96pts Wine Advocate — Krug Grand Cuvée 172ème Édition Is the Most Generous, Most Complex Expression of Champagne in the World

My Wine Man on Krug

Krug occupies a category of its own in Champagne. Founded in 1843 by Johann-Joseph Krug, Krug has spent nearly 180 years pursuing what it calls "the most generous expression of Champagne." The Grand Cuvée is the house's masterwork: not a vintage Champagne, not a simple NV blend, but something altogether more extraordinary — a multi-vintage assemblage of wines from Krug's vast library of reserve wines, blended each year to achieve a consistency and complexity that no single harvest could ever provide. The 172ème Édition is composed around the harvest of 2016 and blends 146 wines from 11 different years, the youngest from 2016 and the oldest dating back to 1998. Reserve wines from Krug's library make up 42% of the final blend.

Tasting Notes

Deep golden yellow with fine, persistent bubbles. The most generous expression of Champagne. Ripe stone fruit, toasted brioche, roasted hazelnut, and a subtle dried fruit complexity from the oldest reserve wines combine with a fresh citrus lift and a delicate floral note. Rich, full, and extraordinarily complex on the palate — the 44% Pinot Noir giving structure, the 36% Chardonnay providing freshness, and the 20% Meunier adding roundness. The 42% reserve wine component brings a depth and integration that no single-vintage Champagne can match. 96pts Wine Advocate.

Style & Drinking Window

Full-bodied with a rich, creamy mousse and the extraordinary complexity of 146 wines from 11 different years. Drinking magnificently now. Serve at 10–12°C in a quality flute or, as Krug recommends, a white wine glass.

Food Pairing

The extraordinary multi-vintage complexity and toasted brioche depth of the Krug Grand Cuvée 172ème make it a sublime match for Canadian Wild King Salmon Fillet (Sashimi Grade) from My Meat Man. The wine's ripe stone fruit and saline mineral thread complement the rich, buttery flesh of wild king salmon beautifully — whether served sashimi-style with yuzu and sea salt, lightly seared with brown butter and chervil, or roasted with white wine and fresh tarragon.

Why This Is a Smart Buy

At HKD 1,599, the Krug Grand Cuvée 172ème Édition represents exceptional value for a wine of this complexity, craftsmanship, and critical standing — the most complex NV Champagne in the world.

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