Krug Brut Champagne Grande Cuvée Edition 172 NV

99 points Bettane & Desseauve Guide (2025).

98 points La Revue du Vin de France: "Grande Cuvee 172e Edition is an immense Krug. Built around the very fine 2016 vintage, complete with 146 wines from 11 different vintages (dating back to 1998), it boasts notes of fresh almonds and white flowers, with a chiseled, complex, very long and salivating palate. The mousse is delightful, and it has that controlled power that coats the palate. Already superb, it will benefit from a patient ageing in bottle. (2025)"

98 points Wine Enthusast: "This is most recent bottling of this iconic Champagne. There is a touch of toast as well as enticing apple and citrus aromas. On the palate, this wine is rich, intense, poised between maturity and ripe white fruits. It is a beautifully balanced wine, ready to drink. Alcohol 12.5%. (Dec 2024)"

97 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(tasted in 2024 in France; 44% pinot noir, 36% chardonnay, 20% meunier; 2016 base vintage; 42% reserves; 146 wines from 11 vintages back to Avize chardonnay from 1998). There is a beautifully juicy and succulent feel to Édition 172 that reflects the balance and fruit presence of 2016, united seamlessly with the silky structure and resounding complexity of particularly deep reserves, intentionally rallied to lift and support this tricky harvest. It holds exquisite complexity and depth, magnificently uniting the primary universe of lemon and grapefruit with the succulence of white peach and nectarine and the secondary layers of roast nuts, brioche, dried nectarine and honey. Then an upwelling of the rumbling complexity that is Krug, in tertiary nuances amassed over 26 years in reflections of truffles, pipe smoke, candle wax and deep, dark spice. Malic acidity holds this symphony of complexity in finely orchestrated precision, sustaining outstanding length and energy. A masterpiece of blending wizardry; another truly great Krug is born. (2024)"

97 points Natalie Earl (Decanter): "(36% Chardonnay, 44% Pinot Noir, 20% Pinot Meunier). The 172ème édition, based around the 2016 vintage, is a delicate, floral and saline Grande Cuvée at this early stage in its life. The palate it taut, tightly wound, gradually unfurling into toasted fruit bread, rye bread and roasted nuts, wrapped around an intricate and taut lemon core. It's exceptionally long, spicy, rounded and spherical in shape. Notes of sweet unsalted butter round out the finish, which has such length, elegance and balance. 58% of the wine is from the 2016 vintage, which saw a lot of rain in the spring and close to flowering, with 42% from reserve wines. The blend is made up of 146 separately vinified wines from 11 different years, and the oldest wine in the blend is from the 1998 vintage. Drinking Window: 2024-2045. (4/23/24)"

97 points James Suckling: "Beautiful notes of dried citrus fruit, lemon curd and dried apples with hints of spices, dried flowers and subtle brioche. I like the polished and caressing texture and steady, refreshing acidity. It’s fresh and even austere, with notes of ground spices. So vertical and firm. Structured and long. Drink or hold. (5/30/24)"

97 points Falstaff (10/24/24).

96 points Wine Spectator: "This classy Champagne waltzes across the palate with fluid poise and grace. The mousse's pointillismlike beads and a vivid frame of acidity buoy the detailed range of aromas and flavors, including chopped cherry, dried apricot, tangerine peel and plum cake notes, plus fragrant hints of grated ginger, lime blossoms, ground coffee and grilled nuts. A tang of salinity drives the racy, lingering finish. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier. Disgorged winter 2022 to 2023 (Krug ID 123003). Drink now through 2040. (11/30/24)"

95 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The NV Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition is a gracious, sublime Champagne. Light citrus notes, white flowers, spice, marzipan and chamomile inflections all run through this delicate, nuanced Grande Cuvée. The 172eme is a Champagne of understatement and class that is very much a reflection of the base year. Brisk acids pull it all together. The Grande Cuvée is often quite accessible on release, but this is an Edition I would cellar for at least another year or two. It’s a fine effort from Krug. The 172ème Édition is a blend of 44% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier based on 2016 with reserve wines back to 1998. Disgorged: Winter 2022-2023. Krug ID: 123003. Drink: 2024-2044. (Mar 2024)"

95 points Yohan Castaing (Wine Advocate): "The new Krug release, the NV Grande Cuvée 172ème Édition, based on the 2016 vintage and comprising 11 vintages in total (the oldest is 1998), is outstanding. It reveals a complex, slightly spicy bouquet of white fruits, beeswax, marzipan, hazelnuts, dried herbs, ripe orchard fruits and white flowers. Medium to full-bodied, rich and concentrated on the palate, it has a subtly spicy entry, an enrobing and layered texture and a fleshy core of fruit framed around a perfectly balanced, fresh and mineral finish. Crafted primarily from Pinot Noir (44%) and complemented with 30% Chardonnay and the rest Pinot Meunier, it was disgorged in the first quarter of 2023 with a dosage of 4.5 grams per liter. Keep it for 5-10 years. Drink: 2024-2034. (10/24/24)"

95 points Audrey Frick (JebDunnuck.com): "The NV Champagne Grande Cuvée 172 was created around the 2016 harvest year, and they enriched it with 146 wines dating from 2016 back to 1998. It pours a medium straw/yellow hue and is very pretty on the nose, with floral aromas leading out of the gate, followed by notes of candied green apples, fresh linen, lime sorbet, redcurrants, delicate spice, and fresh almond. It’s rounded and medium-bodied on the palate, with a refined, delicately chalky texture, even, mouthwatering saline, fresh lift, and a long, fresh finish. As it opens, it starts to show its deeper profile in the blend, with notes of toast and crushed stones. It’s a lovely addition to the range that will have a wide drinking window and improve with time over the next 20 years. Give it 3-4 years in the cellar. Drink: 2028-2044. (12/20/24)"