What can one say? Magnificent; all this power with all this finesse, elegance and freshness, from the first whiff to the aftertaste. Apple, grapefruit blossom, dried and fresh fruits and spicy pastry. One glass is never enough, with or without food. 169ème Édition; 146 wines, 11 different years ’00-’13; 43/35/22% pinot noir, chardonnay and pinot meunier. James Halliday

Krug Champagne House note:

Every year since the foundation of the House of Krug, a new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée is created to offer the most generous expression of Champagne.

This bottle belongs to the 169ème Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, a blend of 146 wines from 11 different years. The youngest is from the year 2013 and the oldest dates back to 2000. A stay of around seven years in Krug’s cellars gives this Édition its remarkable expression and elegance. Every glass poured from it is the fruit of more than 20 years of careful craftsmanship.

The 169ème Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée was composed around the harvest of 2013. 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. The wines of the year were complete, expressive and full of flavours.

To create this Édition, the Cellar Master looked to accentuate the year’s fullness and beautiful aromatic elegance with different plots’ wines from 10 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 40% 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 43% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 22% Meunier.