How do I date Krug Grande Cuvee?

[Stuart White]

I have had a 75cl bottle of Krug Grande Cuvee in my garage for about 15 years. Is there anyone who can help me work out exactly how old the champagne is and whether or not it should still be drinkable? Although I enjoy drinking different wines I'm not very knowledgeable about them and would appreciate some help. The labels are still intact but I can't see anything on them to give me any clues as to its age.

[Tom Troiano]

If you can post some digital pictures of the label(s) I'm sure someone could help.

[Jim Grow]

Stuart, Welcome to this great wine site. I have never had any Krug Champagne, very expensive, but I like aged Champagne and yours can certainly age, even several decades or more IF properly stored. Was this bottle kept in a cool, dark place and laying down? Cool is probably the most important word there. You hopefully have a wonderful wine there and let us all know how it was when you consume it.

[Rahsaan]

What is the temperature like in your garage?

Do you live in Scotland? Florida?

[Victorwine]

I have had a 75cl bottle of Krug Grande Cuvee in my garage for about 15 years.

Possibly up to 20 years in the making (depending upon how many different vintages they went back to craft this cuvee). After skillfully blending the “final” cuvee probably maybe another 6 years until disgorgement and release. So I would say it is quite old (older than say 21 years old).

The following link might be helpful (if you could make out label color, size, shape, border or possible font size). Or when you open it examine the cork for a “V code” or numerical code.

http://winetomas.wordpress.com/2012/11/ ... nde-cuvee/

Salute

[Stuart White]

Thank you all for your responses so far. The website recommended by Victorwine was very useful and probably ages my bottle to around 1993. In answer to some of the questions raised, I am in England so the garage is generally cool and the bottle has been laid down, certainly for most of the time anyway.
However, with a bright light behind the bottle I can see that there is some sediment floating around - is this bad news?

[Howie Hart]

...However, with a bright light behind the bottle I can see that there is some sediment floating around - is this bad news?

It depends on the type of sediment. If it is light and fluffy and floats around in the bottle, it's a bad sign, indicating bacterial spoilage. If it's clear, small crystals, that settle out quickly, it's a good sign, indicating the wine was merely subjected to cold temperatures over time and tartrate crystals precipitated out of the wine - no harm done.

[Victorwine]

Hi Stuart and welcome to WLDG! Besides what Howie posted, (you are dealing with an “aged” Champagne) the sediment could just be a protein haze or just “yeast sediment” left behind. Some of the “best” wines I’ve tasted (sparkling or still) had sediment in the bottle.

Salute