Average rating 4.9/5 stars across all Google and external reviews
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Bought directly from Pol Roger, the bottles are stored in bond at London City Bond Eton Park, in ideal conditions at a constant 13°C. For same-day deliveries, small quantities are kept in our office cellar, where the temperature is maintained between 11–13°C. We source all our bottles directly from the Maison or their official UK office, eliminating the risk of poor storage. This is crucial, as champagne quality is highly sensitive to heat: temperatures above 18°C accelerate maturity significantly, which compromises quality.
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.
Weather in 2016: After a mild and dry November and December, 2016 began with record rainfall and sporadic sunshine. To make matters more difficult, a cold fortnight in mid-April delayed bud break and pushed the flowering of the vines back a full ten days beyond the average of the past decade. These difficult conditions culminated in a few episodes of hail in July but were ultimately resolved by a warm and sunny August. Low rainfall allowed the soil to dry out and the grapes to mature relatively quickly. That said, ripeness varied widely plot to plot, necessitating pinpoint accuracy at harvest. Four of the past six harvests have taken place in August, as temperatures in the region increase. The 2016 harvest was more of a classic vintage with picking not beginning till the 10th of September.
Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand & Premier Cru - Montagne de Reims & Côte des Blancs
Grape Varieties: 60% Pinot Noir & 40% Chardonnay
Lees Ageing: 5.5 years
Disgorged: November 2022
Dosage: 7 g/l
Alcohol: 12.5%
Drink: Now to 2030+
Tasting Note:Alluring aromas of lemon peel, tarte au citron and freshly baked madeleines. With time in the glass, more savoury earth aromas such as roasted hazelnuts and marmalade develop, showcasing the many layers of complexity of this Champagne. On the palate, the wine has a firm backbone of acidity, balanced with the characteristically rich, broad Pinot Noir for which Pol Roger is known.
Watch Essi Avellan MW & Nick's video tasting review of this champagne here.
Pol Roger was just nineteen when he founded his eponymous estate in 1849. Still a family-run enterprise, fifth generation Hubert de Billy is one of the descendants who manage the House today, ensuring they remain fiercely independent and unrivalled in their reputation for quality. With 89-hectares of vineyards supplying half of their grape requirements and illustrious premises containing immaculate facilities including pristinely polished stainless-steel tanks that reflect shiny tiles and snow-white surfaces, their success is a consequence of incredibly personal attention to detail. In 1955 the family started acquiring vineyards, today they own 92 hectares. Their own grapes are just over 50% of their needs, requiring them to work with many growers from many villages. Its cellars in Epernay are 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. The House use no oak in the winemaking process and their double cold-settling of the grape juice contributes to the pure-fruity style of their champagnes. 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.
Cellar Master: Damien Cambres - March 2018 to present
Winery Location: Épernay | Champagne, France
Champagne Region: Côte des Blancs
Annual Production (bottles): 1,800,000
Chef de Cave History at Champagne Pol Roger:
Damien Cambres - March 2018 to present - Damien Cambres took over as Cellar Master on Monday April 2nd 2018, at forty-three he succeeds Dominique Petit who retires after 19 years at Champagne Pol Roger. Damien was born in Châlons-en-Champagne and completed the national diploma in oenology. Before joining Pol Roger he spent 20 years in champagnes co-operative business, 1997 to 2012, with Nicolas Feuillatte, before joining Gouttes d’Or Union as production manager then general manager, until 2017 when he joined Pol Roger as Director of Production in April 2017. For the next 12 months he worked with his predecessor Dominique Petit understanding the know-how and philosophy of the family-owned company.
Dominique Petit - Spring 1999 & retired in March 2018 Dominique studied oenology for seven years; Beaune Wine College in 1970 to 1971, Wine College of Avize from 1971 to 1973 and finally at the Faculty of Science in Reims from 1973 to 1977. His first vintage of his professional career was 1979, he comments "Maturity was spectacular with a purity that was extraordinarily beautiful. The wines were all without exception wonderful, and the few remaining examples in the cellars are still the same." This first role was at Champagne Krug, where he stayed for 20 years, part of the winemaking team and becoming Director of Production. Much of early years with Champagne Pol Roger, from 2001 to 2013 he oversaw a major refurbishment of the winery, enlarging the cellar space for settling, blending and vinification. In addition he introduced smaller tanks from 20 hl to 160 h/l , allowing him to keep smaller parcels of the best wines separate for the vintage and Churchill cuvée.
James Coffinet - 1985 to Spring 1999 - Recruited by Christian de Billy from Billecart-Salmon where he was Cellar Master. With Christian's oversight, James introduced double débourbage, longer periods of cold settling the must, twice for between 24-48 hours at 6 Celsius followed by a cooler fermentation. These were practices borrowed from the brewing industry and used at Champagne Billecart-Salmon where he previously worked. Coffinet was considered one of the best winemakers of his generation.
