Champagne Pol Roger
Weather is so nice in Paris today, I m just in the mood for Champagne. A very good friend recently brought over a bottle of Pol Roger with their new packaging. I always loved this family champagne based in Epernay but I ‘ve never seen before this beautiful flowery box, perfect for the spring time. I was so intrigued that I did some research and found out that it was a tribute to … Winston Churchill.
Chrurchill wasn’t only a champagne (also wine, whisky…!) lover but he was also a painter in his spare time. The box represents one of his painting. Isn’t it amazing to see this very beautiful, light, happy painting which offers a total contrast with his duties?
Churchill had always close relations with the Pol Roger family. He was already in his thirties when, in 1908, he placed his first formal order ‘1 dozen bottles of Pol Roger 1895’. He certainly made up for this slow start, thereafter consuming somewhere in the region of 240,000 bottles, albeit in the more modestly sized Imperial Pint format.
In 1944, a luncheon in Great Britain’s Paris Embassy with Odette de Pol Roger (great daughter of Richard Wallace) added a Platonic twist of romance to the natural infatuation of Winston Churchill.
When he was not enjoying the best of Pol Roger vintages (1928, 1935, 1945 and 1947 were the star performers of the time), Churchill applied himself to the task of saving the country from the Nazis and earning the undying affection of the nation
In 1975, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Winston’s death, Pol Roger released Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, their prestigious cuvée, a magnificent vinous champagne. It is now in its 19th edition, the 2012 vintage. Always elaborated in the best years, it is a blend of predominantly Pinot Noir and some Chardonnay, always from the Grand cru classified vineyards
How can we characterize Pol Roger Champagne?
It is clearly one of my favorite. First at all, this champagne is one of the rare houses which managed to stay in the hands of the family which deserves a real “bravo” in this modern world where most the the major champagne houses now belong to huge groups.
Their entry level, the Brut Reserve is a blend in equal parts of Pinot Noir, Chardonnay and Meunier with 25% reserve wine and 4 years aging on their beautiful cellar in Epernay.
“Pol Roger Brut Reserve displays a beautiful golden straw color and fine bubbles. The nose is strong with attractive notes of pear, mango and red fruits. It is clearly more on the “pinot” side.On the palate, the impression is that you have the power and the freshness at the same time with long-lasting aromas composed of both fruity and spicy notes. Really excellent for aperitif but also on the table!” Wine Domini, March 23, 2021