Pol Roger Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill Brut 2009

Pol Roger Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill Brut 2009 is a prestige cuvée Champagne produced exclusively from Grand Cru Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, bottled at 12.5% ABV in a standard 750ml format. Awarded 98 points by La Revue du Vin de France and 97 points with a Cellar Selection designation from Wine Enthusiast, this vintage ranks among the most critically acclaimed releases in the cuvée's history.

Quick Facts: ABV: 12.5%  |  Origin: Épernay, Champagne, France  |  Vintage: 2009  |  Distillery: Pol Roger

Production & Heritage

Pol Roger, founded in 1849 and still family-owned, operates from historic cellars in Épernay — among the deepest in Champagne at 33 meters below ground. Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill was created in 1975 as a tribute to the house's most famous admirer; Churchill reportedly consumed an estimated 42,000 bottles of Pol Roger over his lifetime. The 2009 vintage is produced via méthode traditionnelle from exclusively Grand Cru Pinot Noir (predominant) and Chardonnay sourced from vineyards already under vine during Churchill's era. The exact proportions remain one of Champagne's most closely guarded secrets. True to the cuvée's tradition, the 2009 was held back for extended aging on the lees and released roughly a decade after harvest — reflecting Churchill's own preference for mature Champagne.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: The bouquet opens with golden apple and clear honey before layering in freshly baked bread, hazelnuts, and fresh pastry. Subtle dried fruit and toasted almond notes emerge with time in the glass, adding complexity without losing the wine's underlying brightness.

Taste: On entry, the palate is broad and powerful, with ripe apricot, crisp peach, and tangerine oil leading into a concentrated mid-palate of black cherry, preserved lemon, and baked apple tart. A rich vein of smoky minerality runs beneath the fruit, while bright acidity and a pearly, fine-beaded mousse keep the wine structured and sapid. The 2009 is medium to full-bodied and decidedly vinous in character.

Finish: Long and saline, with lingering notes of pickled ginger, honeycomb, and toasted spice. The minerality persists well after the final sip, leaving a clean, chalky impression that invites another glass.

How to Drink Sir Winston Churchill 2009

This Champagne rewards a generous tulip-shaped glass and a serving temperature around 10–12°C; decanting for 15–20 minutes can help the wine fully open. While it stands as a magnificent aperitif on its own, its weight and structure also make it a serious food wine. A classic Champagne Cocktail highlights the honeycomb and toast character. A French 75 made with this cuvée elevates the drink with added mineral depth and vinous complexity. A Kir Royale using a restrained measure of crème de cassis complements the wine's dark cherry undertones without overwhelming its finesse.

Best For

• Marking a milestone anniversary, retirement, or career achievement
• Gifting a serious Champagne collector or wine enthusiast
• Anchoring a multi-course tasting dinner with fine cuisine
• Adding to a cellar for further aging — the 2009 has decades of potential ahead

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sir Winston Churchill 2009 taste like? It delivers a powerful, vinous profile led by ripe stone fruit, honeycomb, and toasted bread, underscored by a persistent smoky minerality and bright acidity. The mousse is exceptionally fine, and the finish is long and saline.

How does Sir Winston Churchill compare to Dom Pérignon? Both are tête de cuvée Champagnes made from the finest fruit, but Sir Winston Churchill tends to be Pinot Noir-dominant and fuller-bodied, while Dom Pérignon typically aims for a more equal Pinot Noir–Chardonnay balance with an emphasis on tension and luminosity. The Churchill cuvée is also released later — often a decade after vintage — giving it additional complexity at the point of sale.

Is Sir Winston Churchill 2009 good for cellaring? Absolutely — the 2009's concentrated structure, firm acidity, and fine mousse suggest it will continue to develop gracefully for another 15 to 20 years under proper storage conditions.

Where is Sir Winston Churchill made? It is produced by the family-owned house of Pol Roger in Épernay, in the heart of France's Champagne region, using exclusively Grand Cru fruit from historically significant vineyards across the appellation.

What foods pair well with Sir Winston Churchill 2009? Roasted lobster with brown butter showcases the wine's richness and minerality. Aged Comté or Gruyère echoes its nutty, toasty character. Seared foie gras with quince matches its honeyed depth. Pan-roasted turbot with a beurre blanc mirrors the saline finish. Truffle risotto complements the wine's earthy, umami undertones.

What sizes does Sir Winston Churchill come in? The standard release is a 750ml bottle. Pol Roger has historically produced magnums (1.5L) of this cuvée as well, though availability varies by vintage.

Is Sir Winston Churchill 2009 worth the price? It positions firmly in the ultra-premium prestige cuvée tier, competing directly with the top expressions from Dom Pérignon, Krug, and Louis Roederer Cristal. Its critical acclaim — including 98 points from La Revue du Vin de France and 97 from Wine Enthusiast — supports its standing as one of Champagne's benchmark luxury wines.

Why Sir Winston Churchill 2009?

The 2009 vintage stands out even among a cuvée that is only produced in exceptional years. Its 98-point score from La Revue du Vin de France places it at the pinnacle of this bottling's history, and it collected four additional scores of 94 points or above from major international critics. The wine's exclusive use of Grand Cru fruit from vineyards with direct historical ties to Churchill himself is a production detail no other prestige Champagne can claim. Extended aging on the lees — far beyond the legal minimum — gives the 2009 a depth and vinosity that rewards both immediate enjoyment and long-term cellaring, making it one of the defining prestige Champagnes of the decade.