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 Blanc de Blancs is made exclusively from the Grand Crus of the Côte des Blancs. The must undergoes two settlings, one at the press house immediately after pressing and another in Pol Roger's famous stainless-steel tanks. Second fermentation takes place in the coolest Pol Roger cellars, thirty-three metres below ground level at temperatures of just 9°C, some 2-3°C cooler than the cellars of other producers. The cooler cellars slow down bottle fermentation, producing a champagne with finer bubbles, a characteristic for which these small production releases of Pol Roger are known for. The final blend is aged for nine years in the cellars before disgorgment and release.

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.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oiry, Oger
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Ageing: 9 years on the lees
Disgorged: November 2012
Dosage: 9 g/l
Drink: Now to 2030+

Tasting Note: The BdB 2002 from Pol Roger is entering a beautiful phase, the colour is a little richer gold than when young and those creamy pastry notes are starting to express themselves. As BdB champagne develops after disgorgement the zingy citrus and pineapple notes transition to dried fruits and the patisserie and crème caramel come forward. A stunning champagne now at 20 years old, revealing the elegance, subtlety and balance of champagne with age. The finish shows remarkable length, a treat indeed and I believe one of the best BdB vintages Pol have made. Nick Baker TFB March 2022