Champagne
In 1668, Dom Pérignon is said to have discovered how to make sparkling wine; today his technique is used the world over, although Champagne continues to make some of the finest. France’s most northerly wine region, Champagne is now home to 15,000 growers and 290 ‘houses’. A blend of grape varieties is usually required: white Chardonnay to add fruit and elegance, and two reds – Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier – to provide body and backbone.
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Champagne Mailly,
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Sourced from the prestigious Grand Cru village of Mailly, located at the heart of the Montagne de Reims, and benefiting from over three years’ ageing, our non-vintage United Kingdom Cuvée is a classic blend of 75 percent Pinot Noir and 25 percent Chardonnay.
All the hallmarks of Grand Cru are here, with brioche and flowers on the nose and an elegant palate which marries notes of lemon grass, gingerbread and honeysuckle. The wine effortlessly combines structure and finesse, and reverberates with a really authoritative Grand Cru crescendo on the finish.
All the hallmarks of Grand Cru are here, with brioche and flowers on the nose and an elegant palate which marries notes of lemon grass, gingerbread and honeysuckle. The wine effortlessly combines structure and finesse, and reverberates with a really authoritative Grand Cru crescendo on the finish.
Bollinger,
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Bottles of this product are discounted by 20%. Price shown includes saving.
This highly polished rosé combines notes of plum, patisserie, cinnamon and spice. With structure and weight and harmony of vibrant flavours right across the palate, this is a delicious accompaniment that can match a variety of dishes.
Bollinger is famed for its rich and savoury style of wines, dominated by Pinot Noir and underwritten by oak fermentation and extensive lees maturation. It seemed only a matter of time before the release of a non-vintage rosé and this wine has been well worth the wait.
This highly polished rosé combines notes of plum, patisserie, cinnamon and spice. With structure and weight and harmony of vibrant flavours right across the palate, this is a delicious accompaniment that can match a variety of dishes.
Bollinger is famed for its rich and savoury style of wines, dominated by Pinot Noir and underwritten by oak fermentation and extensive lees maturation. It seemed only a matter of time before the release of a non-vintage rosé and this wine has been well worth the wait.
Bollinger,
Drink now,
Bollinger was established in 1829 by Jacques Bollinger and Paul Renaudin. The House has a reputation for producing muscular Champagnes with body, depth and power; these are classic, complex, Pinot-Noir dominated Champagnes with the ability to age gracefully for many years.
A blend par excellence; Special Cuvée is the purest expression of Bollinger's house style. Its biscuity nose is endowed with hints of white fruit and the rich, full-bodied palate is perfectly balanced by fresh acidity and a soft, delicate mousse. A stylish Champagne that is ideal to drink now or in the next two or three year.
A blend par excellence; Special Cuvée is the purest expression of Bollinger's house style. Its biscuity nose is endowed with hints of white fruit and the rich, full-bodied palate is perfectly balanced by fresh acidity and a soft, delicate mousse. A stylish Champagne that is ideal to drink now or in the next two or three year.
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A trophy-winner at this year’s International Wine Challenge® awards, unrivalled provenance and over two years’ bottle-ageing, our own-label Blanc de Blancs is – in our eyes – an absolute winner every time. The perfect apéritif for festivities, it has a generous floral nose, a deliciously refreshing, yet rich palate and a clean, satisfying finish.
Under the gifted management of Gilles Marguet, Le Mesnil is making stunning Grand Cru Champagnes from Chardonnay. Located in one of Côte des Blancs’s greatest villages, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, it produces Champagnes that are smooth and rich with fine acidity at the basic level; while the vintage wines offer a significant step up, with crisper, richer and fuller fruit that will develop a toasty finesse.
Under the gifted management of Gilles Marguet, Le Mesnil is making stunning Grand Cru Champagnes from Chardonnay. Located in one of Côte des Blancs’s greatest villages, Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, it produces Champagnes that are smooth and rich with fine acidity at the basic level; while the vintage wines offer a significant step up, with crisper, richer and fuller fruit that will develop a toasty finesse.
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The Champagne grower-producer Gaston Chiquet has made a name for itself as one of the best. In a region with thousands of small producers, it is a credit to owners Antoine and Nicolas Chiquet. Based in the evocatively named Dizy, the family first planted vines in 1746 but did not produce Champagne until 1935, when brothers Ferdinand and Gaston Chiquet took the bold step of setting up their own label, rather than merely selling grapes to the larger houses. Today they produce 15,000 cases a year.
