Krug – The Benchmark of Grande Marque Champagne
Founded in 1843 by Johann-Joseph Krug, a visionary from Mainz who settled in Champagne, Krug was built upon a simple but revolutionary idea: every year should be an opportunity to create the fullest possible expression of Champagne, regardless of climatic variation. Nearly two centuries later, that philosophy remains unchanged and continues to distinguish Krug from every other house in the region.
Today, Krug is part of the luxury group LVMH, yet remarkably little about the house feels corporate. It retains the spirit of a family-run domaine, with sixth-generation family member Olivier Krug serving as its charismatic ambassador and guardian of the house philosophy. Alongside him, cellar master Julie Cavil has emerged as one of the most talented and respected figures in Champagne, overseeing the creation of the wines with extraordinary precision and consistency.
Krug has three pillars of which its stands and draws its strength.
First, Krug produces only prestige cuvées. Unlike virtually every other major Champagne house, there is no entry-level non-vintage bottling in the portfolio. Every wine bearing the Krug label is intended to represent the highest level of quality and ambition. This solidifies the brand, just like DRC in Burgundy.
Second, Krug places its blended multi-vintage wine at the pinnacle of the range. Whereas most Champagne houses reserve their greatest efforts for their vintage wines, Krug regards Grande Cuvée as its flagship and ultimate expression. In this respect, it shares a philosophical kinship with Laurent-Perrier’s Grand Siècle. Each edition of Krug Grande Cuvée is an astonishing blending exercise, typically incorporating between 120 and 190 individual wines drawn from more than a dozen vintages. The objective is not consistency, but rather the recreation each year of the richest and most complete expression of Champagne that the house can achieve.
Third, Krug has a recognizeable style by fermenting every base wine in small oak barrels, a practice abandoned by most large houses decades ago. To accomplish this, the house maintains a fleet of 4,000+ oak barrels, making it one of the largest users of small-format oak in the wine world. These vessels are not employed to impart obvious oak flavours, but rather to encourage texture, complexity and longevity while preserving the individuality of each parcel and reserve wine.
Within the hierarchy of Champagne, Krug occupies a singular position. If Jacques Selosse is widely regarded as the king of the grower-producer movement, Krug stands as the undisputed benchmark among the great Champagne houses. For many collectors and connoisseurs, it represents the ultimate expression of what a Grande Marque can achieve. The reverence from leading critics is striking. Richard Juhlin has repeatedly described Krug Grande Cuvée as one of the greatest wines produced anywhere in the world. Essi Avellan MW has referred to Krug as Champagne’s most complete and intellectually compelling house.
In an era increasingly fascinated by terroir, single vineyards and minimalist winemaking, Krug remains a powerful reminder that blending itself can be a profound art form. More than any other Champagne producer, Krug demonstrates that greatness can emerge not from simplification, but from the masterful orchestration of complexity.
Today’s tasting – with special guest Sandro Sarbach, head of private client sales Switzerland for Moet & Hennesy – confirmed this proposition. If I had to group the wines, I would do it as follows:
- The mature, fully expressive editions: 163, 165, 166, 167.
- The tightly wound with future potential: 164, 170, 172.
- The standout masterpieces: 168, 169, 171.
Tasting notes
Apéritif
2013 Moët & Chandon Champagne Grand Vintage 92 Points
From MAG. This proved an excellent curtain-raiser. The bouquet was distinctly reductive in the house style, offering notes of struck flint, wet stone and citrus zest. With air, aromas of lime, lemon peel and freshly baked brioche emerged. The palate was taut and energetic, combining crystalline freshness with a finely tuned structure. Still youthful and vibrant.
Flight 1 – Vintages at drinking plateau
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 163eme (2007) – 95 Points
A beautifully resolved and harmonious edition that displayed considerable maturity without sacrificing freshness. The bouquet revealed baked apples, warm spices, croissant and subtle tertiary nuances that added complexity rather than weight. On the palate it was remarkably precise and elegant, with a gentle, patinated character that made it immediately appealing. Refined and charming rather than powerful.
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 167eme (2011) – 94 Points
A remarkable performance from a challenging vintage base year. Richer and broader than the 163ème, it opened with floral notes, sea spray and ripe orchard fruit. With time in the glass, hints of mushroom and forest floor began to emerge, adding layers of complexity. The palate offered impressive volume and generosity while retaining freshness and balance. 94+
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 165eme (2009) – 95 Points
The most generous and expansive wine of its flight. Aromas of yellow orchard fruit, baked apple, sweet spices and warm pastry filled the glass. The palate was ample and richly textured, combining considerable depth with the freshness that is essential to the Krug style. Powerful yet balanced, this was a complete and satisfying expression that delivered both immediate pleasure and structural integrity.
