Krug Grande Cuvée 167 eme, Champagne

Krug ‘Grande Cuvée’, the 167th ‘edition’ is based around the 2011 vintage.The final composition was 47% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay and 17% Meunier and it spent seven years on its lees in the Krug cellars before disgorgement.

Cellar master Eric Lebel said: “In this 167th Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, we have crafted the fullest expression of Champagne with 191 different wines. “I selected some wines from behind the Montagne de Reims Nord, in Mareuil-sur-Ay, for their surprisingly beautiful, ample and fruity expressions, to which I added Pinot Noir wines from Ambonnay, Ay and Bouzy which I chose for their structure.Some of the older wines came from plots in Verzenay, to bring finesse and mature elegance. I looked to certain plots in Sainte-Gemme for the fruit expression of their Meuniers and, finally, some plots in Côte des Blancs, Chouilly and Oger for the character and body of their Chardonnays.”
 
Edition (blend) 167 is 47% pinot noir, 36% chardonnay and 17% meunier created from 191 components over 13 vintages. Reserve wines provided 42% of the wine, with the focus on chardonnay. Krug is my favourite champagne, richly succulent, with nougat, hazlenuts, dried and fresh fruits, honey and a drawstring of citrus.

99 points James Halliday winecompanion.com.au 1 November 2019

Few Champagne houses inspire the devotion of Krug, founded in Reims in 1843 by Joseph Krug with a vision of creating exceptional Champagne every year, regardless of vintage conditions. Grande Cuvée is the ultimate expression of that philosophy, blending wines from numerous harvests to achieve extraordinary complexity. The 167ème Édition is particularly sought after, combining the character of the 2011 harvest with an extensive collection of reserve wines, some dating back to 1995.

Created from 191 individual wines spanning 13 different years, this edition blends Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier, with the oldest reserve wines contributing remarkable maturity and depth. Fermentation of the base wines in small oak barrels and extended ageing in Krug's cellars develop the rich texture and intricate character that distinguish Grande Cuvée.

Deep golden straw with a fine, persistent mousse. Ripe pear, candied citrus and baked apple mingle with toasted hazelnut, brioche, honeycomb and delicate spice. The palate is wonderfully concentrated, with creamy bubbles, vibrant acidity and a fascinating interplay of ripe fruit, roasted nuts and savoury complexity. A long, beautifully composed finish reveals lingering citrus peel, almond and gentle mineral notes.

Magnificent with butter poached lobster, scallops with browned butter or roast turbot with beurre blanc. Wild mushroom risotto, aged Comté or roast chicken with morels would be equally delicious.

Cellaring: Drink now to 2038+. Already beautifully complex, with the freshness and structure to develop further toasted and savoury character.