A blend of 30 percent Chardonnay, 40 percent Pinot Meunier and 30 percent Pinot Noir, this has nine grams per litre dosage. The nose has pure, red-berry aromatics of strawberries, raspberries and hints of pink grapefruit. The palate is vibrant with an attractive weight from the dosage.
The NV Brut Rose Premier Cru is a beautifully poised, centered wine. Predominantly Pinot Noir, the Rose impresses for its breadth and rich, voluminous personality. Hints of crushed flowers, Rose petals and sweet red berries linger on the refined, polished finish. The Rose is 40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, including 18% still red Pinot.
Drink: 2012-2016.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Nov 2012
A blend of 30 percent Chardonnay, 40 percent Pinot Meunier and 30 percent Pinot Noir, this has nine grams per litre dosage. The nose has pure, red-berry aromatics of strawberries, raspberries and hints of pink grapefruit. The palate is vibrant with an attractive weight from the dosage.
The NV Brut Rose Premier Cru is a beautifully poised, centered wine. Predominantly Pinot Noir, the Rose impresses for its breadth and rich, voluminous personality. Hints of crushed flowers, Rose petals and sweet red berries linger on the refined, polished finish. The Rose is 40% Pinot Meunier, 30% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, including 18% still red Pinot.
Drink: 2012-2016.
Antonio Galloni - Wine Advocate - eRobertParker.com - Nov 2012
Champagne Marguet,
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The enthusiastically engaging Benoît Marguet-Bonnerave, the fifth generation in the family, is at the helm of Marguet. Benoît has coverted the vineyards (in two villages, Ambonnay and Bouzy, both Grand Cru) to biodynamic farming since 2009 and uses extremely low quantities of sulphites in the winemaking. He has been particularly successful with his rosé, made from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir by the saignée method.
Who better than Benoît Marguet, doyen of Ambonnay, to complete our UKC Grand Cru trilogy? Sourced from the finest Grand Cru villages, this is perfectly balanced and richly structured. It is an exuberant and beautifully fragrant wine, with red berries and other summer fruits dancing harmoniously on the palate.
Who better than Benoît Marguet, doyen of Ambonnay, to complete our UKC Grand Cru trilogy? Sourced from the finest Grand Cru villages, this is perfectly balanced and richly structured. It is an exuberant and beautifully fragrant wine, with red berries and other summer fruits dancing harmoniously on the palate.
Champagne Fleury,
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This case is discounted by 30%. Price shown includes saving.
The Notes Blanches is made with 100% Pinot Blanc, which is very unusual for Champagne. The nose is full of aromatic white flowers, baked apple and clotted cream, laced with ginger. The palate is full, voluminous and fleshy, giving immediate enjoyment; yet it’s razor-dry with zero dosage. Flavours of white peach, guava, waxy lemon pith and yellow figs are layered on a cool, mineral palate. Vinous and terroir-driven, this is a fascinating style and unique to our range. The finish is electric, earthy and deliciously fresh. Drink now to 2030.
Davy Zyw, Buyer (summer 2019)
The Notes Blanches is made with 100% Pinot Blanc, which is very unusual for Champagne. The nose is full of aromatic white flowers, baked apple and clotted cream, laced with ginger. The palate is full, voluminous and fleshy, giving immediate enjoyment; yet it’s razor-dry with zero dosage. Flavours of white peach, guava, waxy lemon pith and yellow figs are layered on a cool, mineral palate. Vinous and terroir-driven, this is a fascinating style and unique to our range. The finish is electric, earthy and deliciously fresh. Drink now to 2030.
Davy Zyw, Buyer (summer 2019)
Champagne Mailly,
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The glorious summer of 2009 was particularly good for Mailly's Grand Cru Pinot Noir grapes, a high percentage of which are used in its vintage blends. The resulting wine is ripe, rounded and opulent with aromas of nectarine, pear, white blossom and biscuit. The palate is rich and textural with red apple, peach and a delicate honeyed note on the finish, which will develop beautifully with time.