Flight 2 – The cooler years
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 166eme (2010) – 95 Points
A wine that appeared to be entering its ideal drinking window. The bouquet intertwined notes of mushroom, toasted almond, apple cider and ripe yellow fruits. Fully expressive and mature, yet remarkably fresh, it displayed a seamless balance between tertiary complexity and vibrant fruit. The palate was supple, layered and satisfying, making this one of the most enjoyable mature editions on the table. Drink now.
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 164eme (2008) – 96 Points
Very different from the neighboring 166ème. Here the emphasis was on tension, precision and almost youthful energy. Aromas of black tea, preserved lemon and crisp apple emerged from a tightly wound bouquet. The palate was compact, focused and exceptionally long, driven by a powerful mineral backbone. Despite showing the first signs of maturity, it remains in the early stages of its evolution and promises a brilliant future. One of the stars of the tasting. 96-97
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 170ème (2014) – 94 Points
Still very youthful and clearly more about promise than present complexity. White flowers, lemon blossom and fresh citrus dominated the aromatic profile, while the mousse remained notably vigorous and frothy. The palate was energetic and precise, built around primary fruit and freshness. Although attractive today, it feels far from its plateau of maturity and should reward further cellaring handsomely. 94+
Sandro Sarbach, Private Client Sales Director Switzerland for Moet&Hennesey joined our tasting and illuminated us on Maison Krug
Flight 3 – The top years
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 169eme (2013) – 98 Points
One of the wines of the evening. The nose exploded from the glass with remarkable intensity, combining warm brioche, citrus oils, baking spices and subtle autolytic richness. The palate was both ample and perfectly delineated, delivering extraordinary concentration without any loss of freshness or precision. Powerful, harmonious and endlessly persistent, it married generosity with tension in a way that only the very greatest editions can achieve. Today it had a slight edge over the 168 which was the favorite of the group.
Krug Grande Cuvée Édition 168ème (2012) – 97 Points
A textbook example of the brilliance of the 2012 vintage. Consistently impressive on previous occasions and once again among the strongest performers. Aromas of warm croissant, citrus zest and lightly bruised apples were complemented by subtle spice and mineral undertones. The palate was rich and complete, yet carried by tremendous freshness and energy. Seamlessly balanced and highly expressive, it demonstrated why this edition has become such a benchmark. This was the WOTN for most participants. 97-98
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 172ème (2016) – 95 Points
Another very youthful edition, still in the formative stages of its development. Green apple, citrus and delicate floral notes defined the bouquet. The palate was airy and elegant, with excellent precision and a distinctly cool-climate feel. Less dramatic than the top editions (2012, 2013) served alongside it, but beautifully composed and likely to gain significant complexity with additional bottle age.
Krug Grande Cuvée Edition 171eme (2015) – 96 Points
A particularly charming and expressive edition that immediately reflects the generosity of its sun-kissed vintage base year. The bouquet is inviting and expansive, offering notes of yuzu, preserved lemon, warm croissant and sweet baking spices, all delivered with considerable aromatic intensity. On the palate, the wine combines richness and generosity with admirable precision, the exuberant fruit profile framed by a vibrant acidic backbone that provides both structure and freshness. Harmonious and complete, it is already highly approachable today, offering immediate pleasure without sacrificing balance. Unlike the more reserved and tightly wound 170ème and 172ème Editions, this edition’s open-knit fruit and early generosity make it one of the most enjoyable young Grande Cuvées to drink at present.
Flight 3 – Encores (Coteaux Champenois Rouge)
2020 Bérêche et Fils, Coteaux Champenois Ormes Rouge Les Montées – 92 Points
A more polished and classical expression than the Brice. The fruit profile was softer and darker, framed by a more evident use of oak that added texture and spice without overwhelming the wine. Rounder and broader through the mid-palate, it offered a harmonious balance between fruit, structure and élevage. Less exuberant than the Bouzy, but elegant, composed and quietly complex.
2020 Brice, Coteaux Champenois Rouge Bouzy – 93 Points
A wine that won many admirers around the table. The bouquet was intensely aromatic, dominated by crunchy red cherries, wild strawberries and a pronounced whole-cluster signature. Floral stem notes and gentle spice contributed additional lift and complexity. On the palate it was vibrant, energetic and wonderfully drinkable, combining purity of fruit with a savoury edge. Lovers of whole-bunch Pinot Noir will find much to admire here.
Author: Christian Raubach, WSET III, FWS, WSG Champagne Master
June 2026
