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 seven years in the cellars before disgorgment and release.

Weather: The 2012 weather has been hallmarked by many as very challenging but has created some stunning Champagne. Relatively low yields due to various weather conditions throughout the year. The winter months brought some frosts and hail which damaged the early stages of bud burst. August and September were very warm and this helped rescue and give the grapes a stunning maturity. Harvesting lasted from 10th to 26th September.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oiry, Oger
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Ageing: 6 years on the lees
Disgorged: 2018
Dosage: 7 g/l
Drink: Now to 2028

Tasting Note: The Blanc de Blancs 2012 is pale yellow-gold in colour with shimmering reflection, enhanced by a fine and elegant stream of lingering bubbles. The nose has notes of dried fruits and hazelnut with hints of citrus. The palate has delicate peach and apricot notes with a vibrant youth and rich maturity, citrus all through to the finish.