Champagne Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème

Champagne Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition

The art of time in a blend beyond compromise

Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition was born from the 2016 harvest, a season marked by contrasts and challenges that nonetheless gave rise to wines of remarkable purity and structure. As with every edition, this cuvée is a masterclass in blending, bringing together 146 wines from 11 different vintages, ranging from 2016 back to 1998. This Champagne embodies Joseph Krug’s original vision: to offer the fullest expression of taste every year, regardless of vintage constraints. It is a timeless Champagne, crafted to delight even the most discerning palates with its harmony and complexity.

In the vineyard: balance and precision through terroir diversity

The grapes for the 172ème Édition were sourced from a meticulous selection of plots located in some of Champagne’s finest villages. The vineyards are farmed with utmost respect for natural balance, ensuring the perfect maturity of each cluster. The 2016 vintage began with difficult conditions—frost and heavy rains—but a dry and warm summer allowed the fruit to ripen beautifully, resulting in vibrant base wines rich in energy and finesse. The diversity of terroirs was key to building a layered cuvée, where each parcel added its unique voice to the final composition.

In the cellar: Krug savoir-faire shaped by memory and precision

Each parcel is vinified separately in small oak barrels to preserve and enhance its identity. The core of the 172ème Édition is built around wines from the 2016 vintage (58%), complemented by an extraordinary collection of reserve wines (42%) selected from over ten vintages. This precious liquid library, stored at Krug, is what allows the Cellar Master to create a new Édition every year while remaining true to the House’s style. After blending, the wine rests for about 7 years on the lees, undergoing slow evolution before disgorgement. The result is a Champagne of depth, finesse, and seamless texture.

Varietals, tasting notes, and style

This 172ème Édition is composed of 47% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and 18% Meunier, offering a perfect harmony of structure, elegance, and roundness.
Color: bright golden with luminous reflections and a very fine mousse.
Nose: generous and layered, with notes of roasted hazelnut, dried fruits, honey, candied citrus, and brioche.
Palate: rich and creamy, vibrant freshness and deep tension lead to a long, saline finish.

Technical sheet

• Producer: Maison Krug

• Wine name: Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition

• Type: Brut Champagne

• Base vintage: 2016

• Blend: 146 wines from 11 vintages (1998–2016)

• Grapes: 47% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 18% Meunier

• Vinification: small 205 L oak barrels

• Aging: approx. 7 years on lees

• Disgorgement: Spring 2023

• Dosage: Brut (approx. 6 g/l)

• Alcohol: 12.5% vol

• Format: 750 ml

• Production: undisclosed

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Maison Krug

Excellence in Champagne since 1843

Founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug, Maison Krug is today regarded as one of the most prestigious Champagne houses in the world. Of German origin, Joseph Krug arrived in France with a radical vision: to create a Champagne each year without compromise, capable of offering the fullest expression of taste regardless of climatic conditions. This idea, revolutionary at the time, remains the foundation of Krug’s philosophy, still firmly upheld by the family today. Though now part of the LVMH group, the House has retained rare creative and operational independence, preserving an identity that has resisted trends and market shifts, establishing itself as an undisputed reference in the world of high-end Champagne.

Extreme selection and an intimate relationship with each plot

At Krug, vineyard work is rooted in an intimate understanding of every single parcel. Grapes are sourced from around 250 plots, each vinified separately, with the aim of highlighting and respecting the individuality of every micro-terroir. Krug does not own vast vineyards but relies on long-standing relationships with a highly selective network of growers, built on trust and quality. Grape selection is obsessive, and each parcel is treated as a wine in its own right, capable of contributing uniquely to the final blend. Respect for natural balance and the adoption of sustainable farming practices are central to the House’s philosophy, with an increasing focus on precision viticulture that honors the land.

Vinification as an art of listening to time and memory

In the cellar, Krug stands for artisanal precision and a tailor-made approach. Each base wine is vinified separately in small 205-liter oak barrels—a rare choice in modern Champagne—which allows for natural micro-oxygenation and exceptional aromatic complexity. The other cornerstone of Krug’s method is the careful preservation of hundreds of reserve wines from over 15 different vintages. This liquid memory is what enables Krug to craft its Grande Cuvée each year, the House’s true emblem, an assemblage of more than 120 wines where every element is selected to create a Champagne beyond time. Extended lees aging—often over 7 years—completes a process where no shortcuts are allowed and excellence is the only acceptable outcome.