Krug Grande Cuvee GB

Grande Cuvée is that idea in a bottle. Each edition is a blend of more than 120 wines from ten or more vintages, some up to fifteen years old, chosen from about 400 wines tasted that year: 250 from the new harvest and 150 from reserve. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier all go in. Each plot is vinified on its own in small oak casks, and the finished blend rests in the Krug cellars for at least six years, so a single edition takes about twenty years from first reserve wine to release. Since 2011 a six digit code on the back label shows which vintages, grapes and plots went into a bottle.

In the glass look for hazelnut, almond, brioche and honey over citrus and ripe fruit, with a note of marzipan. Krug suggests serving at 9 to 12 degrees, because colder mutes the aromas. It suits oysters, mature Comté or aged parmesan.