The House of Krug presents Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Edition

Every year, the House of Krug honours the dream of one man, Joseph Krug with a new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, the most generous expression of Champagne. As of 2017 Krug Grande Cuvée displays its Édition number on the front label.

This turning point in Krug’s history brings to light the beauty, uniqueness, and collectability of these creations. Today, over one hundred and seventy five years after Krug Grande Cuvée was first created, the House of Krug is delighted to present Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition.

„With each new Édition we re create the fullness of flavours and aromas characteristic of Krug Grande Cuvée.“
Julie Cavil, Cellar Master, House of Krug

EVERY YEAR BRINGS A NEW ÉDITION OF THE FOUNDER’S DREAM

When Joseph Krug established the Champagne House bearing his name in 1843 driven by his understanding that the true essence of Champagne is pleasure itself, his dream was to craft the very best Champagne he could offer, every year, regardless of annual climate variations. He went beyond all known boundaries of Champagne creation, founding a House where all Champagnes would be of the same level of distinction. In 1848 he committed his vision to the pages of his dark cherry personal notebook.

Joseph Krug’s “Champagne Number 1 would later become Krug Grande Cuvée. The most generous expression of Champagne, created every year, beyond the notion of vintage, Krug Grande Cuvée is always a blend of over 120 plots’ wines individually kept 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.

„Every year since the foundation of the House, a new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée is created, every year the inspiration will be the same, but the creation will be totally unique and different.“

Olivier Krug, Director of the House of Krug & sixth generation of the Krug family

THE KRUG GRANDE CUVÉE ÉDITION NUMBER

The Édition number identifies a specific creation of Krug Grande Cuvée. It corresponds to the number of years in the House of Krug the founder’s dream has been re created.

The House of Krug was founded in November 1843 after the harvest of that year. One can therefore assume that the first Krug harvest took place in 1844 around when Joseph Krug brought to life his dream for the first time Krug Grande Cuvée was born.

The first re-creation of Krug Grande Cuvée the Edition N 1 was therefore composed around the harvest of 1845. Every year, only once a year, a new creation, a sole blend, a unique bottling thus a new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée is created.

Every June, following the harvest, the new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée will be bottled. Champagne will later be born and will wait for around seven years in Krug’s cellars before it is ready to be enjoyed.

FOR EVERY EDITION A UNIQUE BRAND

Creating a new Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée each year takes a very musical approach at the House of Krug. Looking back to the origins of the House, one can imagine Joseph Krug in his cellar working like a composer tasting a vast array of unique wines, painstakingly taking notes and organising flavours and aromas.

Today, Krug Cellar Master Julie Cavil works in much the same way, drawing on around 400 wines, the majority of which capture the essence of a single plot. The House of Krug places great importance on respecting the individual character of every element contributing to the creation of each Édition. In a series of auditions conducted throughout the year, Julie and the winemaking team, a group of 5 to 6 members, taste around 250 wines of the year 2 to 3 times and 150 reserve wines from 14 different years once in early spring. Julie records over 4000 tasting notes which she consults before any blending decision is made the distinct melody of each wine, its particular character, level of freshness, intensity, roundness and depth all are crucial to the creation of the whole. In Krug Grande Cuvée, the entire orchestra plays in joyous harmony the music of Champagne.

„From founder Joseph Krug, we inherit our unique approach to Champagne creation. Generations ago, he went beyond the traditional boundaries to craft the highest quality Champagne he could offer, every year, regardless of annual climate variations. In line with his vision, today we assess each wine from every plot as a single element, thereby guaranteeing the quality of those we select. This art of individuality allows me to re create the most generous expression of Champagne each year.“

Julie Cavil, Cellar Master, House of Krug

REVEALING THE INFLUENCE OF TIME

Krug offers only prestige Champagnes, all of the same level of distinction, each illustrating a particular expression of nature. The most important characteristic of a prestige Champagne is that it will gain beautifully with the passage of time. To the delight of Krug Lovers, the number of each Édition can now be used as a reference to collect bottles of Krug Grande Cuvée and Krug Rosé and enjoy them later in order to discover the new facets that will develop under time’s precious influence.

„All Éditions of Krug Grande Cuvée share a myriad of flavours and aromas in which everyone can find something that stirs their emotions. As the years pass, particular aspects of every Édition’s character become more accentuated. As they grow, so do their distinctive features Their uniqueness is simply reaffirmed.“

Julie Cavil, Cellar Master, House of Krug

KRUG GRANDE CUVÉE 169ÈME ÉDITION

Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition was composed around the harvest of the year 2013. The season began with a seemingly endless winter followed by a rainy and cool spring. Luckily, summer was hot and sunny, although also marked by hailstorms, which took their toll in the vineyards. The wines of the year were complete, expressive and full of flavours.

To create this Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, the Cellar Master looked to accentuate the year’s fullness and beautiful aromatic elegance with different plots’ reserve wines from 10 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.

„After two challenging years, the harvest of 2013 gave the House’s oldest plots the conditions they needed to shine. In this Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée, you will find beautiful wines from our plots in Ambonnay and Ricey. The Chardonnays of the year were magnificently fresh and pure, with great intensity and length. The Pinot Noirs were powerful and long with discreet fruit, while the Meuniers added structure, tension and vivacity. To complete the blend, different plots’ wines were selected from throughout the first decade of the millennium, including Meuniers from Sainte Gemme which contributed warmth, opulence and texture, contrasting with the chiselled Meuniers of 2013.“

Julie Cavil, Cellar Master, House of Krug

Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition is a blend of 146 wines from 11 different years, the youngest of which is from 2013 while the oldest dates back to 2000. Its final composition is 43% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay and 22% Meunier. Reserve wines from the House’s extensive library made up 40 of the final blend.

A stay of around seven years in Krug’s cellars gives this Édition its remarkable expression and elegance. In all, over 20 years of careful craftsmanship were necessary to enjoy this Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée which represents the 169th re-creation of the most generous expression of Champagne.

KRUG GRANDE CUVÉE 169ÈME ÉDITION IS UNIQUE

At first sight, a light golden colour and fine, vivacious bubbles, hold a promise of pleasure. On the nose are aromas of flowers in bloom, ripe, dried and citrus fruits, as well as marzipan and gingerbread. The palate reveals flavours of hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar, jellied and citrus fruits, almonds, brioche and honey.

This Champagne can be enjoyed as an aperitif with Jabugo ham and mature comté or served to accompany oysters, grilled shrimps, Indian or Moroccan food, as well as desserts such as carrot cake, tarte tatin and cheesecake.

„Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition lends itself to a wealth of culinary combinations, from the simplest to the most sophisticated, from an aged parmesan to turbot à la truffe.“

Eric Lebel, House of Krug Deputy Director & former Cellar Master

Discover the new Édition Grande Cuvée 169éme (205 €) on Clos19.com and dive into the fabulous world of Krug.

Source: House of Krug