Krug Grande Cuvée is the archetype of Krug's philosophy of craftsmanship and savoir faire: a blend of around 120 wines from ten or more different vintages, some of which may have reached twenty years of age. Blending so many vintages gives Grande Cuvée its unique fullness of flavours and aromas, its incredible generosity and its absolute elegance: something impossible to express with the wines of just a single year. Over twenty years are needed to craft each bottle and its exceptional finesse is the result of a stay of at least another six years in the cellars: the first prestige cuvée re-created each year, beyond the very notion of vintage. Krug buy Pinot Meunier grapes from two petit crus; the Cote de Bar in the warmest part of champagne nearer Burgundy than Reims and also from the village of Sainte-Gemme because of their intense fruit expression and freshness they bring to the blend. This is the 161st creation of Krug Grande Cuvée. Based on 2005, it is a blend of 134 wines from twelve vintages: the oldest being 1990 and the youngest 2005. Reserve wines in this blend bring brightness, richness and depth to the 2005 wines, mainly through well-developed old Chardonnays and multiple expressions of Pinot Meunier from different vintages.
Tasting Note: Lots of hints of lemon on both the nose and the palate. Seems to be slightly less developed than the other Editions. Nice balance and almost gooseberry flavours on the finish. A very different Grande Cuvée blend fully expressing the unique characteristics of the 2005 vintage.
