Champagne Pol Roger Brut 2018

Across more than 175 years and six generations of the family, Champagne Pol Roger has earned its place as one of the true icons of the region. From its home on the noble Avenue de Champagne in Épernay, the house draws on an enviable patchwork of estate parcels and long-standing grower relationships spanning Champagne's finest terroirs.

The 2018 holds to the classic house blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay, sourced from 20 Grand Cru and Premier Cru vineyards across the Montagne de Reims and the Côte des Blancs. 2018 was a warm, sun-soaked year with an early harvest that began on the 20th of August, and the wine reflects it beautifully. It is generous and expressive, in the gourmand spirit of great years like 2015 and 2012. After a cool, plot-by-plot fermentation, the wine rested for six years on the lees, tucked 33 metres – over a hundred feet – beneath the streets of Épernay, where the bottles are still riddled by hand. Considering the scale of those cellars, it's a genuinely remarkable feat.

In the glass, it opens with pear, white peach, and orange zest lifted by toasty brioche and warm pastry, then unfolds into nectarine, macerated raspberry, a whisper of saffron, and crystallized honey. The palate is full-bodied and finely structured, carried by bright, mouthwatering acidity to a long, enveloping finish. Delicious right now, with the stuffing to reward the cellar for a decade or more (drink through 2035 and beyond). 95 points and a whole slew of additional gleaming scores from top critics tell part of the story; pouring yourself a glass tells the rest. This is about as much pedigree and pleasure as you'll find at the price. Save it for a special occasion – or make it the occasion itself. Either way, your happiness is guaranteed!