Krug Grande Cuve is born from the dream of one man, Joseph Krug, to craft the very best Champagne he could offer, every single year, regardless of annual variations in climate. Since 1843, the House of Krug has honoured this vision with each new dition of Krug Grande Cuve: the most generous expression of Champagne. The final composition of this bottle of Krug Grande Cuve is 45% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay and 18% Meunier. Krug Grande Cuve 171me dition is a blend of 131 wines from 12 different years, the youngest of which is from 2015, while the oldest dates back to 2000. A stay of around seven years in Krug's cellars gives this dition its remarkable expression and elegance. In all, over 20 years of careful craftsmanship were necessary to enjoy this dition of Krug Grande Cuve which represents the 171th re-creation of the most generous expression of Champagne.Krug Grande Cuve 171me dition was composed around the harvest of 2015, a year marked by unprecedented heat and drought that prevailed from the end of May to mid-August, slowing grape development. Fortunately, rains in the second half of August allowed the berries to grow and, combined with sunshine and reasonable temperatures, ensured ripening in optimal conditions. The harvest took place between August 31 and September 21, under the rain, with great heterogeneity from plot to plot. To create this dition of Krug Grande Cuve, the Cellar Master looked to accentuate the year's elegantly erse aromatic expressions with different plots' reserve wines from 11 other years. The careful attention given to the vines and Krug's unique respect for the in idual character of each plot enabled the breadth of expression of this dition of Krug Grande Cuve. In all, reserve wines from the House's extensive library made up 42% of the final blend, bringing the breadth and roundness so essential to each dition of Krug Grande Cuve. Review: The NV Grande Cuve 171me Edition is a delightful blend of 45% Pinot Noir, 37% Chardonnay and 18% Pinot Meunier and boasts an attractive and captivating aroma of dried fruits, pastry, lemon oil, marzipan, spring flowers and ginger, with hints of almond and vanilla notes that become more pronounced over time. This medium to full-bodied wine is precise and well-structured, with a fleshy core of fruit and a sapid, incisive finish. Crafted around the 2015 vintage, the blend comprises 131 reserve wines from as far back as 2000 (42% of the total blend) and is expected to age beautifully over the next decade.James Suckling