Krug Grande Cuvée 172eme Edition

Tatler Champagne Guide 2024-2025

Grape Makeup:

44% Pinot Noir; 36% Chardonnay; 20% Meunier

Sweetness Level:

Brut

Ageing on Lees:

~Six years

Price:

$$$$

Cellar:

Ten+ years

Category:

Collectible

What

Founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug with the vision of achieving “ultimate quality,” the maison produces the most prestigious non-vintage blended champagne on the market, along with some of the most coveted prestige cuvées.

Where

Reims; 21 ha of estate vineyards covering roughly 1/3 of production needs, including in Grand Crus Ambonnay, Aÿ, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger and Oger.

Why

Grande Cuvée, the “entry level” for Krug, is a prestige cuvée level by any standard. Édition 172 was crafted from a characteristically immense 146 wines from 11 different vintages up to and including 2016, a split-personality year with a very wet spring but a heatwave during the final phase of ripening. The latter seems to be dominant in the wine style, which is back to its most luxuriant, plush self after an unusually skinny 171st edition.

What Else

Though Krug’s ultra-rare Clos d’Ambonnay and Clos du Mesnil are (substantially) harder on the wallet, Grande Cuvée was always the favourite child of former CEO Maggie Henriquez, who pioneered the edition numbering at Krug.

Tasting Notes

This is polished, smoky and luxuriant with the velvety musk and cedary polish expected from Krug. It opens with notes of cedar sprig and bergamot over base tones of Kola nut, sarsaparilla, liquorice and new leather. The palate leans into its Pinot noir, with an earthy, autumnal vibe, well balanced by acidity but anchored by a gutsy tannic structure. Chewy dried strawberry and dried citrus have the same polished nuances as the nose, but the midpalate and finish are basking in the base notes.

Try It With

Dark, meaty stews or a well-charred steak

When To Drink

After dinner

Perfect For

Your friend with expensive tastes whom you want to spoil

Tatler Tip

This is a Grande Cuvée that is ready to go now, a real return to form after the much sharper 171; drink 172 while you wait for 171 to loosen up.

TL/DR

Polished, smoky and luxuriant

Supplier

MHD