1990 Pol Roger - Cuvee Sir Winston Churchill Champagne Blend - France - Champagne - White

Deep, expressive aromas of nut skin, minerals and earth; this has developed markedly on the nose in the past year. Then extraordinarily powerful, thick and concentrated, with huge palate-saturating extract. Like a solid in the mouth, yet with this cuvee characteristic austerity. Offers superb complexity, strong balancing acids, and an almost painfully tactile back end. (Frederick Wildman & Sons, Ltd., New York, NY.)

Fabulously creamy and nut-toffee-scented in the same style as P. R. '88. Winston is usually a slow starter, which is hardly the case with this vintage. Because the grape composition is secret, it is safe to speculate on the subject. Namely, it appears that the '90 contains slightly more Chardonnay than usual. To me this is a 1990 P. R.! The wine has had an uneven curve of development with some specimens being drab and oxidative, but have patience. I know that this wine will keep and that it will develop into a notability at some point. Three bottles side by side in the winter of 2005 differed greatly. Delightful, most recently.

Power and intensity in a glass. Bold and full of bread dough and apple, with a marmalade note, married to a big, firm structure, it still seems youthful. A brilliant Champagne that should develop beautifully. 6,250 cases made.

Have not developed as i wanted it to, loads of grapefruit.