2018 Pol Roger Brut Vintage Gift Box – 95 Points The R Review

95 POINTS THE R REVIEW! 94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! 100% GRAND & PREMIER CRU FRUIT – THE EXTRAORDINARY 2018 POL ROGER VINTAGE CHAMPAGNE IN GIFT BOX FOR JUST $215!

95 Points – The R Review | 94 Points – JamesSuckling.com

2018 Pol Roger Brut Vintage Gift Box – Champagne, France

RRP $215 per bottle – Gift Box Presentation

NOW THIS IS SERIOUSLY IMPRESSIVE CHAMPAGNE!

There are certain names in Champagne that immediately command respect.

Bollinger.

Krug.

Louis Roederer.

And, of course, POL ROGER.

One of Champagne's most celebrated family-owned houses.

A producer with more than 175 years of history.

And a name synonymous with elegance, finesse and extraordinary consistency.

But when Pol Roger releases a vintage Champagne, things become particularly exciting.

Because the house doesn't produce its vintage cuvée every year.

Only when the quality and character of the harvest justify a wine worthy of the Pol Roger name.

And the 2018 Pol Roger Brut Vintage is a magnificent expression of this philosophy.

Think ripe pear.

White peach.

Fresh citrus.

Wild berries.

Toasted brioche.

Almond pastry.

Subtle honey.

And a wonderfully long, mineral-driven finish.

All wrapped together in a Champagne with beautiful concentration, exceptionally fine bubbles and remarkable elegance.

95 POINTS THE REAL REVIEW!

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!

60% PINOT NOIR AND 40% CHARDONNAY!

FRUIT FROM 20 GRAND CRU AND PREMIER CRU VINEYARD SITES!

TRADITIONAL BOTTLE FERMENTATION!

BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED IN A GIFT BOX!

JUST $215 A BOTTLE!

This is exactly the sort of serious vintage Champagne we love recommending at Liquid Vibe.

Pol Roger – One of Champagne's Great Family-Owned Houses Since 1849

The story of Pol Roger began in 1849.

Founded by Pol Roger, the house established itself through an uncompromising dedication to quality and elegance.

Today, more than 175 years later, Pol Roger remains family-owned.

That is a remarkable achievement in a region where many famous houses are now owned by international luxury groups.

Based in Épernay, Pol Roger has built an extraordinary reputation for producing some of Champagne's most beautifully balanced wines.

The house is particularly celebrated for its fine mousse.

Its remarkable freshness.

Its subtle complexity.

And its ability to produce Champagnes that age gracefully over many years.

But perhaps most importantly, Pol Roger has maintained a distinctive house style.

Elegant.

Precise.

Beautifully structured.

And never excessive.

This is Champagne craftsmanship refined over generations.

The Legendary Champagne of Sir Winston Churchill

One of the most fascinating aspects of Pol Roger is its remarkable connection with Sir Winston Churchill.

Churchill developed an extraordinary affection for Pol Roger Champagne.

His relationship with the house and the Pol Roger family became one of the most famous associations in Champagne history.

He admired the wines enormously.

And the house eventually honoured him with its prestigious Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill.

Today, that cuvée is one of the world's most respected prestige Champagnes.

But the same philosophy of elegance, concentration and exceptional craftsmanship runs through the entire Pol Roger range.

Including its magnificent vintage Champagne.

A legendary house with one of the most remarkable histories in the world of wine.

Vintage Champagne – Produced Only in Exceptional Years

One of the most important things to understand about Pol Roger Vintage Champagne is that it isn't made every year.

Unlike the house's Brut Réserve, which is blended to maintain a consistent style from release to release, vintage Champagne comes from one particular harvest.

The fruit must be exceptional.

The balance must be right.

And the wine must possess the structure and concentration needed for extended maturation.

Only then does Pol Roger declare a vintage.

The 2018 vintage offered ripe, expressive fruit and excellent concentration.

And in the hands of Pol Roger, that richness has been shaped into a beautifully balanced Champagne with remarkable finesse.

A single vintage. Exceptional vineyards. And generations of winemaking expertise.

60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay – A Magnificent Blend

The 2018 Pol Roger Vintage is a blend of two of Champagne's greatest grape varieties.

60% PINOT NOIR.

40% CHARDONNAY.

Pinot Noir provides structure, depth and beautiful fruit concentration.

Ripe pear.

Red apple.

Wild berries.

And a wonderfully generous texture.

Chardonnay brings elegance, freshness and mineral precision.

Lemon zest.

White peach.

Delicate white flowers.

And vibrant natural acidity.

