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.
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.
93-95/100 Essi Avellan
