My Krug epiphany

[JimHow]

I've always tried to understand this wine the several times I've been lucky to have it at BWE events, but it has never hit me over the head.
I uncorked a bottle of the 168th edition over the holiday weekend, it was splendid, complex, balanced.
How does the 168th compare to the 169th?
What does NH have in stock, Gerry, the 168th or 169th?
Thanks.

[jal]

I love Krug Grande Cuvée. We drank a stupendous bottle of 166 on Friday with friends.
I just bought 3 bottles of the 169 at Grapes for $159/per
When we visited Krug, they prided themselves on the consistency year after year. I think they need 2-3 years at least to strut out their stuff

[s*d*r]

Je suis un Krugist.

At its best Krug is both rich and full bodied like Bollinger and elegant and citric like Dom Pérignon.

As for the MV, the 168 is based on vintage 2012 while the 169 is based on vintage 2013. Despite what they advertise, I do find theses MVs differ, at least when young. The MV Krugs also enjoy age so no need to guzzle them up as soon as they arrive. I really like the 169 for drinking now since it is remarkably forward and expressive for young Krug.

But not profound - for that you have to buy vintage Krug and wait a long time; the 2002 is nowhere near ready for my palate.

[Blanquito]

One of my local wine buddies is a huge Krug fan and he’s brought a number of grand vintage bottles through the years and for my palate they definitely show better with some age. FWIW, the 168 edition got a lot of extra love from cognoscenti on the other board.

[DavidG]

Me:Krug :: Homer:donuts

[JimHow]

Mmmm. Now you guys have me obsessing about Krug.
I have one more bottle left. I want more.

[Blanquito]

One of my local wine buddies is a huge Krug fan and he’s brought a number of grand vintage bottles through the years and for my palate they definitely show better with some age. FWIW, the 168 edition got a lot of extra love from cognoscenti on the other board.

I should put it this way: I didn't fully get the Krug hype until I had one with the proper age on it.

Drink another one for us, Jim!

[JimHow]

This was the bottle that I got for $29 because it was mislabeled as a chianti.
Looks like the 81 bottles in stock are still numbered 43020, Gerry, which I believe was the #168, no?

[JimHow]

On sale they'll be $127.49, that's a decent price, no?

[dhp]

On sale they'll be $127.49, that's a decent price, no?

That's a fabulous price for anything Krug!

[JimHow]

Now I just need to wait for them to go on sale, Gerry is the man with the inside gossip. There are basically five months out of the year when they go on sale:
The French wine sale.
The European wine sale.
The Champagne sale.
The Everything-in-Store 15% off sale.
The Gift Card sale.

[Gerry M.]

Sorry for the late response, from what Ive seen, NH still has 168.

Ive come to really love Krug over the last few years and have salted away a few bottles each of editions 164, 166 and 168 along with a lone bottle of vintage 2002. I only wish the 375's were just a little more reasonable compared to 750's. NH pricing on 375's is $86 which is a little steep for me.

[DavidG]

We drank a bottle of the 164 a couple of weeks ago. It was drinking really well, and should get even better with more age.

I was on wine buying probation and missed the 168 but hear it's one of the best of the recent MVs. $127 is a back up the truck price.

[JimHow]

You're killing me.

[Blanquito]

$127 is a back up the truck price.

Yes, absolutely. If there’s more than you want, we’d all take as much as you can get at that price!

[Jay Winton]

2002 Krug was the best bottle of champagne we've had in a long time. Flawless.

[JimHow]

DavidG wrote: ↑
$127 is a back up the truck price.
Yes, absolutely. If there’s more than you want, we’d all take as much as you can get at that price!

Ok let’s see where they’re at during the next French wine or champagne sale….

[JoelD]

I ordered a half bottle of the 168 krug in SF at a great Omakase dinner. Very reasonable price for a restaurant too. It was complex with a ton of precision and great acidity. It should age quite well. I've heard the 169 isn't as good and held off on some bottles from zachys. Better to backfill the 168 if you can confirm that's the option. The store people likely won't know, but you can get the code off the back and match it to the krug site.

[Gerry M.]

DavidG wrote: ↑
$127 is a back up the truck price.
Yes, absolutely. If there’s more than you want, we’d all take as much as you can get at that price!

Ok let’s see where they’re at during the next French wine or champagne sale….

As an FYI, I went to Nashua this afternoon and saw the Krug was still the 168ed. I'm going to try and hold off until it goes on sale again and add onto the 3 bottles I already have at the $127 price. One thing I did grab today was tye last 3 bottles of 2016 La Dame Montrose for $47. I saw the 2018 on the shelf for $57 making the price on the 16' look cheap.

[JimHow]

How long can a wine like Krug 168 be expected to age.
It is definitely my Krug epiphany wine.
I’ll make a drive through the Granite State when they go on sale and look out for my BWE buddies, if they are still on the shelves.

Excellent reconnaissance work, Gerry, I’m with you, I’m going to hold off til a sale.

[Jay Winton]

I'm in for some Krug

[Blanquito]

I had MV Krug several times with 15+ years on it that were all splendid.

[Winona Chief]

Those Krug Grand Cuvée can age well for a long time - they usually improve for 5 to 10 years after release. Someone brought a very old Krug MV (like more than 25 years old) to a wine dinner at Black Salt about 6 years ago and it was still very good.

Chris Bublitz

[Claudius2]

On sale they'll be $127.49, that's a decent price, no?

It is around SGD 400 here (about USD300) so it is a relative bargain.
Maybe less by the case but never less than SGD300.
It is much more expensive here than Dom Perignon and I recall in Australia the MV Krug and DP were about the same price.
C’est la vie.
Mark

[dstgolf]

Back up the truck Jim. That's a crazy price @ $127 cheaper than Dom at Costco in USA. Krug here is $330cdn still about $275 USD!!!
Just had an 06 Pol Roger Sir Winston Thursday with friends that was singing!

[JimHow]

[gene m.]

Krug MV remains a wine that I keep on stock. I also keep some vintage and MV Rose.

The base, such as the 164 em which is from 2008, can be a big factor in how sought after, and how good it can be.
The current retail available 168 (2012 base) and 169 (2013 base) would suggest that the 168 will be much more favorable as some 2012 vintage champagnes are out and are highly regarded. you can look up the wines on Krug's website or enter your ID/scan and read up on the composition, blend etc... to age.

I've had a few vintage Krug over the past few years and favor the 96, 98, 02 for backfilling if I can. I hope the 04 and 06 are good as I'm holding a few. The DuMes and Ambo are special but outrageously priced. I'd buy Salon over the Du Mesnil.

I recall when Krug MV was $100 and the Rose was 175 (~ 2015). But I'm not put off buying more. I buy either from K&L, JJBuckley or Brentwood/Benchamark.
e.g. 2x 2004 Krug 1/23/2019 $210/bttl, Brentwood 3x Krug 166 (2010 base) MW 1/16/2019 $135/bttl