Pol Roger Brut Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2009

98 points La Revue du Vin de France: "Let's go out on a limb and say that Winston Churchill 2009 will benefit from a few more years in the cellar. Solar, but very seductive and energetic, this cuvee shows its muscles but above all gives the feeling of still holding much in reserve. (2021)"

97 points Tyson Stelzer (The Champagne Guide): "(tasted in 2020 in Australia; 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 my first encounter with a new vintage is always a moment of tremendous anticipation. The ever more refined regime of Pol Roger in the vines and the wines has defined a tremendous trajectory for this fabled house over the past two decades, and its increasingly fanatical and refined approach is becoming incrementally more apparent with each new release. This is exemplified emphatically in Sir Winston Churchill in the warm 2009 season. A bright, pale straw hue announces a bouquet unusually open and generous for Sir Winston of such youth. Pinot noir assumes its characteristic lead, brimming in red apples, strawberry hull and white raspberries on the nose, erupting in a magnificent display of pure red cherries and mixed spice on the palate. The pristine, scintillating fresh lemon of chardonnay marks out a finish of energy and poise that transcend this warm season. A decade in the depths has infused the most pure white nougat and almond meal. Resounding proof that terroir trumps climate, the chalk mineral signature of Champagne’s most enduring grand crus marks out a finish of glistening, crystalline mouthfeel, as brilliant and as entrancing as a supernova in an impenetrable black firmament. A Sir Winston ready to engage right from its release, with a medium-term future before it, this cuvée is not only an exemplar for the wonders of the legendary Pol Roger, but a luminous beacon for just what levels of finesse can be achieved in Champagne’s ever warming climate. (Edition VII; 2024)"

97 points and 'Cellar Selection,' Wine Enthusiast: "As always, this Pinot Noir-dominated Champagne is a great wine. In this vintage, it is fuller than usual, perhaps less structured—a true reflection of the vintage. Like all releases of this cuvée, the wine will age magnificently. Drink now or hold for at least 10 years to get full maturity. Alcohol 12.5%. (Dec 2020)"

96 points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "A few years after its disgorgment now, the 2009 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill has digested its dosage and is beginning to offer up real complexity. Mingling aromas of freshly baked bread, honeycomb, crisp peach, pear and subtle hints of dried fruits, it's medium to full-bodied, sapid and vinous, with bright acids, a pearly mousse and a long, saline finish. Exhibiting more structure than was apparent on release, this has always been a very approachable Churchill, yet it is really benefiting from age. Drink: 2022-2040. (3/9/23)"

96 points Ian D'Agata Wine Review: "The Pol Roger 2009 Champagne Brut Sir Winston Churchill, a world-famous Pinot Noir-dominated Champagne that is always a great wine. In this vintage, it is even more fuller-bodied than usual (Good ol’ Winston himself would have been quite happy), but creamy and lush in its vanilla-laced yellow fruit aromas and flavours while retaining wonderful freshness. It offers an excellent introduction to the meal at Yu Zhi Lan, where some of the early dishes are the most nuanced of the whole meal; by contrast, a Blanc de Blancs may not have had quite the backbone to stand up to many of them. (6/2/25)"

96 points Bettane & Desseauve Guide (2023).

95 points Wine Spectator: "[$300 list] A seamless Champagne, lithe with fresh, finely knit acidity, and showing beautiful integration, with a rich vein of smoky minerality underscoring flavors of black cherry, toast, preserved lemon and pickled ginger. There's power and focus here, but this bubbly highlights the grace and accessibility that 2009 can offer even on release. Drink now through 2034. (9/2/20)"

95 points Falstaff: "Brilliant golden yellow. Delicate notes of fresh brioche, vanilla cream, and—with air—roasted almonds, delicately underscored by lemon confit and acacia blossom, with a hint of licorice in the bouquet. Silky smooth mousse, fine acidity balance, creamy opulence on the palate, supported by blossom honey and yellow apple seed in the finish. Harmonious mineral finish with pronounced length. Needs time to develop. (Nov 2020)"

94 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2009 Brut Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill is a heady, explosive Champagne. Ample and deep, the Churchill is so expressive today. Apricot, tangerine oil, mint, baked apple tart and spice all flesh out. I would give the 2009 at least a year or two in bottle, as it is a bit tight at this stage. Even so, time in the glass brings out a feeling of raw power that is impossible to miss. Drink: 2022-2039. (Nov 2020)"