This limited-edition Soloist To Orchestra gift case presents a trio of expressions of the House of Krug. Start with the soloist Krug Clos du Mesnil 2008, then move on to the ensemble of Krug 2008, before ending with the full orchestra of Krug Grand Cuvée 164ème Édition.

Weather: 2008 was one of Champagne’s coolest in 14 years, and also one of the region’s least sunny in almost half a century. It was a classic northern climate, one that has not been seen much since. Rainfall was normal, the summer was dry, and temperatures were constant throughout the growing season. This absence of extremes resulted in slow and steady grape maturation. Under these circumstances, the fruit was intense, elegant and beautifully structured. Heterogeneity in the vines brought great complexity, with a full spectrum flavours and aromas observed upon harvest.

Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 164 NV | Krug ID: 414076
Exceptional freshness in the mouth is accompanied by notes of toasted bread, hazelnut, nougat and jellied fruit. Rich and tangy flavours of lemon and grapefruit are enhanced by the subtlety of the fine and elegant bubbles. This has tremendous power of fruit, brioche, backed apples, vanilla and spice and a length of flavour that goes on and on.

Krug 2008 | Krug ID: 419044
An expressive nose that is rich and ample with patinated aromas of honey, liquorice, menthol, orange peel and grapefruit. Vivacious, intense and harmonious with great tension on the palate, expressing notes of quince, candied fruits and citrus, yellow kiwi, star fruit, honey, apple tart, butter cookies, orange peel, peony and fennel, with floral and menthol undertones. It has a long, balanced and precise finish with astounding structure.

Krug Clos du Mesnil 2008 | Krug ID: 321045
On the nose, notes of citrus, lightly toasted aromas, orange madeleine and the menthol signature of this small plot. On the palate, citrus in all its forms and grapefruit skin give way to ripe and candied citrus flavours and notes of barley sugar, with a delightful bitterness. This champagne is elegant and chiselled, all the while silky and generous.

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.

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