After making a fortune in the wool industry, Mr Pommery was in fragile health in 1856 and decided to retire. However, destiny had a twist, Madame Pommery fell pregnant at 38 and needing to provide for Louise, Mr Pommery moved into the champagne business that was booming. Two years later he died; the rest is history: the young widow Pommery took over the champagne business and led it on to success and glory. Madam Pommery died in 1890 and for the next hundred years it was owned by a succession of people. In 1991 LVMH purchased Pommery, selling it in 2002 to Vranken Monopole Group while keeping hold of much of the highly sort after Pommery portfolio of Grand Cru vineyards. Today the Pommery Estate in Reims stretches to 50 hectares of glorious gardens, tourists love the underground world some 18 kms of cellars with art displays in a large section of the cellars Madam Pommery had constructed in 1868.

Les Clos Pompadour, is the single largest clos in champagne, some 25 hectares are nestled in within the city walls of Reims with an impressive 2 metre high wall surrounding the entire vineyard. The vineyard sits above their cellars and Pommery are one of the Maison’s with these 30-40 meter tall crayeres or "cathedrals" such incredibly impressive structures built between the 2nd and 5th century, mostly it is believed to provide masonry for the construction of Reims. The cellars of Pommery, Ruinart, Taittinger and Charles Heidsieck all have these amazing crayeres and since 2015 they are listed as a Unesco World Heritage Site. The Clos over the top of the deep chalk cellars were planted mainly in the 1960’s with over two thirds chardonnay. As a champagne this is a relative newcomer, the first vintage was 2002, technically a NV, but it is all 2002 and the intention of the cellar master is to make the champagne, only in magnum, every year.

Weather: The 2002 vintage shaped up ideally 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.

Technical Information:
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru | Chardonnay: Avize, Cramant | Pinot Noir: Aÿ
Grape Varieties: 70% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir & 5% Meunier
Lees Ageing: 11 years
All vintage: 2002
Disgorged: June 2014
Dosage: 8 g/l
Drink: Now to 2035

Tasting Note: Made exclusively of 2002 fruit. Full, rich style, initially tight and reserved, coming with a highly mineral struck match character. Over time it has mellowed down into fine, fragrant, gunpowder and toast complexity. Slowly evolving with Chablis-like notes and super intensity lined with razor-sharp acidity. Still full of unreleased potential. Rich exuberance of toasty generosity. Loaded with explosive pristine fruit. Outstanding intensity with coffee, honey, gunpowder and spicy vanilla complexity. Such vibrancy, even raciness on the firm, focused palate. Beautifully balanced and generous at 8g/l dosage. Already close to perfection and going up. - Tasted by Essi Avellan MW