Krug, Grande Cuvee Brut 2004

Description

Krug Grande Cuvée 168ème Édition was composed around the harvest of 2012, a beautiful year with a low yield due to a succession of meteorological events. Frost, rain, storms and hale all hit the vineyards of Champagne in winter and spring 2012, followed by the driest ripening season since 1974, resulting in 20% fewer grapes. The final creation is the result of blending wines of the year from carefully selected plots with reserve wines of specific plots from 10 other years. As the wines of 2012 were reminiscent of pastry with great roundness, reserve wines were added to bring vivacity to the blend. Reserve Chardonnays were chosen from certain plots in Avize and Marmery for their freshness, while Pinot Noir reserve wines from plots in the Montagne de Reims Nord brought tension. In all, reserve wines from the House’s extensive library made up 42% of the final blend, bringing the breadth and roundness so essential to each Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée.

About the Producer

The House was established in Reims in 1843, by Joseph Krug, a visionary non-conformist with an uncompromising philosophy. Having understood that the true essence of Champagne is pleasure itself, his dream was to craft the very best Champagne he could offer, every single year, regardless of annual variations in climate. Paying close attention to the vineyard’s character, respecting the individuality of each plot and its wine, as well as building an extensive library of reserve wines from many different years allowed Joseph Krug to fulfil his dream. With a very original approach to Champagne making, he decided to go beyond the notion of vintage to create the most generous expression of Champagne, every year. Thus, he founded a House in which all Champagnes are of the same level of distinction. Six generations of the Krug family have perpetuated this dream, enriching the founder’s vision and savoir faire.