Champagne Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème

Champagne Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition

The essence of Champagne beyond the vintage

Krug Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition was crafted around the 2013 harvest, staying true to Joseph Krug’s vision: to offer the most generous expression of Champagne each year, regardless of climatic variation. This Édition is an extraordinary blend of 146 wines from 11 different vintages, the oldest dating back to 2000. It displays vibrant tension, elegant structure, and a refined complexity that reflects the art of blending over time. A Champagne created to transcend the vintage and embody a timeless expression of pleasure and precision.

In the vineyard: a late and cool 2013 harvest

The 2013 vintage was marked by a cool and dry summer, resulting in a late harvest. This allowed for slow and balanced ripening, leading to wines with remarkable tension and clarity. Pinot Noir brought structure, Meunier added delicate fruitiness, and Chardonnay contributed mineral freshness. Each vineyard plot was vinified separately, preserving its identity and allowing the Cellar Master to compose a cuvée of remarkable depth and expression.

In the cellar: reserve wines and oak-aged character

The base of this 169ème Édition is composed of 60% wines from 2013, complemented by 40% reserve wines from 10 previous vintages. Each component was vinified in small oak casks, a signature Krug method that brings complexity and texture. After blending, the wine rested for at least 7 years on the lees, allowing a slow and harmonious evolution. The result is a Champagne of creamy finesse, with layered aromas and a pure, energetic finish.

Grape varieties, tasting notes and style

This Édition is composed of 43% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, and 22% Meunier, balancing richness, freshness, and elegance.
Color: light golden with fine, persistent bubbles.
Nose: complex and generous, with aromas of candied citrus, fresh almonds, ginger, and brioche.
Palate: creamy and vibrant, showing mineral precision and a long, harmonious finish.

Technical sheet

• Producer: Maison Krug

• Wine name: Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition

• Type: Brut Champagne

• Base vintage: 2013

• Blend: 146 wines from 11 vintages (2000–2013)

• Grapes: 43% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay, 22% Meunier

• Vinification: in 205 L oak barrels

• Aging: minimum 7 years on the lees

• Disgorgement: Autumn 2021

• 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.