Champagne, Krug Grande Cuvée, 170th Edition
About Producer
Krug Grande Cuvée was created in 1844 by Joseph Krug, founder of the House, whose vision was to offer ‘the most generous expression of champagne every year’, regardless of variations in climate. This 170h edition is composed of 195 wines from 12 different harvests, with 2014 being the mainstay and the oldest dating back to 1998. Reserve wines made up 45% of the final blend.
Varietals
Blend of 51% pinot noir, 38% chardonnay and 11% meunier.
About Appellation
One of the first mentions of vines in the region was made by Saint Remigius, the Bishop of Reims who baptised the King of the Franks Clovis I in 496, who listed in his testament a vineyard in the suburb of Reims. Much has been written about the key roles of Dom Pierre Pérignon (1638-1715), a Benedictine monk at Hautvilliers Abbey, and Frère Jean Oudart (1654-1742), from Saint-Pierre-aux-Monts Abbey in Pierry, in the development of Champagne as we know today. In 1690, 'Champagne Wines' were first mentioned to designate sparkling wines of the region, and it was also the first time in France that a wine was identified as produce from a specific region. Today, the vineyards covers 34,300ha in four sub-regions, Montagne de Reims, Vallée de la Marne, Côte des Blancs and Côte des Bar. Within the three first sub-regions, there are 17 Grand Cru communes. While the main grape varieties are pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier, four other varietals are also used in some blends, arbane, petit meslier, pinot blanc and pinot gris (known locally as fromenteau).
Tasting Notes
Alluring nose of ripe orchard fruit, lemon curd, orange peel, grapefruit, baking spices, flint and white flowers, rich mouthfeel with sumptuous texture, excellent concentration and remarkable clarity, oodles of flavours of apple, pear, apricot, pineapple, warm brioche, hazelnut, candied ginger and cinnamon liberally laced with mineral undertones, racy acidity and refined bubbles carrying through an incredibly long, persistent finish. The weather pattern in 2014 was erratic with hot, dry spells alternating with cool, rainy periods that led to a harvest of heterogeneous quality across Champagne. Drawing on a nearly unprecedented proportion of reserve wines, Krug has produced a wonderful 170th edition of Grande Cuvée. Bearing witness to the House art of blending, this is an utterly charming champagne with effortless balance, incredible precision and lively energy. It’s bright, finely structured and beguilingly demonstrative at this early stage of its life, and there is a mouthwatering freshness that lingers pleasantly on the aftertaste. A magnificent rendition of this iconic cuvée indeed. (09/2023)