Pol Roger Brut Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2008

100 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Bright golden yellow, silver reflections, very persistent fine mousse. Nuances of brioche and caramel, ripe yellow fruit with hints of lemongrass and bourbon vanilla underneath. Taut, tight texture, ripe peach, yellow apple, finesse, rich, elegant and seamless, textured salty-mineral finish. Super maturation potential. (11/21/19)"

100 points Wine Enthusiast: "One of the great Champagnes both for its richness and its longevity, this latest incarnation is superb. The wine's richness is linked to the ripe fruit and the dominance of Pinot Noir in the blend. It also shines in the perfect balance between the texture, the minerality and the integration of the fruit. It can be enjoyed now, but it will be better from 2020 and then for many years to come. Alcohol 12.5%. (Dec 2018)"

99 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(Predominantly pinot noir (more than 60%), as Winston Churchill was a pinot drinker, the balance chardonnay, all from grand cru villages under vine at the time of Churchill; cold settled at 6ºC; fermented below 18ºC; full malolactic fermentation; secondary fermentation in the lowest part of the cellars (9ºC); aged almost 10 years on lees; cork). Sir Winston is the distinguished gentleman of the prestige champagne world, and never has he looked more majestic than in 2008. The purity and finesse that define Pol Roger attain new heights in this scintillating season. Pinot noir assumes a commanding lead, without force or ambition, yet with a confidence this cuvée has not seen since 1996, and a grace that transcends even that epic season and every other in recent decades. Sir Winston captures the exuberance of the greatest pinot noir crus, and presents it with astonishing determination, exacting purity and pinpoint precision, eloquently articulating the tension of the finest intricacies of the 2008 season. It leads out with the most gorgeous white cherries, elevating in time to the full depth of black cherries and strawberries, flowing harmoniously into layers of almond nougat, vanilla and brioche, brimming with mixed spice, even suggestions of dark fruit cake. Its chalk mineral definition is a revelation of the highest order, surging with a deep infusion of super-fine, profoundly salty and deeply expressive chalk that rumbles to the very core of the greatest crus of the Côte des Blancs and the Montagne de Reims, embracing the palate, transfixing the senses and bringing the will to complete surrender. In seamless line and unwavering length, this is a Sir Winston like no other, revelling in the brilliance of 2008 acidity, which cunningly snaps its finish into strict control, undeviating focus and effortless, determined endurance. It is a vintage that simultaneously elevates Sir Winston to soaring heights of finesse and greater depths of complexity. Stunning now, it will age in slow motion for many decades, firming its place among the greatest of all time. True to the manner of Pol Roger, this is not a cuvée that will turn heads by flashy flamboyance or heightened exuberance, but by effortless poise and understated integrity. A tense vintage eloquently translated with peace, calm and harmony. (2020-2021)"

99 points (19.5/20) La Revue du Vin de France: "Winston Churchill's 2008 will also need time. A wine that's still tight-lipped, intense, long-winded, but racey and endowed with crystalline length. A future legend. (2020)"

97+ points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "The 2008 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill continues to stand out as the finest rendition of this bottling released in the last 10 years. Just beginning to enter its early drinking window, it wafts from the glass with aromas of ripe apple, confit citrus and mirabelle plum mingled with notions of sweet spices, honeycomb, dried fruits and crème brûlée. Full-bodied, deep and concentrated, it's layered and complete, with a racy spine of acidity and a long, penetrating finish. Drink: 2023-2045. (Mar 2023)"

97 points James Suckling: "I love the balance between weight and agility in this wine with a dense and compact palate. Yet, there’s brightness and creaminess that melts into the glass. Lots of brioche, pie crust and strawberry tart. Serious balancing act here. Drinkable, but better with a few years of age. (7/12/19)"

96 points Jasper Morris, MW (Inside Burgundy): "I opened two bottles of this to taste as the first seemed oddly subdued (note: a tiny bit of bottle variation for this wine too). The second bottle was delightful: yeast-complexed Pinot Fruit that is surprisingly light on its feet, with fruit just beginning to build. There is more complexity to come, and bottles will need another ten years to reveal some tertiary uplift. Excellent! (3/14/20)"

96 points Wine Spectator: "This lovely, elegant version is more about restraint and finesse than power, caressing the palate with a silky mousse and a finely woven range of ripe Asian pear, biscuit and star fruit flavors, accented by elderflower, ground ginger and almond skin notes. Lightly mouthwatering, expanding on the chalk-tinged finish. Drink now through 2033. 700 cases imported. (7/31/19)"