Davy Zyw - Wine Buyer
Davy Zyw - Wine Buyer
Champagne Billecart-Salmon,
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Billecart-Salmon is one of the few remaining Champagne houses to be owned by the original family and was established in 1818 by Nicolas-François Billecart. Most of Billecart-Salmon's fruit comes from a small vineyard holding, though this is supplemented with grapes bought in from the Marne Valley and the Montagne de Reims. Meticulous production techniques, from the use of their own cultured yeast to its long, slow, cool fermentation, ensure that the family has 100 percent control of production.
This is without doubt one of the finest, yet least known, Grande Marque Champagnes, made with mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. This Champagne is lively, elegantly textured and fresh, with a very long finish.
This is without doubt one of the finest, yet least known, Grande Marque Champagnes, made with mainly Chardonnay and Pinot Meunier. This Champagne is lively, elegantly textured and fresh, with a very long finish.
Champagne Pierre Peters,
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The Cuvée de Réserve goes from strength to strength and is now one of the most sought-after of our non-vintage Champagnes, no mean achievement for a Grower Champagne and indicative, perhaps, of the long overdue re-appraisal of the hierarchy in this region, where the hegemony of the Grandes Marques has held sway for so long.
This perhaps explains the inherent complexity on the palate, with its notes of hazelnut, acacia and apricot garlanding the more usual descriptors of citron pressé, sweet spice and crushed rock. The dosage is seven grams per litre and the finish is powerful, with a twist of salinity to confirm the fact that the majority of the fruit is sourced from the great village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, the balancing 30 percent coming from equally prestigious Grand Cru sites in Oger, Chouilly and Cramant
This perhaps explains the inherent complexity on the palate, with its notes of hazelnut, acacia and apricot garlanding the more usual descriptors of citron pressé, sweet spice and crushed rock. The dosage is seven grams per litre and the finish is powerful, with a twist of salinity to confirm the fact that the majority of the fruit is sourced from the great village of Le Mesnil-sur-Oger, the balancing 30 percent coming from equally prestigious Grand Cru sites in Oger, Chouilly and Cramant
Louis Roederer,
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Louis Roederer, a wonderful family-owned Champagne House founded in 1776, has a tremendous reputation for quality. It has remained an independent, family-owned company and is now managed by Frédéric Rouzaud, who represents the seventh generation of the lineage. Eighty percent of the firm's needs are supplied by their own, magnificent, 444 acres of vineyard holdings.
This wine is without doubt one of the very top non-vintage Champagnes. Its elegant complexities come from the barrel-ageing of a high proportion of the blend, together with at least four years' maturation in bottle before disgorging.
The quintessence of the House style, Brut Premier offers quality and glamour as well as excellent value. A structured, elegant wine, it is deliciously creamy with almond and toast characteristics alongside the complexity and roundness that are the hallmarks of this House.
This wine is without doubt one of the very top non-vintage Champagnes. Its elegant complexities come from the barrel-ageing of a high proportion of the blend, together with at least four years' maturation in bottle before disgorging.
The quintessence of the House style, Brut Premier offers quality and glamour as well as excellent value. A structured, elegant wine, it is deliciously creamy with almond and toast characteristics alongside the complexity and roundness that are the hallmarks of this House.
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Bottles of this product are discounted by 20%. Price shown includes saving.
Gosset are near neighbours to Bollinger in the Grand Cru Champagne village of Ay. Stylistically, one associates their wines with power, informed as they are by oak fermentation and a large proportion of Pinot Noir in the blends. The news of a release of a Blanc de Blancs was something of a surprise (even though there is already a Celebris BDB), a surprise compounded by the extraordinary elegance and freshness of the wine.
On closer inspection, this should perhaps have been expected, all the more so because the majority of the fruit is sourced from the great Grand Cru villages of the Côtes de Blancs: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant and Le Mesnil sur Oger. The wine has an attractive nose of spring flowers and Mirabelle plums, then a harmonious mid-palate, with gentle honey and hints of quince and apricot evidenced.
The silky notes are juxtaposed with distinct chalky acidity on the finish, the hallmark of Mesnil fruit, here beautifully married within the ensemble.
Gosset are near neighbours to Bollinger in the Grand Cru Champagne village of Ay. Stylistically, one associates their wines with power, informed as they are by oak fermentation and a large proportion of Pinot Noir in the blends. The news of a release of a Blanc de Blancs was something of a surprise (even though there is already a Celebris BDB), a surprise compounded by the extraordinary elegance and freshness of the wine.