Together, these two varieties create a Champagne of remarkable harmony.

The Pinot Noir contributes richness and power.

The Chardonnay provides lift and definition.

And the combination creates a wine that is both immediately delicious and beautifully suited to further ageing.

A magnificent expression of Pinot Noir depth and Chardonnay finesse.

20 Grand Cru and Premier Cru Vineyard Sites

Now here's one of the most impressive details about this wine.

FRUIT FROM 20 GRAND CRU AND PREMIER CRU VINEYARD SITES!

The Pinot Noir and Chardonnay are sourced from some of Champagne's most celebrated growing areas.

The Montagne de Reims.

And the Côte des Blancs.

These regions are renowned for producing fruit of exceptional quality.

The Montagne de Reims is particularly important for Pinot Noir.

Its finest vineyards produce wines with structure, concentration and depth.

The Côte des Blancs is celebrated for Chardonnay.

Its chalk-rich soils contribute beautiful citrus precision, elegance and mineral character.

By combining fruit from 20 outstanding vineyard sites, Pol Roger creates a Champagne with extraordinary complexity.

Different vineyards contribute different elements.

Richness.

Freshness.

Structure.

Aromatic detail.

And mineral precision.

Twenty exceptional vineyard sites brought together in one magnificent vintage Champagne.

Traditional Method – Crafted in the Deep Cellars of Épernay

One of the most fascinating aspects of Pol Roger is its winemaking.

The house takes an extraordinarily meticulous approach.

Following harvest, the grapes are gently pressed.

The juice undergoes careful settling before fermentation.

Each grape variety and vineyard village is fermented separately in temperature-controlled stainless-steel tanks.

This allows the winemaking team to preserve the character of each individual component.

The wines undergo malolactic fermentation before blending.

The final blend is then bottled for its second fermentation.

This creates the bubbles naturally.

And then comes the patience.

Deep Underground Cellars – The Secret to Pol Roger's Fine Mousse

The 2018 Vintage Champagne matures in Pol Roger's extraordinary cellars beneath Épernay.

THIRTY-THREE METRES BELOW STREET LEVEL!

These deep, cool cellars provide exceptionally stable conditions for Champagne maturation.

The wine undergoes its second fermentation in bottle.

Then it spends years developing complexity on its lees.

Fresh fruit gradually develops additional layers.

Toasted brioche.

Almond pastry.

Subtle honey.

And delicate savoury notes.

The bubbles become beautifully integrated.

And the texture develops greater richness and finesse.

Pol Roger also maintains the traditional practice of hand riddling for its vintage Champagne.

A meticulous process that reflects the house's commitment to craftsmanship.

Deep cellar maturation, traditional bottle fermentation and extraordinary attention to detail.

Extended Lees Ageing – Beautiful Complexity and Finesse

The 2018 Pol Roger Vintage benefits from years of maturation before release.

A documented 2024 disgorgement spent approximately six years on lees.

During this time, the Champagne developed remarkable depth and complexity.

Brioche.

Pastry.

Toasted almond.

And beautifully integrated fruit.

But the wine retains the freshness and precision for which Pol Roger is renowned.

The result is a Champagne that combines the generosity of the 2018 vintage with the elegant structure of the house style.

Rich, complex and beautifully mature – yet still full of energy and freshness.

95 Points – The R Review

94 Points – James Suckling

Another excellent endorsement of this exceptional Champagne.

Ripe Pear, White Peach, Wild Berries and Toasted Brioche

Now this is where the 2018 Pol Roger Vintage really comes into its own.

In the glass, it displays a beautiful pale-gold colour with delicate silver highlights.

The bubbles are exceptionally fine and persistent.

And the aromas are immediately captivating.

Fresh pear.

White peach.

Ripe apple.

And delicate lemon zest.

Then come the more complex characters.

Wild strawberries.

Subtle red berries.

Toasted brioche.

Almond pastry.

And delicate honey.

There is also a fascinating savoury dimension.

A little dried fruit.

Subtle spice.

And a beautiful mineral character.

On the palate, the wine is wonderfully concentrated.

The Pinot Noir provides depth and structure.

The Chardonnay brings freshness and precision.

And the extended cellar ageing creates a beautifully creamy texture.

The mousse is fine and persistent.

The acidity is vibrant.

And the finish is long, elegant and wonderfully mineral.

Rich, refined and beautifully complex – yet still full of energy and freshness.

This is exactly what great vintage Champagne should be.

A Magnificent Champagne for Drinking or Cellaring

One of the great attractions of the 2018 Pol Roger Vintage is its versatility.

