Krug Grande Cuvée Prestige 171eme Edition

Every year, the House of Krug honours the dream of one man, Joseph Krug with a new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, the most generous expression of Champagne. The most recent iteration, Krug Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition is a blend of 131 wines from 12 different years, the youngest of which is from 2015, while the oldest dates back to 2000.

Krug Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition was composed around the harvest of 2015, a year marked by unprecedented heat and drought that prevailed from the end of May to mid-August, slowing grape development. Fortunately, rains in the second half of August allowed the berries to grow and, combined with sunshine and reasonable temperatures, ensured ripening in optimal conditions.

To create this Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, the Cellar Master looked to accentuate the year’s elegantly diverse aromatic expressions with different plots’ reserve wines from 11 other years. The careful attention given to the vines and Krug’s unique respect for the individual character of each plot enabled the breadth of expression of this Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée. In all, reserve wines from the House’s extensive library made up 42% of the final blend, bringing the breadth and roundness so essential to each Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée.

The final composition of this bottle of Krug Grande Cuvée is 45% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay and 18% Meunier.

To the eye, 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. On the palate you will find grilled notes and flavours of almond paste, quince, lemon, limoncello and dried fruit.

The grand daddy of champagne - Krug - has well and truly earned its place as the ‘King of Champagne’ and along with this grand title, is a grand price tag. This house is part of the Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy conglomerate but is very much left alone to create the magic it does in the vineyard and cellar but with all the marketing polish that LVMH can add. The team at Krug are fastidious, using only the best fruit parcels in their blends and vintages, with all wines being fermented in small oak barrels – a practice which is practically obsolete in Champagne. Fermentation in oak barrel and extended ageing of the wines in the cellar after secondary fermentation provides a richness and complexity that is second to none. If you like your champagne big, bold and beautiful – this is the maison for you. Treat yourself with this champagne but don’t open a bottle with more than one person in tow, you won't want to share this!

45% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay and 18% Meunier from the 2015 vintage. A blend of 131 wines from 12 different different years, the youngest of which is from 2015, while the oldest dates back to 2000. About 7 years ageing in Krug's cellar.

Krug is quite simply a special wine however, you don't need to have a special meal to go with it. Consider the simplicity of some southern fried chicken with fluffy buttermilk crust and you could possibly be in food and wine heaven.