Krug Grande Cuvée 166ème Édition is composed around the 2010 harvest, with 140 wines from 13 different years and a large share of reserve wine. It is rich yet racy.
About This Champagne
The 2010 wines form the base, with reserves making up 42% of the final blend, the oldest from 1998. The final composition is 45% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay and 16% Meunier. Wine Spectator scored it 95 points in 2020, noting its silky texture and a racy, spiced finish.
Tasting Profile
- Nose: Blossom, citrus peel, ripe and dried fruit, with saffron, coffee and mandarin notes.
- Palate: Silky and mouthwatering, sun-dried white cherry, toast and Meyer lemon over nougat and honey.
- Finish: Racy and lingering, with honey, spice and a wisp of smoke.
Serving & Food
Serve at 9 to 11°C in a tulip or white-wine glass. It pairs as well with Cantonese food as with European: try it with honey-glazed char siu, salt-and-pepper squid, or a creamy chicken fricassee.
How to Enjoy
Dinners where one bottle has to cover several courses, and a good introduction to the Krug style.
Product Details
Producer: Krug
Cuvée: Grande Cuvée 166ème Édition
Region: Champagne, France
Base Harvest: 2010
Composition: 140 wines from 13 different years, 1998 to 2010
Reserve Wines: 42%
Blend: 45% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay, 16% Meunier
Origin: France
Volume: 750mL
About the Maison
One quirk of Krug is how much Meunier it uses. Many houses leave the grape out of their top cuvées or treat it as a workhorse, but Krug values it for roundness and fruit. Krug 2008, for instance, is a quarter Meunier.
The share moves with every Édition, from 11% in some blends to more than 30% in others, and reserve Meunier wines are often picked to bring freshness where the base year needs it. It is one of the less obvious levers the cellar master can pull when rebuilding the house style from a new harvest.