On closer inspection, this should perhaps have been expected, all the more so because the majority of the fruit is sourced from the great Grand Cru villages of the Côtes de Blancs: Avize, Chouilly, Cramant and Le Mesnil sur Oger. The wine has an attractive nose of spring flowers and Mirabelle plums, then a harmonious mid-palate, with gentle honey and hints of quince and apricot evidenced.
The silky notes are juxtaposed with distinct chalky acidity on the finish, the hallmark of Mesnil fruit, here beautifully married within the ensemble.
Champagne Ruinart,
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Ruinart is a low-profile, yet select, Champagne house which is steeped in history. It was founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart in the city of Reims, the year after a Royal Decree in 1728, whereby Louis XV gave his consent for sparkling wines to be shipped in baskets containing 50 to 100 bottles. This opened the gates of Europe to Champagne and thus makes Ruinart the oldest Champagne House.
Made from 40 percent Chardonnay and 60 percent Pinot Noir, R de Ruinart makes use of 40 percent reserve wine and is aged on its lees for three years. The wine is elegant with floral notes to the fore and hints of white peach and acacia on the palate. An excellent apéritif wine, this is a splendid introduction to the delights from this most ancient of Champagne Houses.
Made from 40 percent Chardonnay and 60 percent Pinot Noir, R de Ruinart makes use of 40 percent reserve wine and is aged on its lees for three years. The wine is elegant with floral notes to the fore and hints of white peach and acacia on the palate. An excellent apéritif wine, this is a splendid introduction to the delights from this most ancient of Champagne Houses.
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Leclerc Briant’s flagship wine is a true showcase of the House’s style. The blend (40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier and 20% Chardonnay) is sourced from organic and biodynamic vineyards across the Vallée de la Marne, Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs. A portion of the blend (20%) is fermented in used oak barrels, and the wine is aged on lees for at least two years, giving it a creamy complexity. The nose offers notes of candied citrus, green apple, apricot and almond, while the palate is electric in its freshness and salinity, driving on to a chalky, mineral finish.
Davy Zyw, Wine Buyer (winter 2018)
Davy Zyw, Wine Buyer (winter 2018)
Ready, but will keep,
Bottles of this product are discounted by 20%. Price shown includes saving.
Lemon gold appearance with a delicate creamy mousse. The nose is rich and complex showing soft floral tones with citrus and orchard fruit entwined with hints of vanilla and hazelnut. The palate is fresh with an abundance of lemon and apple, a rich nuttiness with a hint of salinity balanced with inviting acidity and a rounded smooth finish. A delicious wine which will develop beautifully over time.
Champagne Gosset is the oldest wine producer in Champagne, dating back to 1584. Situated in the tiny Grand Cru village of Aÿ, 5km from Epernay, Gosset has some rather famous neighbours, including Bollinger. Gosset’s blends come from some of the best villages across the Marne Valley encompassing both Grand and Premier Crus. It may not be the most famous of the Grande Marques simply because they don’t produce vast quantities, making only 1.3 million bottles a year, yet the quality of production here is at a very high level.
With this small production, Gosset concentrates on the quality of its wines rather than the quantity. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Gosset style comes from their decision to create most of their cuvées without the use of malolactic fermentation; this preserves the purity of the fruit in the wine. This is evident in the 2006 Gosset Grand Millésime. Having spent eight years maturing in the darkness of the Champagne Gosset cellars in Epernay, this 56 % Pinot Noir and 44 % Chardonnay wine is an excellent expression of the 2006 harvest (disgorged in spring 2015). With a “low dosage” and no malolactic fermentation this is a very precise Champagne, with a move away from the brioche, toast notes one often
*This offer is available until 31st December.
Lemon gold appearance with a delicate creamy mousse. The nose is rich and complex showing soft floral tones with citrus and orchard fruit entwined with hints of vanilla and hazelnut. The palate is fresh with an abundance of lemon and apple, a rich nuttiness with a hint of salinity balanced with inviting acidity and a rounded smooth finish. A delicious wine which will develop beautifully over time.
Champagne Gosset is the oldest wine producer in Champagne, dating back to 1584. Situated in the tiny Grand Cru village of Aÿ, 5km from Epernay, Gosset has some rather famous neighbours, including Bollinger. Gosset’s blends come from some of the best villages across the Marne Valley encompassing both Grand and Premier Crus. It may not be the most famous of the Grande Marques simply because they don’t produce vast quantities, making only 1.3 million bottles a year, yet the quality of production here is at a very high level.