It is already a beautiful Champagne to drink.

The fruit is expressive.

The mousse is refined.

And the wine has developed wonderful complexity through extended cellar maturation.

But it also possesses the structure and freshness needed for further ageing.

With careful cellaring, the wine can develop additional layers of toasted nuts, honey, pastry and savoury complexity.

A magnificent Champagne to enjoy now or keep for a special occasion in the years ahead.

Beautifully Presented in a Gift Box

And here's another wonderful detail.

THIS WINE COMES PRESENTED IN A GIFT BOX!

That makes it an exceptional choice for a special occasion.

Birthdays.

Anniversaries.

Weddings.

Corporate gifts.

Christmas.

Or simply a magnificent present for someone who appreciates great Champagne.

The combination of a legendary producer, an exceptional vintage and elegant presentation makes this a particularly impressive gift.

A truly special Champagne for a truly special occasion.

Absolutely Magnificent with Food

The combination of Pinot Noir richness, Chardonnay finesse and extended maturation makes the 2018 Pol Roger Vintage an exceptional food wine.

Freshly Shucked Oysters

A magnificent pairing with the wine's citrus and mineral freshness.

Pan-Seared Scallops

Beautiful with browned butter.

Lobster with Lemon Butter

An exceptional match for the Champagne's richness and complexity.

Kingfish Crudo

The citrus precision complements delicate raw fish.

Roast Chicken

The brioche and toasted-almond characters work beautifully with roast chicken.

Duck Breast

The Pinot Noir structure complements duck and a delicate jus.

Mushroom Tartlets

A wonderful match for earthy mushrooms and pastry.

Aged Comté

The Champagne's nutty complexity works beautifully with aged cheese.

And of course, this is a magnificent Champagne to enjoy on its own.

Serve it in a proper white-wine glass.

Allow the aromas to develop.

And enjoy the extraordinary complexity.

Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe

At Liquid Vibe, we're constantly searching for wines that offer exceptional pedigree, genuine quality and outstanding drinking pleasure.

And the 2018 Pol Roger Vintage is exactly the sort of Champagne we love recommending.

First, there is the producer.

POL ROGER – ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S GREAT FAMILY-OWNED HOUSES SINCE 1849.

Then there is the vintage.

2018 – AN EXPRESSIVE AND GENEROUS CHAMPAGNE HARVEST.

Then there is the blend.

60% PINOT NOIR AND 40% CHARDONNAY.

Then there are the vineyards.

20 GRAND CRU AND PREMIER CRU SITES.

Then there is the winemaking.

TRADITIONAL BOTTLE FERMENTATION AND HAND RIDDLING.

Then there is the maturation.

YEARS OF AGEING IN CELLARS 33 METRES UNDERGROUND.

Then come the critic scores.

95 POINTS THE REAL REVIEW.

94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING.

Then there is the presentation.

BEAUTIFULLY PRESENTED IN A GIFT BOX.

And finally, there is the price.

JUST $215 A BOTTLE!

This is serious vintage Champagne.

Elegant.

Concentrated.

Wonderfully textured.

And full of character.

95 POINTS THE REAL REVIEW. 94 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING. 20 GRAND & PREMIER CRU SITES. JUST $215.

2018 Pol Roger Brut Vintage Gift Box – a magnificent expression of one of Champagne's most celebrated houses and a beautiful addition to the Liquid Vibe range.

Wine Details

• Producer: Pol Roger

• Wine: Brut Vintage Gift Box

• Vintage: 2018

• Region: Champagne, France

• Grape Varieties: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay

• Vineyards: 20 Grand Cru and Premier Cru sites in the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs

• Production: Traditional-method bottle fermentation

• Fermentation: Temperature-controlled stainless steel; full malolactic fermentation

• Cellars: 33 metres beneath Épernay

• Riddling: Traditionally riddled by hand

• Lees Ageing: Extended; approximately six years for a documented 2024 disgorgement

• Dosage: Approximately 7 g/L for a documented 2024 disgorgement

• Alcohol: 12.5%

• Style: Vintage Brut Champagne

• Aromas: Pear, white peach, citrus, wild berries, brioche and almond

• Palate: Creamy, elegant and structured, with fine bubbles and a long mineral finish

• Critic Scores: 95 Points – The Real Review (supplied); 94 Points – JamesSuckling.com

• Presentation: Gift box

• RRP: $215 per bottle

• Food Pairing: Oysters, scallops, lobster, roast chicken, duck and aged cheese

• Serving Temperature: 9–11°C

• Drinking: Enjoy now or cellar carefully

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