What?
Juice NV Pol Roger, White Label, Brut Réserve, Aÿ, Champagne, FRA
Grape 34% Chardonnay, 33% Meunier, 33% Pinot Noir
Farming Sustainable, Vegan
Tasting Note The Brut Réserve is pale golden in colour with aromas of white flowers, green apple, brioche and a trace of minerality. On the palate there are notes of stone fruits, a certain nuttiness and a hint of honey supporting the freshness of the acidity. UK stock receives an additional six months post-disgorgement ageing so it is ready to drink upon release but cellaring for a few years will reveal greater depths.
Who?
Champagne Pol Roger was founded in 1849 and now owns 87 hectares of vineyards on prime sites in the Vallée d'Epernay and the Côte des Blancs. Its cellars run for 7km and are on three levels, the deepest known as the 'cave de prise de mousse' at 33m below ground. As the name suggests, this is where the wine undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle. The fact that this deep cellar is at 9°C or less, rather than a normal cellar temperature of 11-12°C, prolongs the fermentation and is a contributing factor to the quality and particular style of the wines and their famously fine bubbles.
Why?
It aged for 4 years prior to release! (minimum in Chamapagne for NV is 18 months) Pol is also one of only eight champagne houses to carry a royal warrant. If it’s good enough for the Queen then it’s good enough for us. It would be remiss of us to not mention the relationship between Sir Winston Churchill and Pol which dates back to 1944, when the prime minister met Odette Pol-Roger. To this day, the house pays homage to the former Prime Minister with an annual special late-release vintage, using only grapes from Grand Cru vineyards and bearing Churchill’s name. Love him or hate him, no one can argue with the fact that Winston had exceptional taste in libations.
With?
Finesse, elegance and power in equal measures. That’s how we’d describe Pol and we could bang on about the classic pairings one associates with Champagne but we’ve been inspired by her majesty so we would suggest a dish fit for the Queen herself. Gleneagles pâté was devised at Balmoral by a former chef and is made from smoked salmon, trout and mackerel all of which are sourced on the property. Go Lizzy, it’s your birthday, we’re gonna party like it’s your birthday!!