With this small production, Gosset concentrates on the quality of its wines rather than the quantity. One of the distinguishing characteristics of the Gosset style comes from their decision to create most of their cuvées without the use of malolactic fermentation; this preserves the purity of the fruit in the wine. This is evident in the 2006 Gosset Grand Millésime. Having spent eight years maturing in the darkness of the Champagne Gosset cellars in Epernay, this 56 % Pinot Noir and 44 % Chardonnay wine is an excellent expression of the 2006 harvest (disgorged in spring 2015). With a “low dosage” and no malolactic fermentation this is a very precise Champagne, with a move away from the brioche, toast notes one often
*This offer is available until 31st December.
Jacquesson,
Ready, but will keep,
Cuvée 742 is based on the 2014 vintage – a varied year in Champagne that required meticulous selection. The Chiquet brothers are constantly fine-tuning, and this year saw the wine aged on lees under cork rather than crown cap, and two months further ageing in oak. The result is even more complex than previous releases. Full of orchard fruit and cinnamon, tarte tatin, Chantilly cream, white blossom and savoury depths – this elegant wine has the texture of pure silk. Intelligent, supple and full of energy. Drink now to 2029.
Davy Zyw, Buyer (November 2019)
Davy Zyw, Buyer (November 2019)
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A blend of 95% Chardonnay with 5% Pinot Noir, this rosé Champagne is a shimmering pale pink colour. The nose is a wash of raspberry, wild strawberries, pink grapefruit and acacia, with a hint of aniseed and mint. With time, the wine reveals aromas of blackcurrant, peach skin, fresh almond, passion fruit, chalk and a heady scent of roses. On the palate, it is supple and fresh with a soft and creamy effervescence followed by a fleshy fruitiness supported by a citrus backbone. Chalky minerality lends breadth to this long and saline wine. A juicy fruity sensation, and a hint of salt, set in an ever-changing whirl of freshness.
Davy Zyw, Wine Buyer (winter 2018)
Davy Zyw, Wine Buyer (winter 2018)
Champagne Moet & Chandon,
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Sensual, direct and rewarding: the Impérial Rosé is a benchmark style from the largest and most famous House in Champagne. Pinots Noir and Meunier dominate the blend, with 10% of the former added as red wine to give the wine its vibrant pink hue and berry-scented character. Chardonnay completes the final blend, giving freshness and minerality. The style is heady, immediately enjoyable and full of charm, with notes of forest fruit and strawberry shortcake. Drink now.
Davy Zyw, Buyer (summer 2019)
Davy Zyw, Buyer (summer 2019)
Drink now,
Gosset is the oldest known producer of wine in Champagne, its origins going back to 1584. Situated in the tiny Grand Cru village of Aÿ, 5km from Epernay, Gosset has some rather famous neighbours, including Bollinger. Production, however, is much below that of the larger houses, at around 1.3 million bottles, where as Moët & Chandon are nearing 30 million. With this small production, Gosset concentrates on the quality of its wines rather than the quantity.
I used to find the style of Gosset’s Rosé a little ponderous, sometimes almost oxidised. How all that has changed; the wine is now wonderfully clean, with flavours of rosehip, redcurrant and peach, wonderful aromatics and impeccable length. The archetype of great rosé Champagne.
I used to find the style of Gosset’s Rosé a little ponderous, sometimes almost oxidised. How all that has changed; the wine is now wonderfully clean, with flavours of rosehip, redcurrant and peach, wonderful aromatics and impeccable length. The archetype of great rosé Champagne.
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Leclerc Briant creates wines which are captivatingly energetic and terroir-driven. The 2010 Extra Brut is a blend of 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay and 20% Meunier from Cumières, Hautvillers and Verneuil. White gold in the glass, it has a pithy citrus character, lifted with notes of anise and camomile. The finish is pure, electric freshness with an underlying clay and chalky minerality. More than a mere apéritif, try this with roast fish on the bone, or chicken supreme with morels. Drink now to 2025.
