Pol Roger was still a teenager when he established his Champagne house in 1849. From the outset he prioritized the English market and was able to buttress the popularity of his brand in England after he garnered a coveted Royal Warrant from Queen Victoria in 1877. Of course, Pol Roger is also closely associated with Winston Churchill who became a client of the firm in 1908. In 1944, Prime Minister Churchill met Odette Pol-Roger, sparking a close friendship that would last until Winston's death in 1965.
In 1975 Pol Roger created a tête de cuvée in honor of the English "Bulldog," made predominately from the firm's Grand Cru vineyards that were already under vine during Churchill's lifetime, thereby ensuring a connection to his legacy. First released in 1984, the Sir Winston Churchill Cuvée was a vinous, masterfully crafted, Pinot Noir-dominant Champagne fashioned in the broad-shouldered style that the Prime Minister adored. Pol Roger's strong relationship with the Brits has persisted to this day and as a result the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth nations get the lion's share of the firm's limited production. We Yankee wine merchants, on the other hand, have to suffer with paltry allocations as well as paying top dollar for Pol Roger's sublime bubblies. Not surprisingly, the rationing situation is especially tight for the firm's Crown Jewel "Churchill" bottling. Of course, we are always on the lookout for those rare opportunities, like this, when we are able procure Pol Roger's best Champagne directly from France where the supply is actually sufficient and the pricing makes sense. This 2015 is the 21st edition of Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill and, as the following notes attest, represents another smashing success.
WINE ENTHUSIAST 99 POINTS-"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."
JAMES SUCKLING 96 POINTS - "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."
WINE SPECTATOR 95 POINTS-"A tightly meshed Champagne, with an up-front, broad feel that's quickly reined in and well-defined by racy acidity. Creamy on the palate, with the fine mousse carrying flavors of crème de cassis, lemon-infused pastry cream, smoked almond and oyster shell. Long, harmonious finish. Drink now through 2038. 500 cases imported."
VINOUS WINE MEDIA 95 POINTS-"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. "
WINE ADVOCATE 94+ POINTS-A strong effort in a less-acclaimed vintage, Pol Roger's newly released 2015 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill opens in the glass with aromas of confit citrus, ripe orchard fruits and dried white flowers mingled with hints of honeycomb, freshly baked bread and anise. Medium to full-bodied, vinous and concentrated, with bright acids, chalky structuring extract and a pinpoint mousse, this inherently rather rich, gastronomic Champagne is quite tightly wound out of the gates and will reward a bit of bottle age. Stylistically, it is somewhat reminiscent of a modern-day version of the 1985."
In 1975 Pol Roger created a tête de cuvée in honor of the English "Bulldog," made predominately from the firm's Grand Cru vineyards that were already under vine during Churchill's lifetime, thereby ensuring a connection to his legacy. First released in 1984, the Sir Winston Churchill Cuvée was a vinous, masterfully crafted, Pinot Noir-dominant Champagne fashioned in the broad-shouldered style that the Prime Minister adored. Pol Roger's strong relationship with the Brits has persisted to this day and as a result the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth nations get the lion's share of the firm's limited production. We Yankee wine merchants, on the other hand, have to suffer with paltry allocations as well as paying top dollar for Pol Roger's sublime bubblies. Not surprisingly, the rationing situation is especially tight for the firm's Crown Jewel "Churchill" bottling. Of course, we are always on the lookout for those rare opportunities, like this, when we are able procure Pol Roger's best Champagne directly from France where the supply is actually sufficient and the pricing makes sense. This 2015 is the 21st edition of Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill and, as the following notes attest, represents another smashing success.
WINE ENTHUSIAST 99 POINTS-"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."
JAMES SUCKLING 96 POINTS - "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."
WINE SPECTATOR 95 POINTS-"A tightly meshed Champagne, with an up-front, broad feel that's quickly reined in and well-defined by racy acidity. Creamy on the palate, with the fine mousse carrying flavors of crème de cassis, lemon-infused pastry cream, smoked almond and oyster shell. Long, harmonious finish. Drink now through 2038. 500 cases imported."
VINOUS WINE MEDIA 95 POINTS-"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. "
WINE ADVOCATE 94+ POINTS-A strong effort in a less-acclaimed vintage, Pol Roger's newly released 2015 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill opens in the glass with aromas of confit citrus, ripe orchard fruits and dried white flowers mingled with hints of honeycomb, freshly baked bread and anise. Medium to full-bodied, vinous and concentrated, with bright acids, chalky structuring extract and a pinpoint mousse, this inherently rather rich, gastronomic Champagne is quite tightly wound out of the gates and will reward a bit of bottle age. Stylistically, it is somewhat reminiscent of a modern-day version of the 1985."