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In honour of his friendship, Churchill named one of his favourite racehorses after her, and made sure that she was invited to lunch at the British embassy every time he was in Paris. Despite never actually visiting 44 Avenue de Champagne, Churchill proclaimed it "the most drinkable address in the world". So close was his relationship with the family that, on Churchill's death, Pol Roger put black-bordered labels on the bottles destined for the UK. In 1975, Pol Roger went one step further and named their prestige cuvée after him, making it in the robust, mature style that he liked so much.
The grapes are all from Grand Cru vineyards which were under vine during Churchill's lifetime and it is only made in the very best vintages. It is made in a style which Churchill himself favoured: robust, mature and long-lived.
The first "Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill" was from the 1975 vintage and was released, in magnum only in 1984 with the launch taking place at Blenheim Palace. There followed 1979, 1982, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1998,1999, 2000, 2002 and 2004.
The latest vintage, 2006, is the sixteenth of this great cuvée and is released only after 10 years of cellaring.
Produced in very small quantities, it is available in 75cl bottle and 150cl magnum.
Tasting Notes :
The wine displays a gorgeous white gold colour enhanced by a continuous thread of tiny bubbles announcing a lively effervescence. The delicate nose exudes scents of butter and brioche. Flavours of almonds and hazelnuts mingle with refined fragrances of yellow fruits dominated by the freshness of citrus fruits (tangerines). Then the wine opens up with savours of nougat and pistachio nuts.
On the palate, the attack is fresh and reveals a perfect balance between acidity and suppleness. The aromas are reminiscent of the sweetness of cooked fruits associated with hints of almonds, dried fruits and quinces. As the wine warms in the glass, it turns more rounded. Its silky texture is supported by a stunning length.
Background Information:
Pol Roger, a Champenois from Aÿ, founded his champagne house in Epemay in 1849. Over the next 50 years, until his death in 1899, he built his business into one of the most respected in Champagne and, in particular, forged strong trade links with Britain. The founder was succeeded by his sons, Maurice and Georges, who changed their names to Pol-Roger by deed poll and, thereafter, by a further three generations of his direct descendants. To this day the company remains small, family-owned, fiercely independent and unrivalled in its reputation for quality
Pol Roger own 87 hectares of prime vineyard sites spread over the Montagne de Reims, the Vallée de Ia Marme, the Vallée d'Epemay and the Côte des Blancs. This supply is supplemented by grapes purchased on long-term contracts with growers based on the best sites in the region. Total production at Pol Roger is in the region of 1.5 million bottles per annum, making them one of the smaller of the Grandes Marques.
The cellars extend some 7 kilometres beneath the streets of Epernay and are carved out of the local chalk over three levels, the deepest known as the 'cave de prise de mousse' at 33m below street level. As the name suggests this is where the wine undergoes its secondary fermentation in bottle. This deep cellar is at 9° or less, rather than a normal cellar temperature of 11-12°, thus prolonging this fermentation.
They are amongst the coolest and deepest cellars in the region, a factor which contributes to the famously fine bubbles in Pol Roger's champagnes.