Davy Zyw, Buyer (October 2019)
Davy Zyw, Buyer (October 2019)
Champagne Ruinart,
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Ruinart is a low-profile, yet select, Champagne house which is steeped in history. It was founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart in the city of Reims, the year after a Royal Decree in 1728, whereby Louis XV gave his consent for sparkling wines to be shipped in baskets containing 50 to 100 bottles. This opened the gates of Europe to Champagne and thus makes Ruinart the oldest Champagne House.
The distinctive clear bottle for Ruinart’s Blanc de Blancs is based on an 18th century original. Its elegant Chardonnay persona is harmonious and elegant, capturing the House style. It is one of the finest blanc de blancs on the market, luminous of hue, rounded of form and lengthy in the memory.
The distinctive clear bottle for Ruinart’s Blanc de Blancs is based on an 18th century original. Its elegant Chardonnay persona is harmonious and elegant, capturing the House style. It is one of the finest blanc de blancs on the market, luminous of hue, rounded of form and lengthy in the memory.
Champagne Ruinart,
Drink now,
Ruinart is a low-profile, yet select, Champagne house which is steeped in history. It was founded in 1729 by Nicolas Ruinart in the city of Reims, the year after a Royal Decree in 1728, whereby Louis XV gave his consent for sparkling wines to be shipped in baskets containing 50 to 100 bottles. This opened the gates of Europe to Champagne and thus makes Ruinart the oldest Champagne House.
Premier and Grand Cru sites only supply the grapes for this excellent rosé, which is made up of 45 percent Chardonnay and 55 percent Pinot Noir, with 18 percent of the latter added as red wine. A subtle nose of rosehip, spice and wild strawberry; on the palate the wine marries exuberant fruit with a richly velvety texture. Ruinart is famous for their Rosé; justly so it would seem.
Premier and Grand Cru sites only supply the grapes for this excellent rosé, which is made up of 45 percent Chardonnay and 55 percent Pinot Noir, with 18 percent of the latter added as red wine. A subtle nose of rosehip, spice and wild strawberry; on the palate the wine marries exuberant fruit with a richly velvety texture. Ruinart is famous for their Rosé; justly so it would seem.
Champagne Billecart-Salmon,
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Billecart-Salmon is one of the few remaining Champagne houses to be owned by the original family and was established in 1818 by Nicolas-François Billecart. Most of Billecart-Salmon's fruit comes from a small vineyard holding, though this is supplemented with grapes bought in from the Marne Valley and the Montagne de Reims. Meticulous production techniques, from the use of their own cultured yeast to its long, slow, cool fermentation, ensure that the family has 100 percent control of production.
Billecart-Salmon is renowned for the quality of its delicate rosé – and rightfully so. This is a delightful rosé with a charming, fruity nose and palate with hints of roasted nuts.
Billecart-Salmon is renowned for the quality of its delicate rosé – and rightfully so. This is a delightful rosé with a charming, fruity nose and palate with hints of roasted nuts.
Louis Roederer,
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The 2012 vintage was exceptional in Champagne; yielding wines with maturity, freshness and longevity. Roederer’s 2012 is one of the standout cuvées of the year: sourced from the House’s own vineyards, it’s predominantly Grand Cru fruit from the Montagne de Reims. A blend of 70% Pinot Noir and 30% Chardonnay, over a third of the blend is vinified in large oak foudres, aiding texture and complexity. Rich and powerful, notes of white peach and yellow fruit pricked with ginger and saffron are supported by a saline freshness with a pure and dangerously moreish finish. Drink now to 2035.
Davy Zyw, Buyer (October 2019)
Davy Zyw, Buyer (October 2019)
Louis Roederer,
Ready, but will keep,
The 2013 Roederer Rose reveals the cool cycle of the vintage. The Pinot Noir, the major player in the blend, is sourced from the village of Cumières, overlooking the Marne river with its south-facing slopes. The Chardonnay comes from the cooler Chouilly and adds minty freshness and softness. The complex bouquet combines spicy and smoky notes with mouth-watering aromas of dried fruit and roasted almonds. The palate is velvety and layered, offering sweet grapefruit and tangerine with a persistent saline finish. Drink now to 2030.
Stefania Masin, Buying Assistant (November 2019)
Stefania Masin, Buying Assistant (November 2019)
Pol Roger,
For laying down,
A perennial favourite in the UK, Champagne Pol Roger is undoubtedly one of the most popular Champagnes on our list and 2008 joins a pantheon of great Champagne vintages, rivalling 2002, 1996, 1990 and 1988. Pol Roger Vintage Rosé - they do not make a non-vintage - is often mooted by the critics as one of the best on the market and the newly released 2008 does nothing to dispel that assertion.
