Pol Roger, Epernay, Champagne

Established in 1849, Champagne Pol Roger remains family-owned and proudly independent to this day. The history and spirit of the company mirrors that of the family who bear the same name: a respect for nature, a devotion to quality and a certain joie de vivre.As one of the smaller houses, Champagne Pol Roger owns 87 hectares of vineyards on prime sites in the Vallée d'Epernay and the Côte des Blancs, drawing the remainder of their supplies from individual growers, many of whom have supplied Pol Roger for generations. Its cellars, extending to 7 km, lie on three levels in the chalk below the streets of Epernay and are among the deepest and coolest cellars in the region; contributing to the slow maturation and creation of fine, persistent bubbles which are the hallmark of all Pol Roger champagnes.

Pol Roger vintage wines, made from 40% Pinot Noir and 60% Chardonnay, are soft and fruit-driven in youth but, after ten years or so, develop great complexity and finesse. The Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, launched in 1984 and made from a secret blend, is a Champagne of exquisite finesse and balance and one that rivals the very best of the region.

Pol Roger Brut Rèserve Non-Vintage, made from equal parts of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay, is consistently one of the very best on the market, largely due to the high proportion of aged reserve wines in the blend.
 

 Wine to Watch: Blanc de Blancs 1999 £55.00 per bottle