Krug Grande Cuvee 172nd Edition Brut NV
(Champagne, France) - [WE 98] [DM 97] [JS 97] [WS 96] [VM 95] [WA 95]

About the Champagne House:
The House was established in Reims in 1843, by Joseph Krug, a visionary non-conformist with an uncompromising philosophy. Having understood that the true essence of Champagne is pleasure itself, his dream was to craft the very best Champagne he could offer, every single year, regardless of annual variations in climate. Paying close attention to the vineyard’s character, respecting the individuality of each plot and its wine, as well as building an extensive library of reserve wines from many different years allowed Joseph Krug to fulfil his dream.

With a very original approach to Champagne making, he decided to go beyond the notion of vintage to create the most generous expression of Champagne, every year. Thus, he founded a House in which all Champagnes are of the same level of distinction.

Six generations of the Krug family have perpetuated this dream, enriching the founder’s vision and savoir faire.

About Krug Grande Cuvée:
Krug Grande Cuvée is 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: the most generous expression of Champagne.

Krug Grande Cuvée is re-created every year, beyond the notion of vintage and is a blend of over 120 individual wines from more than 10 different years. The fullness or flavours and aromas achieved by this careful art of blending would be impossible to express with the wines of a single year.

About the 172nd Édition:

Krug Grande Cuvée 172^ème Édition was composed around the harvest of 2016, a year of weather conditions so contrasted, they became a caricature of the climatic pendulum. An extremely wet spring, with 70% more rainfall versus the norm between April and June, made vineyard work difficult and increased disease pressure. Clement weather ensued from flowering onwards, allowing the vineyard to recover, ending with a heatwave at the end of ripening. The marathon harvest took place from September 9 to October 2 yielding classic grapes in good health and wines all about expression and character, regardless of grape variety or origin.

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 10 other years, giving it a unique fullness of flavours and aromas, impossible to express with the wines of a single year. The careful attention given to the vines and Krug’s unique respect for the individual character of each plot and its wine enabled the depth of expression of this Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée. It is the full orchestra, playing together the symphony of Champagne.

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 Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée is 44% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier.

Tasting Notes:

A light golden color 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.

Flavors of hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar, jellied and citrus fruits, almonds, brioche and honey.

Ratings & Reviews

98 Points - Wine Enthusiast:
"This is most recent bottling of this iconic Champagne. There is a touch of toast as well as enticing apple and citrus aromas. On the palate, this wine is rich, intense, poised between maturity and ripe white fruits. It is a beautifully balanced wine, ready to drink." (RV)

97 Points - Decanter Magazine: 
"The 172ème édition, based around the 2016 vintage, is a delicate, floral and saline Grande Cuvée at this early stage in its life. The palate it taut, tightly wound, gradually unfurling into toasted fruit bread, rye bread and roasted nuts, wrapped around an intricate and taut lemon core. It's exceptionally long, spicy, rounded and spherical in shape. Notes of sweet unsalted butter round out the finish, which has such length, elegance and balance. 58% of the wine is from the 2016 vintage, which saw a lot of rain in the spring and close to flowering, with 42% from reserve wines. The blend is made up of 146 separately vinified wines from 11 different years, and the oldest wine in the blend is from the 1998 vintage." (Apr 2024)

97 Points - James Suckling:
"Beautiful notes of dried citrus fruit, lemon curd and dried apples with hints of spices, dried flowers and subtle brioche. I like the polished and caressing texture and steady, refreshing acidity. Its fresh and even austere, with notes of ground spices. So vertical and firm. Structured and long." (May 2024)

96 Points - Wine Spectator:
"This classy Champagne waltzes across the palate with fluid poise and grace. The mousse's pointillismlike beads and a vivid frame of acidity buoy the detailed range of aromas and flavors, including chopped cherry, dried apricot, tangerine peel and plum cake notes, plus fragrant hints of grated ginger, lime blossoms, ground coffee and grilled nuts. A tang of salinity drives the racy, lingering finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier. Disgorged winter 2022 to 2023 (Krug ID 123003). Drink now through 2040." - Alison Napjus (Nov 2024)

95 Points - Vinous Media:
"The NV Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition is a gracious, sublime Champagne. Light citrus notes, white flowers, spice, marzipan and chamomile inflections all run through this delicate, nuanced Grande Cuvée. The 172eme is a Champagne of understatement and class that is very much a reflection of the base year. Brisk acids pull it all together. The Grande Cuvée is often quite accessible on release, but this is an Edition I would cellar for at least another year or two. Its a fine effort from Krug. The 172ème Édition is a blend of 44% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier based on 2016 with reserve wines back to 1998. Disgorged: Winter 2022-2023." - Antonio Galloni (Mar 2024)

95 Points - Wine Advocate:
"The new Krug release, the NV Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition, based on the 2016 vintage and comprising 11 vintages in total (the oldest is 1998), is outstanding. It reveals a complex, slightly spicy bouquet of white fruits, beeswax, marzipan, hazelnuts, dried herbs, ripe orchard fruits and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated on the palate, it has a subtly spicy entry, an enrobing and layered texture and a fleshy core of fruit framed around a perfectly balanced, fresh and mineral finish. Crafted primarily from Pinot Noir (44%) and complemented with 30% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Meunier, it was disgorged in the first quarter of 2023 with a dosage of 4.5 grams per liter. Keep it for 5-10 years." - Yohan Castaing (Oct 2024)