$449.00
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Region: Champagne, France
Grapes: Pinot Noir (ca. 70%), Chardonnay (ca. 30%)
First Glance: Structured, age-worthy prestige Cuvee
The 20th release of Pol Rogers prestige cuvee is a wine to behold. Much can be said (and has been said) about the wine's eponymous historical figure. More importantly, 20 iterations on from its inception (first vintage made was 1975, released in 1984), the wine is still consistently a reference point in the region, showcasing the broader and bolder style of champagne for which Pol Roger is so well know.
Fruit is sourced from Grand Cru villages including Ambonnay and Bouzy for the Pinot components, andChardonnay is sourced from some of the top Cote de Blanc villages like Chouilly, Vertus and Cramant. The base wines undergo a cool fermentation under 18C purely in stainless steel, with all plots vinified separately before blending. Full malolactic conversion ensues, and the wines are aged with lees and hand riddled after 7- 8 years. Dosed at 7 g/l.
One of the better vintages of the past decade, Wine Spectator gives the 2013 a solid 94 points and comments that the vintage produced "(...) many vibrant and balanced examples that are approachable but with good aging potential".
The cuvee Winston Churchill is partout one of the most cellar-worthy wines to come out of the region every year, and this iteration is certainly no different.
The Review:
97 Pts, Antonio Galloni, Vinous
“The 2013 Brut Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill is fabulous. Rich and remarkably pure, the 2013 is super-expressive right out of the gate. Bright saline notes cut through a core of lemon confit, dried flowers, apricot, tangerine peel, mint and sage. As compelling as the 2013 is, it really needs more time to open a bit. There is a feeling of transparency here that is so alluring. The 2013 is a terrific example of power with no excess weight in Champagne. I loved it.”
