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Krug
Any champagne drinker worth their bubbles will have a special place in their heart for Krug. “Krugistes” as they have become known, are now so fashionable, they have their own hashtag, website and yes, feed, where they upload photos of themselves, well drinking vintage Krug champagne. Celebrity followers include Ernest Hemingway, John le Carré, Sir Alec Guinness, Naomi Campbell and the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother, who used to sneak in bottles whenever she was in hospital. From the unmistakable bottle shape to the clear amber liquid inside, it looks like Krug is good.
A feather in LMVH’s cap
But cool factor aside, Krug’s constant levels of excellence are almost legendary. Now owned by uber corporate LMVH, the House of Krug has managed to retain their identity within the luxury goods giant’s portfolio. Created in 1843 and run by sixth generation Olivier Krug, it is the one Champagne House that creates only Prestige Champagne. This means that every single year they are able to produce world-class champagne, regardless of the meteorological conditions. They do this by paying close attention to the vineyard’s character, respecting the individuality of each plot and its wine as well as building an extensive library of reserve wines. This means that while all Krug Champagnes are different expressions of nature, they have the same undisputed quality and distinction.
World class wine = world class prices
Unsurprisingly then, for such a sure product, exports of Krug champagne are on the up. Their biggest market is Japan, followed by the US and Europe, and bizarrely Nigeria, where the president’s wife is a fan. Krug has also, since 1995, bottled the most expensive single-vineyard Champagne, Clos d’Ambonnay, a blanc de noirs — made only from black grapes — from a tiny walled plot in Ambonnay. A bottle of the 2002 vintage was selling for €3,500 in 2019, but with its superb ageing potential, we expect this to rise and rise.
Notable facts and vintages
  • In late 2014 the world-renowned and record-breaking champagne writer Richard Juhlin named Krug’s Grande Cuvee as one of his top 20 favourite Prestige Champagnes in a Decanter article titled “Prestige Champagne: Crème de la crème”.
  • 2003 Krug Clos du Mesnil found its way on many a “Top” and “Most Expensive” champagne lists; this single vineyard Champagne is one of the finest expressions of Blanc de Blancs, commanding high release prices and above all, a superlative wine that will age very well. Prices on the whole have been increasing over the past couple of years. Both the 1988 and 1996 vintages are the only two in all of Champagne to attain Robert Parker’s “Perfect 100”.
  • Krug Rosé 22ème Édition was released in 2018 and while based on the 2010 vintage, is in fact a blend of 22 wines spanning 5 vintages, the oldest being 2005. The high prices commanded by all 22 editions have been on the upswing overall for the past few years and with an anticipated maturity in 2030 for number 22, there is more room for growth.