Krug - Champagner Grande Cuvee 164eme Edition, brut

FALSTAFF: "Helles Goldgelb, silberfarbene Reflexe, lebendiges, feines Mousseux. Frische weiße Apfelfrucht, florale Nuancen, ein Hauch von feiner gelber Tropenfrucht, feine Briochenuancen sind unterlegt, angenehme rauchige Mineralität, Anklänge von Zitruszesten, sehr facettenreich, frisches, attraktives Bukett. Straff am Gaumen, angenehme Fruchtsüße, Nuancen von Kernobst und Mandeln, finessenreicher Säurekern, im Abgang, harmonisches Spiel aus reifer Frucht und lebendiger Struktur, mineralisch-salzig im Nachhall, tolle Länge, verfügt über enormen Charme und sicheres Reifepotenzial, bereits sehr verführerisch."

JAMES SUCKLING: "Dried raspberries, apples, dried lemons, toast, pastries, walnuts and smoked almonds on the nose. Crushed shells and and some smoky flint too. Full, layered and richly flavorful. Bright acidity. Creamy, soft bubbles. Very long and satisfying. 48% pinot noir, 35 chardonnay and 17% pinot meunier. Blend of 127 wines from 11 vintages, based on 2008 and going back to 1990. Drink or hold."

DECANTER: "This is a thrilling Champagne of magnificent autolytic complexity on the nose with elements of spice, pastry, bread, and hazelnuts. Its freshness and liveliness on the palate - allied to a crystalline texture - are so vivid that they stir the emotions. An enthralling element of grilled toast stands out on a fleshy texture that leads the way to an eerily airy finish. A great classic that can be enjoyed now. Elaborated with 127 different wines from 11 vintages, the oldest of which dates back to 1990. 32% reserve wines. Dosage: 4.5g/L. Drinking Window 2021 - 2030"

WINE SPECTATOR: "A seamless Champagne, with vibrant acidity and flavors of toasted almond, baked currant and golden raisin. Long and mouthwatering, with a finely detailed bead carrying the flavors to the lasting finish, with accents of spice, pastry cream and coffee. Disgorged spring 2016. Drink now through 2027."

THE WINE ADVOCATE: "Based on the 2008 vintage complemented by some 22% reserve wines, Krug's NV Grande Cuvée 164ème Édition opens in the glass with notes of warm bread, crisp yellow orchard fruit, mandarin, buttered toast and smoke. Medium to full-bodied, fleshy and textural, it's rich and vinous but incisive, with fine depth at the core, tangy acids and an elegant pinpoint mousse. More complete than its vintaged sibling in 2008, it does share some of the latter's reserve and is still a few years from its peak, even if it's already approachable with great pleasure now."

JANCIS ROBINSON: "Tasted blind. Strange coconut/Hawaiian Tropic smell. Mouth-filling, serious, savoury wine. Earnest – trying hard early. Well balanced and very youthful with lots of interest and detail. Good stuff."