…precise touch of elegance

This July I was able to get back to the winery to catch-up with long-time friends Laurent d'Harcourt, Hubert de Billy and 'chef de cave' Damian Cambres. After an thorough visit and tour of the soon to open new buildings and cellars, it was time to work through the classics and the new vintage releases.
A vintage Champagne must above all else, be balanced. This balance depends on the right blend of fruit parcels and perfect acidity with the ability to age. Those who have the patience to age their Champagnes are rewarded with a more complex, richer wine. The many different hand-picked parcels sourced from Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs were fermented in stainless steel tanks, with each varietal and village-parcel kept separate until final blending. The wine then underwent a full malolactic fermentation. Secondary fermentation took place in bottle at 9°C in their deepest cellars (33 metres below street level) where the wine was kept until it underwent riddling by hand, which is rare in Champagne. The very fine and persistent elegant mousse a signature for which Pol Roger is renowned owes much to these deep, cool cellars.
This Brut Vintage 2015 is made from a traditional house blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from 20 Grands and Premiers crus vineyards, located in ‘Montagne de Reims’ and ‘Côte des Blancs’ areas of Champagne. Produced in limited quantities this Brut Vintage has been aged for 6 years in their cellars before being disgorged, dressed and released.

★ As you pour into a generously shaped flute, you will be hypnotised by the glow from the fine beading. On the nose your senses will be charmed by the decisive floral and apple-pastry notes. On the palate be prepared for incredible complexity, with a controlled explosion of roasted apples, peach skin, vanilla-cream-pastry notes and a hint of dried spice and toasted hazelnuts. The palate has excellent depth of flavour and nicely balanced by a backbone of fruit acidity which also complements the generosity of character and highlighting the signature mousse. The finish is pleasingly long and persistent, with a well-integrated precise dosage of 7g/L crafting an elegant Champagne.

This Pol Roger Champagne ‘Brut’ Vintage 2015 has 12.5% Alc./vol. Dosage of 7g/L. Chill gently and serve in a generously shaped flute, or a narrow aromatic wine glass at 8°- 10°C. *NZ$169.99

CELLARING POTENTIAL: *(Review 25/11/22)
Drinking perfectly well this season; and will mature nicely for another 8 - 10 years.

FOOD PAIRING SUGGESTIONS:
Perfect wine pairing with roast chicken, turkey with stuffing, lamb cutlets, pork and crackling with apple sauce, baked crab and lemon gnocchi, plus with vanilla cream pastry desserts - enjoy.