Damien Cambres - March 2018 to present - Damien Cambres took over as Cellar Master on Monday April 2nd 2018, at forty-three he succeeds Dominique Petit who retires after 19 years at Champagne Pol Roger. Damien was born in Châlons-en-Champagne and completed the national diploma in oenology. Before joining Pol Roger he spent 20 years in champagnes co-operative business, 1997 to 2012, with Nicolas Feuillatte, before joining Gouttes d’Or Union as production manager then general manager, until 2017 when he joined Pol Roger as Director of Production in April 2017. For the next 12 months he worked with his predecessor Dominique Petit understanding the know-how and philosophy of the family-owned company.
Dominique Petit - Spring 1999 & retired in March 2018 Dominique studied oenology for seven years; Beaune Wine College in 1970 to 1971, Wine College of Avize from 1971 to 1973 and finally at the Faculty of Science in Reims from 1973 to 1977. His first vintage of his professional career was 1979, he comments "Maturity was spectacular with a purity that was extraordinarily beautiful. The wines were all without exception wonderful, and the few remaining examples in the cellars are still the same." This first role was at Champagne Krug, where he stayed for 20 years, part of the winemaking team and becoming Director of Production. Much of early years with Champagne Pol Roger, from 2001 to 2013 he oversaw a major refurbishment of the winery, enlarging the cellar space for settling, blending and vinification. In addition he introduced smaller tanks from 20 hl to 160 h/l , allowing him to keep smaller parcels of the best wines separate for the vintage and Churchill cuvée.
James Coffinet - 1985 to Spring 1999 - Recruited by Christian de Billy from Billecart-Salmon where he was Cellar Master. With Christian's oversight, James introduced double débourbage, longer periods of cold settling the must, twice for between 24-48 hours at 6 Celsius followed by a cooler fermentation. These were practices borrowed from the brewing industry and used at Champagne Billecart-Salmon where he previously worked. Coffinet was considered one of the best winemakers of his generation.
Expert Reviews
93 → 95/100
Essi Avellan MW
“The 2016 vintage resulted in happy surprises after all the numerous viticultural challenges the year brought about. Pol Roger Vintage shows an enticing combination of lush, ripe fruitiness combined to vibrant, energising acidity. The nose greets you with a charming tone of burned match and butter biscuits. Beyond, it comes with a mélange of both crunchy and sun kissed orchard fruit, sweet honey and fragrant orange blossom notes. On the palate it is equally fulfilling in its immediate appeal and juiciness. This is a generous and overt, aromatically sound vintage ready to please, yet it comes with muscle and intensity that rewards midterm ageing. ”
17/20
Jancis Robinson MW
“Very tight, dense nose with some honey and orange notes on the palate. Already very drinkable with the acidity not especially noticeable, although presumably it will gain in aromatic complexity with bottle age. I found it less than enthralling when I first tasted it and gave it a score of 16.5 but when I was served a glass blind from my re-stoppered bottle a few days later, I was impressed. So is the lesson, don't rush your pleasures?”
94/100
Yohan Castaing
“The 2016 Brut Vintage reveals a complex, gourmand bouquet with aromas of ripe orchard fruits, nectarine, pastry, nuts, sweet spices and ripe white fruits, signs of a warm vintage. Full-bodied, broad and vinous with a fleshy core of fruit, it’s rich and elegant with a penetrating, saline finish. It will drink at its peak in five to 10 years.”
17.5+/20
Nick Baker TFB Founder
“Bright fruit, jumps out the glass the Chardonnay richness of yellow fruit backed up o the palate by the red fruit adding the structure. Delicious lemon twist of the tropical with pineapple and guava and apricot and peach coming through from the PN on the palate. Delicious now and for 5+ years. Worth noting the Pol vintage magnums age beautifully.”
Pol Roger and Sir Winston Churchill shared a legendary friendship, born from a mutual love of fine Champagne. Churchill’s favourite house later honoured him with its prestige cuvée, Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill — a rich, powerful Champagne reflecting his character and legacy.
In early March, we met with President of Pol Roger Laurent d'Harcourt at the winery in Épernay to taste the 2018 base wines and conduct a vertical tasting of Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs vintages, dating from 1986-2012.
Read Tim Hall's review of the first ever complete vertical tasting of Pol Roger Sir Winston Churchill. Every vintage made from 1975 to 2004, all in magnum (but for the 1988 jeroboam)... where was our invite...
To celebrate the release of Pol Roger Brut Vintage 2008, we put it to the test in a blind vertical tasting of the last four vintages of Pol: 2002, 2004, 2006 and 2008. We also threw in the non-vintage for good measure.
