Krug : Grande Cuvée 174th Edition

Characteristics and tasting tips for the Grande Cuvée 174ème Édition by Krug

Tasting

Appearance
An intense, bright and deep golden-yellow colour, a testament to its fine maturity and long rest in the cellar.

Nose
The aromatic bouquet is particularly expressive and complex. It reveals elegant grilled and toasted notes, mingled with scents of dried fruits and candied citrus such as mandarin, along with subtle touches of camphor and a light hint of petrol.

Palate
Generous and harmonious, the palate offers an ample texture carried by indulgent flavours of mandarin, citrus, candied fruit, chocolate and beeswax. The whole extends into a supremely elegant finish, underscored by a delicate touch of bitterness.

Food and wine pairing
This cuvée pairs beautifully with gastronomic dishes such as white fish in a light sauce or a tarte Tatin. For simpler pairings, it will elevate asparagus roasted in garlic butter or a mature cheese such as an aged Comté served with ham.

Serving and ageing
The non-vintage Grande Cuvée 174ème Édition can be enjoyed now to appreciate its immediate radiance, or laid down in the cellar, where it will continue to develop fascinating complexity over time.

The timeless excellence of a great champagne by Krug

The estate
Founded in Reims in 1843 by Joseph Krug, this renowned Champagne House, now part of the LVMH group, stands out for its visionary philosophy: to offer the finest possible cuvée every year, regardless of the vagaries of the weather. Currently led by Olivier Krug, with Julie Cavil as Cellar Master, the House perpetuates exceptional expertise. It relies on ultra-precise plot-by-plot vinification and an impressive library of reserve wines to create world-renowned prestige sparkling wines.

The vineyard
The grapes come from the estate's own plots as well as those of its partner growers in the Cercle des Vignerons, all located within the Champagne appellation area. Viticulture is carried out with strict environmental standards: no herbicides, exclusive use of organic fertilisers, cover crops maintained to preserve biodiversity and carefully adjusted harvest dates to ensure optimal ripeness of the berries.

The blend
This edition is built around the 2018 harvest, a vintage with mild weather conditions that yielded healthy grapes and even ripening. To recreate the House's unique style, this blend brings together 143 different wines from 10 distinct years. The youngest wines date from 2018, while the oldest go back to 2001.

Vinification and ageing
Crafting the Grande Cuvée 174ème Édition requires some twenty years of patience and expertise. Vinification follows the principle of keeping each plot separate in small, old oak casks, allowing natural clarification and gentle micro-oxygenation. The reserve wines, aged for up to fifteen years, make up 36% of the final blend, bringing roundness and aromatic depth. After bottling, the wine rests for at least seven years in the House's cellars.

Grape varieties
The blend comprises 54% Pinot Noir, 29% Chardonnay and 17% Meunier.