Pol Roger Brut Champagne Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2015

98 points Bettane & Desseauve Guide (2024).

97 points Peter Moser (Falstaff): "Medium golden yellow, green reflections, persistent, fine mousseux. Fine spicy underlay of ripe yellow tropical fruit like mango and honeydew melon, but also dried apricots and baked goods, smoky ethereal nuances of spices and menthol in the background, multi-faceted bouquet. Complex, juicy fruit, nuances of papaya and pear, substantial texture, hints of nougat, fine acidity is underpinned, shows very good length, already accessible and very inviting, multi-faceted without being opulent, secure aging potential. (Jan 2023)"

96 points Sarah Mayo (The Wine Independent): "Aromatically spirited and generous, the Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 2015 presents enticing aromas of lemon curd, ripe apple, almond paste, butter pastry and orange peel. The medium-bodied palate has a wonderfully textured complexity and acid freshness that radiates throughout. It finishes long, toasty, and certainly invites another sip. A joy to drink. The bottle tasted was disgorged September 2022 and finished with a seven gram per liter dosage. Alcohol 12%. Drink: 2023-2040. (11/8/23)"

96 ponts Stuart Pigott (JamesSuckling.com): "Very complex nose with a wide spectrum of candied citrus, dried peach and mirabelle tart aromas. Bold and rich, particularly on the mid-palate, but with a great deal of subtlety and delicacy for the vintage. This is already delicious, but at the finish you really taste how this has been made for the long term. Great drive and persistence right at the end. Drink or hold. (8/7/23)"

96 points La Revue du Vin de France: "Sir Winston Churchill (2015) holds its own much better on this vintage, with its usual toasty aromatics and full, precise mouthfeel. It will age very well. (2024)"

95 points Antonio Galloni (Vinous): "The 2015 Brut Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill shows off the savory side of the vintage to great effect. Hints of dried pear, sage, mint, dried flowers, lemon oil and chamomile open gradually in this mid-weight, lithe edition of Pol Roger's tête de cuvée. The 2015 unfolds nicely with time in the glass, but I wouldn't think of opening a bottle anytime soon. Readers will find a nervy Winston Churchill marked by notable freshness and vigor more than size. This is a fine effort in a vintage that has proven to be far trickier than most observers originally envisioned. Dosage is 7 grams per liter. Disgorged September 2022. Drink: 2027-2045. (May 2023)"

95 points Wine Spectator: "[$500 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)"

94-95 points Essi Avellan, MW: "Deep lemon toned colour with the faintest touch of peach. Overt and rich on the nose, there is an abundance of sweet, luscious fruit. With just a couple of minutes in the glass, toast and brioche layered deliciousness starts to surface alongside the strawberry, red apple and cherry fruit. The year’s hallmark vegetal character is well hidden behind the red fruit abundance. Full and fleshy on the round yet well-built palate, showing lovely succulent fruitiness and fine persistence. An approachable and early blooming vintage of Cuvée Winston Churchill with sweet fruity appeal. September 2022 disgorgement tasted. (May 2023)"

94+ points William Kelley (Wine Advocate): "A strong effort in a less-acclaimed vintage, Pol Roger's newly released 2015 Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill opens in the glass with aromas of confit citrus, ripe orchard fruits and dried white flowers mingled with hints of honeycomb, freshly baked bread and anise. Medium to full-bodied, vinous and concentrated, with bright acids, chalky structuring extract and a pinpoint mousse, this inherently rather rich, gastronomic Champagne is quite tightly wound out of the gates and will reward a bit of bottle age. Stylistically, it is somewhat reminiscent of a modern-day version of the 1985. Drink: 2025-2045. (3/9/23)"

Tom Stevenson calls Pol Roger's Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill "one of the greatest prestige cuvées of modern times." It is only released in exceptional vintages, and in fact Pol Roger produces Vintage Champagnes more frequently than the Churchill.