The 172ème Édition of Krug Grande Cuvée is based on the 2016 harvest, a challenging year of frost, mildew and low yields that excelled in Chardonnay. To shape Grande Cuvée’s vision, 42% reserve wines from 11 vintages - dating back to 1998 - were added. The mature depth of the reserves enriches the high-acid, linear 2016 base, creating a textbook example of why Grande Cuvée is always greater than the sum of its parts.

Palmer’s 2008 stands out because the estate was already well advanced in its biodynamic conversion at the time - rare in Bordeaux then, and something that shaped the aromatic precision and fine-boned tannins of the vintage. From magnum, the expression is even more distinctive: slower evolution preserves tension, while the élevage in barrel had already given the wine remarkable integration. By the glass, you taste both a transitional moment in Palmer’s farming philosophy and the nuance of format.

This Shiraz-led blend with Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc reflects Australian history, named after the 19th-century Keyneton village brass band. The 2018 Eden Valley vintage produced reds of purity and balance, with Shiraz giving spice and depth, Bordeaux grapes adding structure and lift. Old-vine Shiraz in the blend shares genetic stock with Henschke’s famed Hill of Grace, giving the wine a lineage far beyond its modest billing.