Pol Roger, Sir Winston Churchill, 2015
Pol Roger, Sir Winston Churchill, 2015
- 75cl
- 12.5%
- White Sparkling
- Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
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Optimal drinking window: Now - 2045
Please note that this wine is offered without a box
The bond between Champagne Pol Roger and Sir Winston Churchill began just after the war, at a luncheon where the 1928 vintage was served. There, Churchill met the glamorous Odette Pol Roger, sparking a friendship that lasted until his death and created ties between the two families that remain strong today.
Though Churchill never managed to visit Pol Roger’s home at 44 Avenue de Champagne - famously calling it “the most drinkable address in the world”, he showed his affection in other ways: sending Odette a signed copy of his Memoirs, naming a racehorse “Pol Roger” (which won at Kempton Park in 1953), and drinking the wines loyally.
In tribute, Pol Roger created their Prestige Cuvée in his honour, crafted with the qualities he admired most: depth, power, and maturity. The exact blend remains a closely guarded secret, but there’s little doubt it would have met with his approval: “My tastes are simple, I am easily satisfied with the best.”
Pol Roger sources from premier and grand cru vineyards across Champagne's finest sites, with particular strength in the Montagne de Reims for Pinot Noir and the Côte des Blancs for Chardonnay. The chalky soils provide the mineral backbone that defines great Champagne, whilst the cool climate ensures the slow ripening that creates complexity. Their deep cellars beneath Épernay provide the perfect conditions for the extended ageing that gives this cuvée its distinctive character.
Champagne AOC represents the pinnacle of sparkling wine, with strict rules governing everything from grape varieties to pressing methods and minimum lees ageing. Only three grapes are permitted for most Champagnes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Pinot Meunier. The prestige cuvées like this represent the houses' finest expressions, often from the best vineyard sites and extended cellaring. What sets Champagne apart is not just the method but the unique combination of chalk soils, cool climate, and centuries of expertise.
The 2015 growing season in Champagne started with a scorching summer that had everyone fretting about ripeness levels, before September delivered the kind of gentle, drawn-out harvest conditions that dreams are made of. The early heat meant picking began in late August for some houses, but crucially the weather stayed dry and cool enough through September to allow patient producers to wait for perfect phenolic ripeness. What could have been a vintage of jammy, over-ripe fruit instead became something far more interesting.
We find 2015 Champagnes showing remarkable depth and richness whilst keeping their essential freshness intact. The Chardonnay particularly shines here, with a texture and weight that speaks to the warm summer but maintains that mineral backbone Champagne demands. Pinot Noir delivered generous fruit without losing structure, and the best cuvées have a density that sets them apart from lighter recent vintages. Most are drinking superbly now and will continue to develop until 2030, though the finest prestige bottlings will reward patience well beyond that.
What the critics say:
"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."
"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."
"Blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from grand cru vineyards. Deep golden straw colour. Full-bodied, meaty nose with lots of impact. Lovely, filigree mousse – very well judged for its impact on the palate. Flavours reach every bit of the palate. Quite a charmer! Definitely already approachable – in fact it tastes as though it would already have been pretty nice last year! A fine, succulent representative of this dry, ripe year. Pretty gorgeous actually. Maybe it won't be the longest-lasting Churchill but it's hugely satisfying now."
"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."
OUR GROWERS
Pol Roger
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