Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2006

Like Fred and Ginger, this dances gracefully on the palate, with rich and expressive flavors of peach tart, raspberry sorbet, candied ginger and orange peel, and sleek acidity that leaves a mouthwatering impression on the satiny finish. Drink now through 2031.

(the varietals are a “proprietary secret” with fruit from old vines in grand cru vineyards). A whiff of petrol can be found on the ripe aromas of baked apple, brioche and soft floral scents. The exceptionally rich yet powerful flavors possess an almost creamy mid-palate mouth feel despite the presence of a firm supporting effervescence that also shapes the sappy and wonderfully complex finale. This is a bold, indeed even robust vintage for this famous cuvée and while it could certainly be enjoyed now, I would suggest holding it for another 5ish years asmy sense is that even more complexity is almost certain to develop. 93/2021+

Disgorged November 2016. To be launched end of September 2017. Mainly Pinot Noir. Deep with impressively lively and tiny bead. Very intense with a fresh mint note. Round and magnificent. Excellent freshness. Impossible to spit. Beautiful balance. Satin-textured. Not as cigar-fumed as some vintages! A little mushroomy.

Made in the very best vintages, Pol Roger's white-golden colored 2006 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill offers a very clear, precise, ripe and complex bouquet with fruity and refreshingly chalky, nutty and brioche notes. Full-bodied and complex on the palate, the 2006 is supple, round and rich but also fine, elegant, fresh and well structured. It has a harmonious yet tight, persistent and very promising finish that puts this silky textured, Pinot-dominated cuvée (the exact blend is a closely guarded family secret) on the border of fatty richness. But the mousse gives so much freshness and finesse that everything seems lifted here. Though I have very limited experience with matured Champagnes from Pol Roger and namely Churchill, I suppose the 2006 will benefit a lot from further bottle aging. But don't get me wrong: the wine is already gorgeous. Drink 2018-2041.