Champagne Krug Grande Cuvée 168ème

Champagne Krug Grande Cuvée 168ème Édition

A balance of generosity and finesse, sculpted by time

Krug Grande Cuvée 168ème Édition was crafted around the challenging 2012 harvest, yet born of vision: combining 198 wines from 11 vintages (1996–2012) to build a Champagne of deep complexity and balance. This edition exemplifies Krug’s art: transcending any single vintage to achieve harmony, precision, and timeless presence.

In the vineyard: 2012, an intense vintage shaped by contrast

The 2012 growing season featured spring frosts, persistent rain, and a dry summer, culminating in near-perfect conditions in September. Pinot Noir and Meunier yielded structured, fleshy fruit, while Chardonnay added mineral freshness and tension. Each plot was harvested and vinified separately, preserving individual terroir expression, giving Krug the raw materials for a richly expressive cuvée.

In the cellar: a rich blend and slow maturation

This cuvée consists of 52% base wine from 2012, complemented by 48% reserve wines from prior vintages, some over 15 years old. Vinifications were carried out in small oak barrels, enhancing aromatic depth and texture. After blending, the Champagne aged on lees for a minimum of seven years, integrating and refining its structure and elegance.

Grape varieties, tasting impressions and style

The 168ème Édition comprises 52% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and 13% Meunier, a blend crafted for energy, purity, and length.
Color: bright golden hue with a very fine, persistent mousse.
Nose: rich and expansive, expressing toasted hazelnut, ripe citrus, acacia honey, and sweet spices.
Palate: vibrant and structured—saline freshness, creamy texture, and sustained finesse.

Technical sheet

• Producer: Maison Krug

• Wine name: Grande Cuvée 168ème Édition

• Type: Brut Champagne

• Base vintage: 2012

• Blend: 198 wines from 11 vintages (1996–2012)

• Grapes: 52% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 13% Meunier

• Vinification: in 205 L oak barrels

• Aging: at least 7 years on lees

• Disgorgement: Spring 2020

• Dosage: Brut (~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.