France, Champagne

The grandest of the Grande Marques. Johann-Joseph Krug, who was born in Mainz, founded Champagne Krug in 1843, having previously worked at Jacquesson and marrying Adolphe Jacquesson's sister-in-law. The Company is still controlled by the Krug family - Olivier Krug being the current incumbent - although ownership was sold to LVMH in 1999. Krug are the only House to barrel ferment all their wines - in "de-seasoned" 205 litre casks of Argonne oak. The rich Krug style also comes from prolonged lees ageing and the very high proportion of reserve wines in the blend.