New Release: Krug Grande Cuvee 169th Edition


Krug Grande Cuvee

Every year, a new edition.

At Krug, the focus is very much on their non vintage blend, the wines are chosen first for Grande Cuvee and like 2012 they choose not to make a vintage and instead prioritise the non vintage. Krug Grande Cuvée was 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 all the way up to the latest 169th edition. The edition number identifies a specific creation of Krug Grande Cuvée, corresponding to the number of years in the House of Krug the founder’s vision has been re-created.

Krug Grande Cuvée is the first and, as of yet, unique Prestige Champagne re-created every year. Therefore the art of blending wines from so many different years gives Krug Grande Cuvée its unique flavours and aromas, impossible to express with the wines of just a single year, allowing each year to have its own characteristics different from the rest.

 

“Every year since the Foundation of the House, a new edition of Krug Grande Cuvee is created, every year the inspiration will be the same, but the creation will be totally unique and different”

Olivier Krug

House of Krug

 

 

Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition is a blend of 146 wines from 11 different years, the youngest of which is from 2013, while the oldest dates back to 2000 and a stay of around seven years in Krug’s cellars gives this edition its distinct expression and elegance. Its final composition is 43% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 22% Meunier.

The story of its creation

Krug Grande Cuvée 169th Edition was composed around the harvest of 2013, a year that beautifully expressed the unique characters of some of the House’s iconic plots. 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. To create this edition, the Cellar Master looked to accentuate the year’s fullness and beautiful aromatic elegance with different plots’ wines from almost every year of the first decade of the millennium. In all, reserve wines from the House’s extensive library made up 40% of the final blend.

 

“The Chardonnays of the year were magnificently fresh and pure, with great intensity and length. The Pinot Noirs were powerful and long with discreet fruit, while the Meuniers added structure, tension and vivacity.”

Julie Cavil

Cellar Master, House of Krug

 

Technical Information:
Vineyards: Predominately Premier & Grand Cru
Grape Varieties: 43% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 22% Meunier
Base Vintage: 2013
Reserve Wine: 40%
Lees Ageing: 7 years
Disgorged: Spring 2020
Dosage: 6 g/l

Tasting notes:

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 finish… This should have a long life. Bone-dry finish and playing the intellectual card. Throbs on the palate with all its vibrancy. A light golden colour and fine, vivacious bubbles, holding a promise of pleasure. Aromas of flowers in bloom, ripe, dried and citrus fruits, as well as marzipan and gingerbread. Flavours of hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar, jellied and citrus fruits, almonds, brioche and honey.

Food pairing:

Krug Grande Cuvée lends itself to a wide selection of culinary combinations, from an aged parmesan to turbot à la truffe. This Champagne can be enjoyed as an aperitif with Jabugo ham and mature comté or served to accompany oysters, grilled shrimps, Indian or Moroccan food, as well as desserts such as carrot cake, tarte tatin and cheesecake.

 

Krug Grande Cuvee 169th Edition

Jancis Robinson MW | 18.5/20

“Deep copper gold. Tiny, tiny bead. Much more obvious acidity, age and (lightly oaky?) savour on the nose than Cristal 2013. Aérien with blossomy notes with a little mandarin. Very marked acidity on the palate. A real wake-up call! 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 finish. The palate is still a bit of shock. This should have a long life. Bone-dry finish and playing the intellectual card. Throbs on the palate with all its vibrancy. Long. Tighter than the 168ème Édition. Structure dominates fruit.”

 

 

Other releases in recent years have been:

Blend Youngest wine Number of wines Oldest wine Number of vintages
Krug Grande Cuvée 159th edition 51% PN | 30% CH | 9% M 2003 120 1988 10
Krug Grande Cuvée 160th edition 44% PN | 33% CH | 23% M 2004 121 1990 12
Krug Grande Cuvée 161st edition 44% PN | 37% CH | 19% M 2005 134 1990 12
Krug Grande Cuvée 162nd edition 44% PN | 35% CH | 21% M 2006 163 1990 11
Krug Grande Cuvée 163rd edition 37% PN | 32% CH | 31% M 2007 145 1990 12
Krug Grande Cuvée 164th edition 48% PN | 35% CH | 17% M 2008 127 1990 11
Krug Grande Cuvée 165th edition 47% PN | 38% CH | 15% M 2009 127 1990 12
Krug Grande Cuvée 166th edition 45% PN | 39% CH | 16% M 2010 140 1998 13
Krug Grande Cuvée 167th edition 47%PN | 36% CH | 17% M 2011 191 1995 13
Krug Grande Cuvée 168th edition 52% PN | 35% CH | 13% M 2012 198 1996 11
Krug Grande Cuvée 169th edition 43% PN | 35% CH | 22% M 2013 146 2000 11

 

Krug Grande Cuvee 169th Edition

Krug Grande Cuvee 169th Edition

 

 

 

Olivier Krug in the new tasting room befit with an impressive sound system for sharing the musical experience

Olivier Krug in the new tasting room befit with an impressive sound system for sharing the musical experience

 

 

 

Julie Cavil, Cellar Master House of Krug

Julie Cavil, Cellar Master House of Krug

 

 

 

Krug oak barrels

Krug oak barrels