Sir Winston Churchill 2018: Just Released

2018 is the new vintage of Sir Winston Churchill, the top cuvee at Pol Roger. The 2018 is an excellent, particularly aromatic iteration of this wine. Antonio Galloni rates it 96 points on Vinous, describing it as “an elegant, polished wine”. Jancis Robinson is similarly enthusiastic, calling it “delightfully approachable”. 

Sir Winston Churchill is of course named after Pol Roger’s most famous fan. It is made in the full-bodied, richly flavoured style that he favoured and it is only produced in the very best of vintages. Pinot Noir predominates in the blend, and the grapes come from grand cru vines dating back to Churchill’s lifetime. The wine is fermented at cool temperatures in stainless steel before full malolactic. It is then maturated in the deepest of Pol Roger’s cellars thirty-three metres below street level.

The 2018 vintage was a stress-free vintage for the Champenois. The summer was warm and dry, resulting in early maturing grapes: Pol Roger began harvesting in August, which was unusual for them. The team brought in a generous crop of ripe, healthy grapes. The vintage was particularly good for Pinot Noir, which meant that cuvees such as Sir Winston Churchill are especially strong this year.

This is a fine, elegant vintage of Pol Roger’s most celebrated cuvee. Already approachable, it will improve further with a decade or more in bottle.

read more