Champagne Krug - Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition - Coffret luxe

Bettane & Desseauve

Decanter

About the wine:

The youngest (and most important, at 58%) vintage in this blend is 2016. The 172nd edition of Krug presents the exuberance of this vintage in a typically complex and heady setting. Some of the warmth and ripeness of 2016 is present, with aromas of candied lemon, Seville orange, apricot macaroon and cherry nougat already expressive. The inimitable depth of Krug's reserve wines, here dating back to 1998, wraps them in complexities of mocha, spice and baked fruit. Already showing signs of buttery depth and brown pastry, this Grande Cuvée is of great density and harmony. It is tighter and a little firmer than the 171st and needs more time to develop. Disgorged in January 2023.

Robert Parker - Wine Advocate

About the wine:

Krug's newest release, NV Grande Cuvée 172ème Edition, based on the 2016 vintage and comprising 11 vintages in total (the oldest is 1998), is exceptional. It reveals a complex, slightly spicy bouquet of white fruits, beeswax, marzipan, hazelnuts, dried herbs, ripe orchard fruits and white flowers. Medium- to full-bodied, rich and concentrated on the palate, it features a subtly spicy entry, a coating and layered texture and a fleshy core of fruit framing a perfectly balanced, fresh and mineral finish. Made mainly from Pinot Noir (44%), with 30% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Meunier, it was disgorged in the first quarter of 2023 at a dosage of 4.5 grams per liter. Keep for 5-10 years.

RVF - La Revue du Vin de France / Guide des Meilleurs Vins de France

About the wine:

Grande cuvée 172ème édition is an immense Krug. Built around the very fine year 2016, with 146 wines from 11 different vintages (dating back to 1998), it boasts notes of fresh almonds and white flowers, with a chiselled, complex, very long and salivating palate. The mousse is fluffy, and it has that controlled power that coats the palate. It's already superb, and will benefit from a more patient patina in bottle.

Wine Enthusiast

About the wine:

This is the most recent bottling of this iconic champagne. There's a hint of toast and seductive aromas of apple and citrus. On the palate, this wine is rich and intense, between ripeness and ripe white fruit. A beautifully balanced, ready-to-drink wine.

Jancis Robinson

About the wine:

Smooth, creamy, pure citrus and subtly toasted. Clementine, jasmine. So many gorgeous layers. A hint of ginger. Intense and punchy. It's not bone-dry, and the sweetness appears a little on the finish at the moment, though it's perfectly balanced. More fragrant as it opens up in the glass, but the autolytic character is gentle. Orange blossom. Much more fragrant than I expected. Slightly sweet on the finish.

Vinous

James Suckling

About the wine:

Beautiful notes of dried citrus, lemon curd and dried apple with hints of spice, dried flowers and subtle brioche. I love the polished, caressing texture and the steady, refreshing acidity. It's fresh and even austere, with hints of ground spices. Very vertical and firm. Structured and long. To drink or to keep.

Jeb Dunnuck

About the wine:

The NV Grande Cuvée 172 Champagne was created around the 2016 harvest, and it was enriched with 146 wines dating from 2016 to 1998. The nose is very pretty, with floral aromas, followed by notes of candied green apples, fresh flax, lime sorbet, currants, delicate spices, and fresh almonds. The palate is round and medium-bodied, with a refined, delicately chalky texture, an even, appetizing salinity, freshness, and a long, fresh finish. As it opens up, it begins to show its deeper profile in the blend, with notes of toast and crushed rocks. This is a lovely addition to the range that will have a wide drinking window and improve over the next 20 years. Cellar it for 3 to 4 years.