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.

“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.” Olivier Krug

This is the 166th creation of Krug Grande Cuvée and the fourth release to display the Edition on the label. The majority 58% is from its base year of 2010 and the remaining 42% is from 10 vintages of reserve wines the oldest being 1998 and the youngest 2009 some 140 wines make up the blend. The 2010 year looked great until August, the cool end to the growing season slowed ripening and most grapes in Champagne were picked early as weather threatened and hence 2010 will be a year of few vintage releases. Krug allowed enough of its plots to reach good maturity while maintaining healthy grapes. The stand out grapes from the vintage were the year's Meunier which had great fruit and energy. Some high quality reserve wines from 2000 helped with structure while the plots in Oger lent a generous ripe fruit roundness to this edition. 45PN 39CH and 16PM - The high percentage of reserve wines in the release has ensured it is of the quality we expect from Krug.

Krug ID: 117005 | 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.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: Predominately Premier & Grand Cru
Grape Varieties: 45% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay, 16% Meunier
Base Vintage: 2010
Reserve Wine: 42%
Ageing: 8 years on the lees
Disgorged: Spring 2019
Dosage: 6 g/l
Alcohol: 12%
Drink: Now to 2030+

Tasting Note: There is a forward aromatic of orange blossom along with ripe and lemon fruits and hints of spice and ginger. The palate is an abundance of flavour with hazelnut, almonds, dried lemon, almonds and brioche are present with hints of honey. Strong and fresh mouthfeel with a long finish.

Just five years after Joseph Krug founded his eponymous Champagne House in 1843, he documented his great vision for Krug in a cherry-red leather notebook. In it, he revealed the principles of creating a champagne of incredible richness yet great elegance, of selecting only the finest elements from the greatest terroirs, rejecting mediocre fruit and making both a non-vintage and a vintage cuvée - revolutionary at the time. Discovered in 2010 by current House Director and sixth generation of the founding family Olivier Krug, the ideals in this notebook and Krug's resolute commitment to them have secured their position as the most luxurious and exclusive of all Champagne producers.

Unlike other Champagne Houses, Krug's range consists of prestige cuvées only. Their iconic non-vintage Grande Cuvée is a masterful blend of some 120 wines, vintage Krugs are renowned as true classics, majestically displaying the characteristics of each harvest and their unique and exclusive single-vineyard champagnes, Clos du Mesnil and Clos d'Ambonnay are the ultimate rarities. The recent introduction of ID codes displayed on the back of every bottle - revealing base year, disgorgement periods and product information - has helped revise the vision of Krug in line with the great founder's philosophy.

Cellar Master: Julie Cavil
Winery Location: Reims | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Montagne de Reims
Annual Production (bottles): 760,000