PolRogerBrutVintage2016Jeroboam

Pol Roger was just nineteen when he founded his estate in 1849. Still a family-run enterprise, fifth generation Hubert de Billy is one of the descendants who manage the House today. With 89-hectares of vineyards supplying half of their grape requirements and illustrious premises containing immaculate facilities including pristinely polished stainless-steel tanks. Today they own 92 hectares of vineyards and its cellars in Epernay, just off the Avenue de Champagne run for 7.5 kms, 34 metres below the ground at a constant 9 Celsius.rrRemarkably, a small team of less than ten complete everything in the cellar by hand and Pol Roger boast four of the region’s remaining fifteen riddlers, who impressively turn over 60,000 bottles a day. Indeed, it is this style and their respect for tradition that initiated Sir Winston Churchill’s lifelong attachment to Pol Roger, who famously insisted: “In defeat I need it, in victory I deserve it.â€?Today, their prestige cuvée is named in honour of the great man.rrPol Roger Brut Vintage is produced in limited quantities using the traditional House blend from twenty Grand and Premier Cru vineyards in the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs.Second fermentation takes place in the coolest Pol Roger cellars, thirty-three metres below ground level at temperatures of just 9°C, some 2-3°C cooler than the cellars of other producers. The cooler cellars slow down bottle fermentation.rrWeather in 2016: After a mild and dry November and December, 2016 began with record rainfall and sporadic sunshine. To make matters more difficult, a cold fortnight in mid-April delayed bud break and pushed the flowering of the vines back a full ten days beyond the average of the past decade. These difficult conditions culminated in a few episodes of hail in July but were ultimately resolved by a warm and sunny August. Low rainfall allowed the soil to dry out and the grapes to mature relatively quickly. That said, ripeness varied widely plot to plot, necessitating pinpoint accuracy at harvest. Four of the past six harvests have taken place in August, as temperatures in the region increase. The 2016 harvest was more of a classic vintage with picking not beginning till the 10th of September.rrTechnical Information:rVineyards: 100% Grand & Premier Cru â€?Montagne de Reims & Côte des BlancsrGrape Varieties: 60% Pinot Noir & 40% ChardonnayrLees Ageing: 5.5 yearsrDisgorged: November 2022rDosage: 7 g/lrAlcohol: 12.5%rDrink: Now to 2030+rrTasting Note: Alluring aromas of lemon peel, tarte au citron and freshly baked madeleines. With time in the glass, more savoury earth aromas such as roasted hazelnuts and marmalade develop, showcasing the many layers of complexity of this Champagne. On the palate, the wine has a firm backbone of acidity, balanced with the characteristically rich, broad Pinot Noir for which Pol Roger is known.rrWatch Essi Avellan MW & Nick’s video tasting review of this champagne here.