Krug - Grande Cuvée 169ème Edition MV

Robert Parker Wine Advocate

Based on the 2013 vintage and complemented by some 40% reserve wines dating back to 2000, Krug's newly released NV Grande Cuvée 169ème Édition is showing very nicely, unfurling in the glass with notes of citrus oil, buttered toast, dried apricot, warm biscuits and marmalade. Medium to full-bodied, deep and incisive, it's a tauter, more chiseled rendition of Grande Cuvée by comparison with the richer, more textural and more demonstrative 168ème Édition (based on the 2012 vintage) that preceded it; but its bright spine of acidity is nicely cloaked in fruit. Concluding with a long and sapid finish, this is a very classically balanced Champagne that will reward bottle age

Jeb Dunnuck

Based largely on the 2013 vintage, the NV Krug Champagne Grande Cuvée 169eme Edition is another brilliant example of this Champagne that does everything right. Still young and tight, it reveals a vibrant bouquet of stone fruits, toasted bread, chalky minerality, and subtle nutty nuances. Quite fat and concentrated on the palate, this full-bodied beauty has a fine, silky mousse, wonderful balance, and a great, focused, chiseled finish. It's going to benefit from 2-3 years of bottle age and drink brilliantly for 20+ years or more. This is gorgeous and certainly in the same league as the 168eme Edition.

Decanter Magazine

Soft burnished gold, with a fine and persistent bead. The nose is suitably encyclopaedic, Mirabelle plum, fig and lemon pith and then hints of almond and brioche, the older reserve wines keen to contribute too. Beneath it all steely foundations, an edifice for posterity, not immediately flamboyant but magisterial in its grip and liminal potential. Deft acidity over untroubled waters, with orange groves and a spice market espied from the prow. All is set fair for this voyage. Impressive length.

James Suckling

Still vibrant and focused, with plenty of dried apple, apricot, dried lemon, lime zest, pie crust, toast and flint. Powerful and structured. Tightly wound and deep. 43% pinot noir, 35% chardonnay and 22% pinot meunier, from 2013 to older vintages. 40% reserve wine. Needs time to come together completely. Drink or hold.

Champagne Club by Richard Juhlin

From 146 wines and 11 vintages between the base year 2013 to mature 2000 Chardonnay from Villers-Marmery. According to Julie Cavil, the softness and strength of Meunier from 2008 Saint-Gemme is a key to the character here and it sounds extremely likely. Ultra sophisticated and beautiful right at launch. Nice harmony on the soft side of the scale. Less pointed and aggressive than the Krug Grande Cuvée can be as newly launched. Sublime symphony of flowers, mandarin, green apples, peach, roasted almonds, vanilla, honey, milk chocolate and nougat. In fact, more momentarily enjoyable than the 2008 Krug Vintage when I tasted them side by side in the spring of 2021.

Wine Spectator

La Revue du Vin de France

Wine Enthusiast

Pinot richness dominates this Champagne. It gives the dense texture as well as the ripe white fruits that show signs of toastiness as they mature. This full-bodied Champagne is ready to drink.

Falstaff

Candied lemon on the nose comes with a spicy, lovely overtone of oak moss, ozone and lifted lemon brightness. The palate comes in with briskness, with a kind of slenderness that seems to open up into depth rather then breadth. There is an incisive, beautiful vein of vivid citric freshness, a well of brightness, but also with a real sense of pithiness. Absolutely streamlined, taut, vivid with a real sense of cool, profound chalkiness and that enduring lemon zest and savoury nori seaweed note. Beautiful and very long.

Revista Adega