"95 Points William Kelley, Wine Advocate
Krug's NV Grande Cuvée 170ème Édition is based on the 2014 vintage, complemented by some 45% reserve wines dating back to 1998, with the house drawing on, among many others, 2013 for structure and 2012 and 2003 for generosity. Opening in the glass with aromas of pastry cream, dried fruits, pear, warm spices, freshly baked bread and vanilla pod, it's medium to full-bodied, pillowy and fine-boned, with excellent concentration, racy acids and a precise, chiseled profile. But if the latter adjective could be applied to the 2013-base 169ème édition equally felicitously, the 2014-base 170ème is more giving and less tightly wound out of the gates and will offer more demonstrative drinking young."
Julie Cavill, Cellarmaster
In this blend, the dynamic Pinot Noirs of 2014 came from a wide range of plots throughout the Champagne region, while fruity and full-bodied Chardonnays were selected from plots in the Montagne de Reims, Sézannais and Côte des Blancs. The Meuniers from the Vallée de la Marne Rive Gauche were particularly bright, with magnificent fruit expression from plots in Leuvrigny. To complement the wines of the year, we selected reserve Pinot Noirs from plots in the Montagne de Reims Sud renowned for their structure, including an Ambonnay from 2005. Reserve Chardonnays from plot’s wines from Avize and Mesnil-sur-Oger over a wide spectrum of years have a nice share of voice in this blend, while reserve plot’s wines of Meuniers add freshness, intensity and chiselled structure.
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 170ème Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, a blend of 195 wines from 12 different years. The youngest is from the year 2014 and the oldest dates back to 1998. 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.
Krug Grande Cuvée 170ème Édition was composed around the harvest of 2014, an erratic year that oscillated between hot dry spells, and cool rainy periods. Vines developed under good conditions, ensuring a generous harvest. The contrasting weather preserved freshness and resulted in great heterogeneity throughout the region, underscoring the importance of the House’s plot-by-plot approach. 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 45% 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 51% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay and 11% Meunier. NYE!
KRUG GRANDE CUVÉE 170ÈME ÉDITION
▪ It is a blend of 195 wines from 12 different years, the youngest of which is from 2014, while the oldest dates back to 1998.
▪ Its final composition is 51% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay and 11% Meunier.
▪ A stay of around seven years in Krug’s cellars gives Krug Grande Cuvée 170ème Édition its distinct expression and elegance.
