NV Krug Grande Cuvee Edition 166
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Tasting notes
Blending wines from a careful selection of different vintages gives the Grande Cuvée its unique fullness of flavour and aroma, difficult to express through the wines of just one year. Created from 45% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay and 16% Meunier, this latest release is a blend of an incredible 140 wines from 10 different years - the youngest of which dates back to 2010 and the oldest to 1998. Édition 166 was composed around the harvest of 2010 and enriched with reserve wines from the House of Krug's extensive library, accounting for 42% of the final blend. It has spent seven years maturing in the Krug cellars in Reims prior to its release, enhancing its particular expression. Absolutely leaps from the glass; apple and lemon scented, it’s so young, fresh and alive. With time it unfurls and reveals more layers of baked-lemon, lime, bruised apple and a touch of brioche. The complexity on the nose is incredible even at this young stage. On the palate this is the epitome of elegance with plenty of lime, baked apple, white flowers, mandarin and honey that continue to biscuit and brioche notes. Laser-like acidity and exquisite tension balance the almost painfully intense and beautifully defined fruit. Very vinous and deep through to the long finish. A masterpiece in the making.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
James Suckling
More reviews and scores
The 166th edition of the Grande Cuvée is a lovely wine, and particularly so because it is harmonious, indeed seamless. It reminds me a great deal of the 169th edition except that it's not quite as complex, though given that this particular example was in magnum and thus, it clearly has time to make up for any deficiency in terms of depth. As to the wine, it's more expressive than its younger sibling with even more yeast and citrus influences, both of which are picked up by the utterly delicious flavors that are supported by a firm but fine effervescence that is perfectly suited to the weight and density. The lingering finish is dry with a hint of austerity and all this needs to be at the next level is better depth. Lovely.
Magnum. Pinot Noir 45%, Chardonnay 39% and Pinot Meunier 16%. Base vintage 2010. Reserve wine 42%. Lees ageing: 8 years. Disgorged spring 2019. Dosage: 6 g/l. Very pale gold. Intensely fragrant with orange blossom and orange fruit. Orange-blossom honey. Fragrant with jasmine but also really toasty and nutty, plus yellow plums. Too delicate to be compared to brioche but buttery and extraordinarily intense. Deep, long and pure. Perfect balance, there's massive tension and power yet great elegance on the long finish. Outstanding.
Magnum. Pinot Noir 45%, Chardonnay 39% and Pinot Meunier 16%. Base vintage 2010. Reserve wine 42%. Lees ageing: 8 years. Disgorged spring 2019. Dosage: 6 g/l. Very pale gold. Intensely fragrant with orange blossom and orange fruit. Orange-blossom honey. Fragrant with jasmine but also really toasty and nutty, plus yellow plums. Too delicate to be compared to brioche but buttery and extraordinarily intense. Deep, long and pure. Perfect balance, there's massive tension and power yet great elegance on the long finish. Outstanding. (JH)
About the producer
Krug is a remarkable Champagne House which only makes prestige cuvées. The wines – with their distinctive rich, complex, oxidative style – are some of the region’s best.