1988 Pol Roger Cuvee Winston Churchill
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Tasting notes
Nuttier on the nose and a fuller, richer palate. Dry but long finish. All of the elegance but nicely developing, lovely weight.
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
Wine Spectator
More reviews and scores
Magnum. There's definite dustiness on the nose, but then the palate delivers sublime complexity and balance. Rich, rotund and still surprisingly fizzy on the palate. The texture of the bubbles is super-fine, and the style is now more like great mature burgundy than champagne as we normally think of it. There's a lingering floral note on the finish too. (RH)
Jeroboam. From a Berry Bros private client. Disgorged 1999. TA 9.4 g/l. Tasted blind. At first I thought this was young but the mousse had all but disappeared and it’s quite toasty on the palate. Quite tannic and firm. More spice on the nose. Full and rich and more spicy and still has incredible freshness. There’s a fabulous creamy texture and generosity. And spicy orange complexity. My guess: 1999 in bottle. (JH)
Jeroboam. Disgorged 16 Mar 1999. Much paler than the 1990. Exceptionally lively mousse. Very firm indeed. Nuanced. Lovely layers and subtlety. Rich but dry and savoury. Very fine in every way. No hint of 1988 austerity. A lovely open flower now. (JR)
About the producer
Pol Roger is one of Champagne’s most respected Grandes Marques. While it is best known undoubtedly for its prestige cuvée Sir Winston Churchill, it also produces one of the finest non-vintage bottlings on the market.