NV Krug Grande Cuvee Edition 173
Buying options
Tasting notes
Though a little shy to start, the nose is clear and concise with orange blossom, pear drop and just-ripe nectarine treading water above an undercurrent of blanched hazelnut, nashi pear and freshly baked peach and frangipane tart. A lighter, more aromatically expressive iteration of Krug, still holding its cards close to its chest, the palate just begins to reveal delicate orchard fruits, nutmeg, wild strawberry and toasted pinenuts. Made with reserve wines dating all the way back to 2001, there’s no doubt that this a long life ahead of it.
Critic scores
Average Score
Antonio Galloni, Vinous
Jancis Robinson MW
More reviews and scores
The NV Grande Cuvée 173ème Édition, based on the 2017 vintage, is every bit as exceptional as it was the last time I tasted it a few months ago. Beautifully textured, the 173ème offers a captivating mix of floral and tropical notes, with gorgeous richness and fabulous balance. Time in the glass softens the mid-palate nicely.
44% Pinot Noir, 34% Chardonnay, 22% Pinot Meunier. Based on the 2017 vintage and from 150 wines across 13 vintages back to 2001. 31% reserve wine. A rain-soaked harvest required extreme diligence. Dosage 4 g/l. Positively round and charming as well as the usual depth, intricate layers and intellectual rigour. Seems to be based on riper grapes than it once was and is already a real pleasure to drink. My chosen accompaniment during multiple interrogations at Star Wine List’s Inspiration Day in Stockholm on 10 November. (JR)
The NV Champagne Grande Cuvee 173eme Edition is bright and mineral-driven, crafted around the 2017 vintage with 150 wines from 13 vintages back to 2001. It offers notes of wet stones, custard, lemon rind, honeycomb, white peach, and citrus blossom. Full-bodied, it has power and finesse, with mineral texture and a long-lasting finish. It has fantastic spice as well in this edition, and it has excellent underlying acidity and tension with a great savory finish. Olivier Krug commented on the warm weather of 2017, noting that they were keen to pick on the early side in this vintage and were finished with their harvest when many others had just begun. Disgorged in early 2024.
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.