CH’NG Poh Tiong
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 169 is launched.
Founded in 1843, the Reims-based house is wickedly famous for being masterly blenders. “Magical” might be a more apt description when you taste the latest 169 concoction.
The base is the 2013 vintage supported by 40% reserve wine travelling back to as far as the 2000 harvest.
Grande Cuvée Edition 169 was composed when Eric Lebel was still Chef de Cave at Krug. In early 2020 – like the bubbles in a bottle of champagne – Lebel was propelled to Deputy Director, and his former job assumed by his right-hand-woman Julie Cavil.
Blending is a creative process. As with all such endeavours, the best minds come up with the foremost results.
Krug has some of the best minds in the business. Not just Lebel and Cavil but Olivier Krug, a direct descendant of founder Joseph Krug.
The tasting committee has two or three more members but therein lies the bedrock.
The chemistry that exists between this core group – and the chemistry they produce in the final blend – is testament to the legacy of Joseph Krug who first came up with the idea of orchestrating different, separate components into a more cogent whole.
It’s no wonder they call it Grande Cuvée.
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 169
Intensity and richness kneaded into a core of unrelenting freshness. A vortex of lemon/lime/grapefruit; whiff of vanilla/brioche/star anise; complete with a hint of oiliness of vinosity. Time will tell how long this V12 Grande Cuvée can travel into the future. Or, unknown. One of the greatest Grande Cuvées ever. (Every bottle of Krug is a story. The Krug iD is six digits printed on the back label. Go online to discover more at krug.com)
