Pol Roger - Champagne Cuvée 'Sir Winston Churchill' 2015

Pol Roger takes extreme pride in more than 160 years producing some of the world’s finest Champagne. Founded in 1849, Pol Roger is one of only a few Grande Marque Champagne houses that remains family owned and operated.

Pol Roger owns close to 55% of the vineyards used for their Champagne production, a true rarity in this region of large firms. Their vineyard holdings equal to 92 hectares (225 acres). The balance of our sourcing comes from long term contracts with growers with whom we have worked for decades as if they were members of our “maison”. Using strict guidelines, grapes are sourced mainly from 1er and Grand Cru vineyards that rate at an average of 95 points on the Échelle des Crus classification system. (In each vintage, the Échelle des Crus system, or ladder of growths, operates on a percentile basis to fix grape prices of each cru, or delimited vineyard area in the Champagne appellation; Pol Roger’s vineyards, therefore, rank close to the highest quality possible among the Grande Marque Champagne houses).

Prior to final blending each lot is aged on its own, separated by village, vineyard, grower and grape variety. Once blended, each bottle of Champagne Pol Roger is aged and hand riddled in the 4.66 mile-long cellars under the Epernay château which are among the deepest (100 feet below ground) and coolest (48°F) cellars in champagne.

Deep and cool cellars provide perfect conditions for the “prise de mousse” (the development of the Champagne in bottle and the “finesse” of the “bead” or bubble) and for the long-ageing of our Champagne in bottle; in fact, all their Champagnes are aged longer than the legal requirement because doing so adds more complexity and fine bubbles in every bottle. In effect, each bottle of Cuvée Champagne is hand-made; 100% of Pol Roger Champagne is produced in its winery, nothing is outsourced. Controlled entirely from vineyard to bottle, Pol Roger Champagnes are the marriage of power and elegance.

While the exact blend is a family secret, it is believed that the wine is blended to meet the late Churchill’s approval and is most likely a majority of Pinot Noir. Grapes are sourced from old vines located exclusively in Grand Cru vineyards. Like all Pol Roger Champagnes this cuvée is fermented in stainless steel at very low temperatures. The wine is aged in the deepest portions of the Pol Roger cellars for an average of 10 years prior to release.

"There is a wonderful biscuity aroma to this Pinot Noir-dominated Champagne. Named after the British war-time prime minister and an avid consumer of Champagne, the wine is mature, full of ripe yeasty flavors and concentration. The wine, from a great vintage, is at a perfect stage and ready to be drunk. But the wine will also age for many years, certainly until 2030. Alcohol 12.5%. (Apr 2024)" - 99 Points, Wine Enthusiast

"Very complex nose with a wide spectrum of candied citrus, dried peach and mirabelle tart aromas. Bold and rich, particularly on the mid-palate, but with a great deal of subtlety and delicacy for the vintage. This is already delicious, but at the finish you really taste how this has been made for the long term. Great drive and persistence right at the end. Drink or hold. (8/7/23)" - 96 Points, James Suckling

"The 2015 Brut Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill shows off the savory side of the vintage to great effect. Hints of dried pear, sage, mint, dried flowers, lemon oil and chamomile open gradually in this mid-weight, lithe edition of Pol Roger's tête de cuvée. The 2015 unfolds nicely with time in the glass, but I wouldn't think of opening a bottle anytime soon. Readers will find a nervy Winston Churchill marked by notable freshness and vigor more than size. This is a fine effort in a vintage that has proven to be far trickier than most observers originally envisioned. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged September 2022. Drink: 2027-2045. (May 2023)" - 95 Points, Vinous

Producer: Pol Roger 

Country: France

Region: Champagne

Varietal: Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay 

Appellation: Champagne

Vintage: 2015

Size: 750ml