2008 Pol Roger Cuvee Winston Churchill
Buying options
Tasting notes
Magnum. Compared with the 2013, 2012 and 2009, this is the most closed. Smoke and toast, yes, but the primary fruit is restrained and taut. Dry, almost tart finish. I might have assumed this was a much younger vintage. Just very slow to evolve, perhaps? (RH)
Critic scores
Average Score
Stephan Reinhardt, Wine Advocate
Richard Hemming MW, jancisrobinson.com
More reviews and scores
Bright golden yellow, silver reflections, very persistent fine mousse. Nuances of brioche and caramel, ripe yellow fruit with hints of lemongrass and bourbon vanilla underneath. Taut, tight texture, ripe peach, yellow apple, finesse, rich, elegant and seamless, textured salty-mineral finish. Super maturation potential.
I love the balance between weight and agility in this wine with a dense and compact palate. Yet, there’s brightness and creaminess that melts into the glass. Lots of brioche, pie crust and strawberry tart. Serious balancing act here. Drinkable, but better with a few years of age.
Sourced in grand cru vineyards and blending Pinot Noir with Chardonnay, Pol Roger's 2008 Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill displays an intense straw-yellow/white-golden color and opens with a beautifully deep, fresh, concentrated and beautifully aromatic bouquet of perfectly ripe tropical fruits, refreshing lemons, very fine vanilla and brioche aromas. The attack on the palate is fresh and finessed, and in the following seconds, the 2008 reveals great airiness, precision, purity and intensity with a firm, persistent structure in the long, refreshing, perfectly balanced and mouthwateringly salty finish. The 2008 Winston Churchill is a highly complex yet focused and vitalizing prestige cuvee of great, great finesse, chalky expression and exciting elegance. It already drinks great but also indicates immense aging potential. It's most likely one of the finest of this century and one of the greatest Churchills of modern times. Tasted from lot L82002894D in July 2018. Disgorgement date unknown. The wine will be released in the second half of this year. Aug 2018, www.robertparker.com
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.