Tasting Notes
Wine Advocate 96
“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.”
Anticipated maturity: 2018-2050
JancisRobinson.com 17++
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)
Anticipated maturity: 2024-2038
