POL ROGER BLANC DE BLANCS 2013
Pol Roger was just nineteen when he founded his estate in 1849. Still a family-run enterprise, fifth generation Billy de Hubert manages the House today, ensuring they remain fiercely independent and unrivalled in their reputation for quality. Today they own 92 hectares of vineyards and its cellars in Epernay, just off the Avenue de Champagne run for 7.5 kilometres, 34 metres below the ground at a constant 9 Celsius. 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.
The Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2013 is exclusively made from Chardonnays selected from the Grands Crus of the Côte des Blancs in the villages of Oiry, Chouilly, Cramant, Avize, Oger and Le Mesnil-sur-Oger. Produced in limited quantities, this Cuvée has been aged for 6 years.
The House use no oak in the winemaking process. 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 where the wine is kept until it undergoes remuage (riddling) by hand, a rarity in Champagne nowadays.
2013 WEATHER OVERVIEW
Winter was cold with little sunshine; it was marked by frequent frosts and several incidences of snowfall. The onset of spring-like weather was delayed, and the month of May saw a return of unseasonably low temperatures and high rainfall. June saw a return of normal temperatures. July and August were hot, sunny and dry. A spell of rain at the beginning of September allowed the grapes to swell. Thankfully drier weather encouraged full maturation of the vines, albeit a fortnight late compared to the average of the last ten years. Harvesting started on 24th September and lasted until 9th October.
Technical information
Vineyards: 100% Grand Cru from the villages of the Côte des Blancs: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant, Oiry, Oger
Grape Varieties: 100% Chardonnay
Ageing: 6 years on the lees
Disgorged: 2020
Dosage: 7 g/l
Drink: Now to 2030
|
William Kelley robertparker.com | 93/100 “Pol Roger’s newly released 2013 Brut Blanc de Blancs is very appealing, unwinding in the glass with scents of crisp orchard fruit, citrus zest, sourdough bread, pastry cream and almonds. Medium to full-bodied, taut and incisive, it’s more chisled than the richer, more concentrated 2012, with racy acids and a gently reductive edge, concluding with chalky grip. This is a real classic in style and should develop beautifully with age on cork.” |
|---|
|
Nick Baker | 93/100 “Initially the fruit is quite held back a few minutes later there is more of an explosion; ripe and rich creamy lemon pastry with bundles of grapefruit. After a few minutes tropical notes, there is a hint of lychee and the usual ripe pineapple. It is not as expected since the aromatics are tight, but the fruit really comes out on the palate. With 2013’s there is more acidity to be expected, but this doesn’t seem to stand out as the palate is richly texture that combination or ripe fruits and the lees ageing add a round going to velvet like texture. Finishes with a mineral saline lift which keeps it very fresh. The flavours linger long. This is right up there with the 2002 BdB which was simply stunning. I expected the 2013 to be “out shined” by the delicious 2012 fruit, but this isn’t the case, this has very attractive pure fruit with a lovely texture on the palate.” |
|---|
Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs – all the vintages since the inaugural 1998
| Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 1998 | Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2008 |
| Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 1999 | Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2009 |
| Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2000 | Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2012 |
| Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2002 | Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2013 |
| Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs 2004 |
Pol Roger Blanc de Blancs – Buy here.
