Pol Roger was just nineteen when he founded his estate in 1849. Still a family-run enterprise, fifth generation Hubert de Billy is one of the descendants who manage the House today. With 89-hectares of vineyards supplying half of their grape requirements and illustrious premises containing immaculate facilities including pristinely polished stainless-steel tanks. Today they own 92 hectares of vineyards and its cellars in Epernay, just off the Avenue de Champagne run for 7.5 kms, 34 metres below the ground at a constant 9 Celsius.

Remarkably, a small team of less than ten complete everything in the cellar by hand and Pol Roger boast four of the region's remaining fifteen riddlers, who impressively turn over 60,000 bottles a day. Indeed, it is this style and their respect for tradition that initiated Sir Winston Churchill's lifelong attachment to Pol Roger, who famously insisted: "In defeat I need it, in victory I deserve it." Today, their prestige cuvée is named in honour of the great man.

Pol Roger's vintage champagnes have an unrivalled reputation: produced only in the best years from the best vineyards of the best villages. With 2002 continuing to be acclaimed as one of the greatest ever vintages, Pol Roger have celebrated this legendary year with the creation of the Pol Roger Vintage 2002 Collection. This Limited Edition release contains two bottles each of Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2002, Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2002 and Pol Roger Rosé 2002, all housed in a beautiful oak case. This definitive range of Pol Roger Vintage Champagne is a rare showcase of the remarkable quality of this outstanding vintage. Just 100 cases have been produced.

Weather: The 2002 vintage shaped up magnificently over the spring, with no significant frost and near-perfect flowering. Then followed a summer marked by long, sunny periods interspersed with regular cloudy and rainy spells. The vines were in good health and the dehydration of the grape berries helped them reach new heights of ripeness. Generally considered one of the best harvests in the last twenty years.

Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2002: Following the House’s traditional vintage blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, this remarkable cuvée is drawn from twenty Grand and Premier Cru sites across the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs.

Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2002: Describing 2002 as a “vintage characterised by remarkable levels of ripeness and a good level of acidity,” Pol Roger produced their Blanc de Blancs from exclusively Grand Cru sites in the Côte des Blancs.

Pol Roger Rosé 2002: For their vintage rosé, Pol Roger vinify 13% of the Pinot Noir as red wine and add it to the final blend before the second fermentation, in order “to obtain it's delicate colour and subtle nose”.

Pol Roger Vintage 2002 Collection comes presented in a beautifully branded oak case (as shown in the picture on the left). The case contains a commemorative booklet with a Pol Roger family tree, individually hand-signed by Hubert de Billy, fifth generation family member. This dates back to Monsieur Pol Roger who founded the house in 1849 and to this day the House remains small and family-owned.