Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvee Edition 166eme NV

The 166ème is built from 140 individual wines across 13 vintages back to 1998, on a 2010 base (45% Pinot Noir, 39% Chardonnay, 16% Meunier), with reserve wines making up 42% of the blend. More than two decades of accumulated winemaking sit behind it, and with a few extra years of bottle age already banked, it's showing at a lovely point in its arc — light golden, fine and vivacious in the glass, with the house's signature flowers, ripe and dried fruit, marzipan and gingerbread on the nose, unfolding into hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar, brioche and honey on the palate. Wine Spectator scored it 95 points on release.

Pour this  side by side with a younger Édition and the difference is the whole argument for buying Krug in the first place.