The house remains family owned and maintains a reputation of crafting wines of elegance and finesse capable of extended cellaring. The 2008 has been produced from a blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay drawn from some 20 Premier and Grand cru sites on the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. In order to obtain its delicate colour and subtle nose 15% Pinot Noir, from selected vineyards in Bouzy, Ambonnay and Cumieres, is vinified “en rouge” and added to the blend prior to the second fermentation.
Only produced in limited quantities this is delicious now as our tasting last week affirmed but it will probably be at its best in a year or so and then over the next 5 years.
Sourced only from Grand and Premier Cru sites and having slumbered in Pol's deep cool cellars for six and a half years, this outstanding Rosé fully merits the accolades that have been gleaned by house and wine alike. The blend is made up of 35% Chardonnay, the balance Pinot Noir, of which 15% has been added as red wine.
The classic vintage conditions, cool and then sunny at all the right times, is echoed by the harmonious balance of the wine, a symphony of subtle red fruit charm, with hints of vanillin and grapefruit on the finish providing even greater complexity. The pink peppercorn colour presages a gravitas which is more than merited by a rich yet vinous mouthfeel and a gently spicy finish.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Like the 2006, Pol Roger have crafted yet another seductively mellow rosé in 2008. A gentle summer pudding feel with soft strawberries and blackcurrants along with hints of elderflower and watered down lemon juice.
There is an enthusiastic introduction to the palate of richly weighted ripe red fruits whose upfront appeal precedes a languid ease and the merest hint of minerality behind. Plenty of substance and length here, serious but deceptive with an almost casually carefree finish. 2017-2022.
Peter Newton, Private Account Manager
The house remains family owned and maintains a reputation of crafting wines of elegance and finesse capable of extended cellaring. The 2008 has been produced from a blend of 50% Pinot Noir and 35% Chardonnay drawn from some 20 Premier and Grand cru sites on the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. In order to obtain its delicate colour and subtle nose 15% Pinot Noir, from selected vineyards in Bouzy, Ambonnay and Cumieres, is vinified “en rouge” and added to the blend prior to the second fermentation.
Only produced in limited quantities this is delicious now as our tasting last week affirmed but it will probably be at its best in a year or so and then over the next 5 years.
Sourced only from Grand and Premier Cru sites and having slumbered in Pol's deep cool cellars for six and a half years, this outstanding Rosé fully merits the accolades that have been gleaned by house and wine alike. The blend is made up of 35% Chardonnay, the balance Pinot Noir, of which 15% has been added as red wine.
The classic vintage conditions, cool and then sunny at all the right times, is echoed by the harmonious balance of the wine, a symphony of subtle red fruit charm, with hints of vanillin and grapefruit on the finish providing even greater complexity. The pink peppercorn colour presages a gravitas which is more than merited by a rich yet vinous mouthfeel and a gently spicy finish.
Simon Field MW, Wine Buyer
Like the 2006, Pol Roger have crafted yet another seductively mellow rosé in 2008. A gentle summer pudding feel with soft strawberries and blackcurrants along with hints of elderflower and watered down lemon juice.
There is an enthusiastic introduction to the palate of richly weighted ripe red fruits whose upfront appeal precedes a languid ease and the merest hint of minerality behind. Plenty of substance and length here, serious but deceptive with an almost casually carefree finish. 2017-2022.
Peter Newton, Private Account Manager
Pol Roger,
Ready, but will improve,
Brilliant salmon pink in the glass, the nose is inviting and complex, with red berries, roses and blood orange zest, followed by savoury notes typical of the vinous and powerful Pol Roger style. The palate is foaming and elegant, with ripe forest fruits, pink peppercorns, figs and strawberry shortcake notes, framed by an earthy yet uplifting note of Pinot Noir and a crunchy red-berry intensity. It seamlessly showcases the warmth of the vintage and the sophistication of winemaking.
The nose is of brioche, butter, hazelnut and orange zest, whilst the palate is pleasantly mellow and balanced, the mousse is delicate and a lovely creaminess is beginning to shine through from the autolytic character.