Photo by Johnny

Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill 1995 Brut Champagne (750ml)

Tasted in June, 2011

18:35

Served upon uncorking. Intense lemon gold with fine beads slowly arising.

The bouquet is captivating right from the start, with rich aromas of sweet bakery notes, toffee and vanilla soon penetrated by  fresher notes of yellow fruit confit and preserved lemon.

The attack on the palate is all tension and purity of stony minerality and lemon rind. Dense yellow fruit confit fills the mid palate, with a pure finale of mineral clarity. Sheer class! 

18:43

Crushed chalk, toasted bread and toffee notes are perfectly interwoven on the nose – ultra refined and aristocratic - while the taste softens to tender and delicious sour-sweetness of preserved lemon.

18:46

A nice dose of cream is added to the ever sophisticated bouquet!

18:50

The taste layers further evolve and unfold: white chocolate, mineral saltiness and walnut complement the sour-sweet fruit.

19:34

A breath of sea-side note lifts the rich fruity aromas of preserved lemon and fig.

Still the supple, sour-sweet fruit, with mineral finesse.

19:38

Refined aromas of chalk, toasted bread and sweet lemon.

Fine iodine finish.

20:05

One hour and a half after uncorking. Yet it just gets to the pinnacle: broader and more balanced. Toasted bread and white chocolate seduce the nose, while a feast of white chocolate, chalk, yellow fruit confit, liquorice and sweet lemon spoil the taste buds.

20:20

Walnutty depth in driver’s seat, followed by toffee and minerality – penetrating taste!

20:35

The nose and the palate are all filled with sea-side note and walnut – Pinot fades away…now the solo of evolved Chardonnay…

So far I've encountered Cuvee Churchill 1995, 1993, 1988 and 1986, each vintage having its own distinct character. Generous as Churchill 95, floral and ethereal as 93, and honeyed as 86, I still prefer the supremely focused and slow evolving 88, with classic austerity and latent strength - a true marathon vintage of age-worthiness!