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 Brut Vintage is produced in limited quantities using the traditional House blend from twenty Grand and Premier Cru vineyards in the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. 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 eight 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 & Premier Cru - Montagne de Reims & Côte des Blancs.
Grape Varieties: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Ageing: 8 years on the lees
Dosage: 7 g/l
Alcohol:12.5%
Drink: Now to 2030

Tasting Note: Showing plenty of fruit for a recently disgorged champagne, lots of ripe apple and pear, with purity to the fruit, the hallmark of many 2012's and 2008's. On the palate the ripe red apples come forward, ripe lemon and pear wrap around the lees texture, with hints of spice and tropical notes from pineapple. The texture of the 2012 vintage is present, with a fresh acidity but perfectly balance. The finish is very clean with hints of chalk and salinity. At this young age we see the Chardonnay dominating the taste, with time we will see more of the Pinot Noir fruit coming forward.