This week, Krug unveiled their latest non-vintage release: Grande Cuvée Edition 167 NV. The 167th creation of their legendary non-vintage is based on the 2011 harvest. A rather unusual year, 2011 began with atypically high temperatures during spring, which resulted in early flowering. The cold and wet weather that followed slowed the growth cycle somewhat, however the harvest still kicked off incredibly early: the second earliest since 1822.
The eventual crop was quite large and the healthy, ripe grapes produced wines of surprising structure and remarkable aromas. Although the Chardonnays were perhaps less fresh than usual, it was a year for beautifully balanced Pinot Noir wines, particularly those from the southern Montagne de Reims villages, such as Mareuil-sur-Aÿ.
The Grande Cuvée Edition 167 NV blend comprises 191 wines, encapsulating 12 vintages dating back to 1995. The reserve wine content is an impressive 42% – the joint highest percentage of any previous Grande Cuvée blend.
Chef de Cave Eric Lebel commented: “I selected some wines from behind the Montagne de Reims Nord, in Mareuil-sur-Ay, for their surprisingly beautiful, ample and fruity expressions, to which I added Pinot Noir wines from Ambonnay, Ay and Bouzy which I chose for their structure. Some of the older wines came from plots in Verzonay, to bring finesse and mature elegance. I looked to certain plots in Sainte-Gemme for the fruit expression of their Meuniers and, finally, some plots in Côte des Blancs, Chouilly and Oger for the character and body of their Chardonnays.”
Bright and vivacious on the palate with a delightfully honeyed finish, this is a typical Grande Cuvée. However, the latest release is a small one – a knock-on effect of the global economic crisis of a decade ago. Wary of any fluctuations on luxury product consumption, Krug made much smaller quantities of Grande Cuvée in the years following the crash; therefore limited quantities of Grande Cuvée Edition 167 NV are available.
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 167 NV is available to pre-order now for delivery from 3rd June 2019.
| Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 167 NV | Krug ID: 118002 47% PN, 36% CH, 17% PM | Base Vintage: 2011 | Reserve Wine: 42% | Lees Ageing: 6 Years | Disgorged: Winter 2018 | Dosage: 6 g/l | Post-Disgorgement Ageing: 6 Months |
| The Wine Advocate – 95+/100 “Making its debut this year is Krugs NV Grande Cuvée 167ème Édition, a beautiful wine that wafts from the glass with aromas of yellow orchard fruit, peach and waxy citrus rind, complemented by complex notes of freshly baked bread, walnuts and smoke. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied and muscular but incisive, with a deep and concentrated core, a pinpoint mousse and a long, complex finish. Built around the 2011 vintage, the wine includes reserve wines dating back to 1995 and was disgorged in the winter of 2017-2018. Readers are advised to give it at least a couple years of bottle age before popping corks. 2020 – 2045” |
In addition, we have recently listed magnums of the spectacular Grande Cuvée Edition 164 NV. Based on the outstanding 2008 vintage, this is one of the best Grande Cuvée Editions ever created, is frequently one of the highest scored champagnes at our Krug vertical tastings (which include Vintage and Grande Cuvée champagnes), and has been lauded by the critics: receiving 97/100 and 98/100 from Antonio Galloni and Essi Avellan MW, respectively.
A champagne of this magnitude in magnum is a quite remarkable thing. Already rich, round and complex, it is transformed in the larger format: layers and layers of tropical fruit flavour give way to a rich finish, with a freshness quite unexpected of an eleven year old vintage.
| Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 164 NV Magnum | Krug ID: 414076 48% PN, 35% CH, 17% PM | Base Vintage: 2008 | Reserve Wine: 38% | Lees Ageing: 7 Years | Disgorged: January 2016 | Dosage: 6 g/l | Post-Disgorgement Ageing: 3 Years Lots of brioche and toast on the nose. Very floral with loads of acidity and masses of fruit and concentration. Lots of lemons, apricots and richness on the palate. This has quite a roundness and lots of lees character, honey and freshness. |
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 167 NV has the joint highest reserve wine content of any previous Grande Cuvée Edition at 42%
Edition 164: one of the greatest Krug Grande Cuvée NV creations ever made
