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Krug have just released their Grande Cuvée 167ème, the 167th release since the house was established in 1843.
Last autumn we offered you the 166ème, explaining how in recent years, Krug have taken to numbering their Grande Cuvée releases to reflect the influence of the base vintage around which the blend is 'composed'.
The 167ème now follows hot on its heels (the previous release being very a small one). Based on the 2011 vintage, it offers a slightly higher proportion of Pinot Noir in the blend, promising ageing ability and a 'full-bodied and muscular' style, according to The Wine Advocate (95 points).
We are great fans of Krug's ageing ability, developing complexity whilst retaining freshness. A magnum of Krug 1959 we tasted a few years ago is still vivid in the memory, as lively as the day it was disgorged and full of depth and complexity. We have in fact just added a magnum of Krug Collection 1961 to our list...a snip at £5600 ex VAT (but presumably available at Hawksmoor for the price of Prosecco!) Whilst the Grande Cuvée may not have the stature of these Olympian bottles, we do think it deserves to be cellared and appreciated as a fine wine, as well as enjoyed as a
prestige cuvée champagne.
With the new approach, each new Grande Cuvée release has received far higher critics' ratings than in the preceding decade. Freed from the constraint of making Grande Cuvée as consistent as possible each year, Olivier Krug and his team can play to the strengths of the vintage.
The 2011 is a blend of 191 wines from 13 different years, from 47% Pinot Noir, 36% Chardonnay and 17% Meunier. Reserve wines made up 42% of the final blend, bringing breadth and roundness.
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. Available mid-July 2019.
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