage: 2013rReserve Wine: 40%rLees Ageing: 6 yearsrDisgorged: January 2020rDosage: 6 g/lrAlcohol: 12%rDrink: Now to 2040rrTasting Note: Sleek and fresh and truly spring-like with a light yeasty note on the very long finish.The most pleasure to be had initially is in the nose and the finishâ€?This should have a long life.Bone-dry finish and playing the intellectual card.Throbs on the palate with all its vibrancy. Tasting note part of Jancis Robinson’s full tasting note below