Pol Roger non-vintage is one of the benchmark Champagnes. Always excellent; a grande marque Champagne whose following is all about the reliably impeccable quality of what is in the bottle. It is also one of the few non-vintage Champagnes that merits a couple of years or more in the cellar. Based at number 1, Rue de Winston Churchill in Epernay, Pol Roger remains family-owned.
One reason behind the consistent quality of the Brut Reserve is that it is the main focus of the house. Very little vintage Pol Roger is made as this may compromise the quality of the flagship wine. As such there is little talk of base vintages at Pol – it is largely irrelevant.
The blend is classically champenois: equal parts of Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay from 30 different crus, with 25% reserve wines used. Wines are released after four years of ageing in the cellars.
Grower Champagne has become increasingly fashionable over the past few years, and rightly so in many cases but, having opened a bottle of Pol in the office, we were reminded just why the reputation of houses like Pol Roger is so high: if you want to know just what Champagne is supposed to taste like, this is the one.
 | Region | Vintage | Wine | Qty | Size | Units | Price | Per | Score | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Champagne | N.V. | Pol Roger | 7 \ 0 | 12×37.5cl | 30 | 220.00 | 12 | Pol Roger | ||
| Champagne | N.V. | Pol Roger Volume Discount 4+ cases 185 each. | 71 \ 0 | 6×75cl | 30 | 195.00 | 6 | Pol Roger | ||
| Champagne | N.V. | Pol Roger | 16 \ 0 | 3×1.5L | 30 | 197.50 | 3 | Pol Roger | ||
| Champagne | N.V. | Pol Roger | 4 | 1×3L | 30 | 250.00 | 1 | Pol Roger | ||
| Wines are offered subject to remaining unsold. E&OE. | |||||||||||
Pol Roger's Brut Reserve, otherwise known as white foil, is a testament to the consistency of quality-driven winemaking at this house. The blend is equal parts of Pinot Noir, Meunier and Chardonnay with 25% of reserve wines. Pale straw in colour with a bright nose of poached pear, confit citrus, vanilla sugar and pastry dough, there is an airy ripeness to the fruit that lifts the aromatics with notes of white flowers. The palate has the same lift, with vibrant citrus blossom and silky white stone fruits, bolstered by cleverly judged dosage. The mousse is generous but fine, creating a silky mouthfeel. Touches of white strawberry come through, together with more notes of patisserie; this is classy, elegant Champagne. Seamless, moreish and finishing with refreshing acidity, it is easy to see why this cuvée from Pol has such a fantastic reputation.
Dosage 10 g/l. Aged 36 months on lees. Cooked apple, biscuit, savoury and long. Delicious salted-bread aftertaste. The absolute prototype of champagne, and I appreciate the generous dosage.
One of Champagne's finest houses, Pol Roger produces among the most consistent ranges of all the Grandes Marques....Only some 20% of any given year will be vintaged, as the maison privileges its NV Brut Réserve—and indeed, while many non-vintage Bruts fluctuate in quality, Pol Roger's "white foil" bottling is both remarkably reliable and long-lived—which ranks as one of the region's best values. Today, the house ferments all its base wines in stainless steel at low temperature, followed by manual riddling.
