"Jancis Robinson MW, 18 points
“Really quite broad and ripe on the nose with mildly floral notes and a hint of putty. Really very dramatic! Even a hint of marzipan. Creamy texture with a little bruised apple acidity. Admirably long. Really exciting. Is this a worthy successor to the 2002? Drink 2017 - 2030”
James Simpson MW, Pol Roger Uk Ltd
“Excellent purity and refinement on the nose, very focused. Autolytic complexity, toasted bread and pastry, but also red fruits and a hint of spice. The palate shows excellent depth of fruit but also a very firm, taut acidity to complement the richness. Long and persistent finish, very well integrated dosage and built for the long-haul. More refined than the 2002 (and a very different style) was at this stage of its development. Drink 2018 – 2040.”"
Pol Roger founded his Champagne house in 1849 and it is still proudly independent, under family control. It owns 89 hectares of vineyards on prime sites of the Vallée d'Epernay and on the Côte de Blancs. Its cellars run for 7km and are on 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. The fact that this deep cellar is at 9oC or less rather than the normal cellar temperature of 11-12oC prolongs this fermentation and contributes to the quality and particular style of the wines and their famously fine bubbles.
An exceptional vintage from Pol Roger, The 2008 harvest was characterised by outstanding conditions in the vineyard; the grapes were healthy, and the balance of sugar and acidity, perfect. The family believe it will rival the iconic vintages in the house’s history. Indeed, it promises to be one of the top twelve vintages since the house’s foundation in 1849. The 2008 is made from the traditional house vintage blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from 20 Grands and Premiers crus vineyards in the “Montagne de Reims” and the “Côte des Blancs”.
