Krug — Édition Champagnes from Reims since 1843

Krug — Édition Champagnes from Reims since 1843

Krug is a Négoce-Maison based in Reims, founded in 1843 by Joseph Krug. Today Olivier Krug leads the house in the 6th generation. The Maison belongs to LVMH.

Joseph Krug's vision was to create the best champagne each year – independent of climate variations. This philosophy still shapes the work today: Each Krug Cuvée is understood as an independent Édition, not as a vintage product. The Grande Cuvée, for example, unites over 120 individual wines from more than ten different years.

History

In 1843, Joseph Krug founded the Maison in Reims. His goal: to achieve the fullest expression of taste and aroma year after year, beyond the whims of a single harvest. This idea led to the development of an extensive reserve wine library that today encompasses wines from up to 15 years and more.

1976 – a warm summer day during harvest – Rémi and Henri Krug, who led the house in the 5th generation, decided to create a rosé. Seven years later, in 1983, the world's first Krug Rosé Édition was presented, based on this harvest from 1976.

In 2011, a partnership with Riedel began: The specially developed "Joseph Glass" is designed to optimally develop the aromas of the Grande Cuvée. Olivier Krug today directs the destiny of the Maison and continues the line of his ancestors.

Vinification

Krug works with an extensive reserve wine library that encompasses wines from more than 15 years. Each Édition of the Grande Cuvée is created from over 120 individual wines from more than ten different years – a principle that goes far beyond classic vintage champagnes. The philosophy: All Krug champagnes should stand at the same level of distinction, regardless of whether it's a Grande Cuvée, a vintage, or a Clos.

The Maison recommends a serving temperature of 9 to 12 degrees Celsius. The Édition logic means: Each new release of a Cuvée is an independent work that responds to the character of the base vintages and the reserve wines.

The Cuvées in Detail

Krug Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition

The 171st edition is based on the 2015 harvest and unites 131 wines from twelve different years (2015 to 2000). 42 percent of these are reserve wines. Over 20 years of craftsmanship are contained in this bottle. On the nose, blooming flowers, ripe and dried fruits, citrus, marzipan, and gingerbread appear. On the palate: almond paste, quince, lemon, limoncello, dried fruits.

45% Pinot Noir · 37% Chardonnay · 18% Meunier · Base 2015 · 131 wines from 12 years (2015–2000) · 42% reserve wines

Krug Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition

Édition 172 fuses 146 wines from eleven years (2016 to 1998), again 42 percent reserve wines. The color is pale golden, the perlage fine and lively. Aromas of flowers, ripe and dried fruits, citrus, marzipan, and gingerbread. Taste-wise: hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar, jellied fruits, citrus, almonds, brioche, honey.

44% Pinot Noir · 36% Chardonnay · 20% Meunier · Base 2016 · 146 wines from 11 years (2016–1998) · 42% reserve wines

Krug Grande Cuvée 173ème Édition

Édition 173 brings together 150 wines from 13 years (2017 to 2001), 31 percent reserve wines. The color is intense golden yellow. The nose: expressive, powerful – toast, brioche, stone fruit, verbena, vanilla cream, French toast, Baba au Rhum. The palate is oily, creamy, generous: juicy fruits, peach in syrup, ripe citrus, encaustic, roasted notes, pine nuts. The mouthfeel is both generous and precise, the finish crisp and mouth-watering with lemon notes.

44% Pinot Noir · 34% Chardonnay · 22% Meunier · Base 2017 · 150 wines from 13 years (2017–2001) · 31% reserve wines

Krug Rosé 29ème Édition

The Rosé was first created in 1983 and has been an integral part of the Krug family ever since. The 29th Édition is based on the 2017 harvest and unites 29 wines from five years (2017 to 2010), 33 percent reserve wines. 11 percent of the wines are traditionally macerated Pinot Noir wines. The result: balance between finesse and substance, a singular rosé champagne.

53% Pinot Noir · 28% Chardonnay · 19% Meunier · Base 2017 · 29 wines from 5 years (2017–2010) · 33% reserve wines · incl. 11% macerated Pinot Noir

Krug Vintage 2013, 2011, 2008

The Vintage line tells the story of a single year. Krug selects only in years when the harvest is exceptional, choosing the most expressive wines and crafting them into a vintage champagne. The wines age for over ten years in the cellar before coming to market.

Vintage champagne · >10 years cellar aging · Blend of the most expressive wines of a year

Krug Clos du Mesnil 2009, 2008, 2006

The Clos du Mesnil is a walled single vineyard in Mesnil-sur-Oger, one of the finest terroirs in Champagne. Krug vinifies exclusively Chardonnay from a single year here. The purity of a single plot, a single vintage.

100% Chardonnay · Blanc de Blancs · Single vineyard Clos du Mesnil

Krug Clos d'Ambonnay 2008, 2006, 2002

The Clos d'Ambonnay is the Pinot Noir counterpart to Clos du Mesnil: a walled single vineyard, exclusively Pinot Noir, a single year. The intensity of a single plot, captured in a bottle.

100% Pinot Noir · Blanc de Noirs · Single vineyard Clos d'Ambonnay

Krug Collection 1995, 1990, 1989

Krug Collection champagnes are vintage wines that have aged in ideal conditions in the cellar and are released by the cellar master as a "second revelation." They show additional facets, depth, concentration, and patina – a new dimension of time.

Krug Vintage with additional cellar aging · second revelation of time

My Tastings

• Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition · December 25, 2024
• Grande Cuvée 171ème Édition · December 25, 2024

Facts

Founded	1843
Founder	Joseph Krug
Category	NM (Négociant-Manipulant)
Location	Reims, Marne (51)
Leadership	Olivier Krug (6th generation)
Address	5 Rue Coquebert, 51100 Reims
Phone	+33 3 26 84 44 20
Email	krug@krug.fr
Website	krug.com
Instagram	@krugchampagne · 257,133 followers

---

Sources for this portrait: Maison website, personal tastings, CRM data and cross-checks. Fields without sufficient verification remain open.