Krug Champagne Brut Grande Cuvee Edition 170eme

Krug's multi-vintage flagship is really no such thing — each Édition is a singular, numbered creation, and the 170ème is built from 195 individual wines drawn from 12 vintages spanning 1998 to 2014, with the 2014 base vintage (51% Pinot Noir, 38% Chardonnay, 11% Meunier) lifted by 45% reserve wines from the Krug library. Over two decades of accumulated winemaking sits behind every glass. Pale gold in the glass with a fine, persistent mousse, it opens on flowers in bloom, ripe and dried citrus fruit, marzipan and gingerbread, before unfurling on the palate into hazelnut, nougat, barley sugar, brioche and honey, carried by that trademark Krug tension and a long, racy finish.

This is Champagne for someone who wants the benchmark, not the introduction — a wine critics have pegged at 95–96 points with the structure to run through to 2040. Pour it as a serious aperitif alongside aged Comté or Jabugo ham, let it stand up to oysters or grilled prawns, or take it in an unexpected direction with Indian or Moroccan spice; it has the richness for dessert too, from tarte tatin to carrot cake. At this level Krug isn't sold on vintage or price point — it's sold on the story of the blend, and few Champagnes reward the telling of it like this one. Those who know, know and those who don't-what are you waiting for!