The latest release from one of Champagne's greatest houses
Krug launched their 166ème Grande Cuvée this summer and having sold out of our initial allocation instantly, we have now managed to secure extra stock. With Christmas around the corner, it's not too early to lay-in a case, as a centre-piece for a Christmas feast or to give as gifts.
In recent years Krug have begun to number their Grande Cuvée releases, to reflect the infuence of the different base vintages around which the blend is 'composed'. The numbering reflects the number of Grande Cuvée releases since Krug was established in 1843.
If, like us, you remember the famously-shy Henri Krug talking of Grande Cuvée as a multi-vintage, this new approach may take some getting used to (read more here).
The complexity of the champagne blending process happens out of site of the consumer. The challenge of blending over 120 wines (138 in the case of the 166ème) to achieve consistency year in, year out, is enormous.
Recent releases have been based on the 2007, '08, '09 and now the (superb) 2010 vintage - all with differing characters. Numbering the releases is a sign of a very significant shift in winemaking philosophy at Krug: to blend each new release to best show off the nature of its base vintage.
The results have been pretty much instant, with each new release receiving far higher critics' ratings than the Grande Cuvées of the preceding decade.
If you would like a case of this remarkable Champagne please do let us know as soon as possible. Stocks offered subject to remaining unsold.
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