Krug - Champagne Brut Rosé Edition 29eme NV

The House of Krug was founded in 1843 by a man named Joseph Krug with the sole mission of capturing the true essence of Champagne. Since that year the House has remained devoted to the production of prestige champagnes, always with the founder's original philosophy in mind. Joseph Krug took terroir very seriously, knowing that quality champagne could only be achieved by using great wines separately vinified from great grapes, grown on various parcels around the region. But one thing seemed to trouble him: the level of impact that weather conditions from one vintage to the next could have on the quality of the wines. So, he began to build a collection of reserve wines, with which he experimented to determine the perfect blend. Krug believed that any great Champagne House should create 2 cuvees: a consistent expression of the Champagne terroir produced each year, and a vintage cuvee reflecting the conditions of a particular year, produced only in the best years. The decision was made early on to produce, from one year to the next, exclusively prestige champagnes, a trait that remains unique to Krug to this day. 

Joseph Krug decided to immortalize this great vision in the pages of his cherry-red notebook, which he eventually left for his son Paul and which still remains at the estate today. Year after year, he would create a blend from his grand library of “vins clairs” (or base wines) in a style that would become the signature of the House. Krug’s notebook refers to this cuvee as Champagne No. 1, a wine that would one day become known as the Krug Grand Cuvee. Champagne No.2, an expression of the circumstances of a particular year as captured by Krug, would become Krug Vintage, a blend of the most beautifully expressive wines from a single year, only produced in vintages worth sharing with the world.

In the 1970's, the fifth generation of the Krug family - Henri and Remi Krug - decided to add a rosé champagne, inspired by Pinot Noir, to the range. The brothers also made a wonderful discovery: that the fifteen plots (1.84 hectares in total) of Chardonnay vines that they had purchased in Mesnil-sur-Oger were producing wines of magnificent quality. In 1979 they revealed the Krug Clos du Mesnil, an exclusive cuvee dedicated to only one plot of only one grape variety and in only one year. The Krug Clos d'Ambonnay cuvee was created just a few years later to express what the House considered its very best plot of Pinot Noir grapes. In 1999, Krug became part of the LVMH group.

Today, the Krug House of Champagne is run by Henri Krug’s son, Olivier Krug, representing the 6th generation of the family. The incredible passion and savoir-faire of the visionary Joseph Krug lives on in every drop of Krug Champagne.

Composed around the harvest of 2017, Krug Rosé 29ème Édition is a blend of 29 wines from 5 different years, the youngest from 2017, and the oldest from 2010.

In all, reserve wines from the Maison’s extensive library made up 33% of the final blend of this Édition of Krug Rosé.

The final composition of this Édition of Krug Rosé is 53% Pinot Noir, including 11% traditionally macerated Pinot Noir wines of the final blend, 28% Chardonnay and 19% Meunier.

“A beautifully balanced version, with its satiny mousse caressing the palate, while chiseled acidity defines a fine weave of macerated raspberry and peach fruit, blood orange peel, grilled nuts, white chocolate and saffron. This unfurls on the palate, offering richness and depth. Lingers on the mouthwatering finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier.” - 95 Points, Wine Spectator

“Krug’s NV Rosé 29ème Édition blends 29 wines from five harvests dating back to 2010, and like the Grande Cuvée, each component is selected by Krug’s tasting committee through blind tastings. Anchored by the 2017 vintage, which comprises 67% of the assemblage, it gains its color, texture and character from the addition of 11% still red wine from Aÿ-Champagne and Mutigny, sourced from the 2016 and 2017 vintages. The wine opens with aromas evocative of grapefruit zest, redcurrant and apple pie, intricately mingled with a subtle trace of Sichuan pepper and a whisper of rosewood oil. On the palate, it presents as medium- to full-bodied, vinous and textural—albeit slightly less chiseled than its white counterpart. A deep core of fruit, tangy acidity and a long, perfumed finish with a delicate phenolic grip complete this new release.” - 94 Points, Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

Producer: Krug

Country: France

Region: Champagne

Varietal: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier

Appellation: Champagne

Vintage: NV

Size: 750ml