At Lunch, The Queensland Club. This bottle opened beautifully with a relatively pale clear golden colour and very fine mousse. The nose was very pure with touches of fresh primary fruit starting with delicious apple, white peach and pale cherries leading into nougat and brioche with just a touch of caramel and cinnamon. The palate is rich and very pure with gorgeous Pinot fruit and a fine line of citrus and white peach backed by tons of texture and grip. This is a tremendous bottle of Champagne which won the lucky dip of longevity courtesy of fine cellaring and a closure that held up for over 30 years.
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Provenance is key, especially important for mature Champagnes. This bottle of Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 1985 is in an exceptional condition, fresh aromas and sharp acidity, fresher than some 2002 vintage Champagnes. This 1985 Sir Winston Churchill is a classic Pol Roger Cuvée from a great vintage. Powerful autolytic brioche note, potent, very full bodied with bruised Apple and smokey minerals. Sharp acidity and incredible punch. Gorgeous finish. Champagne 1985 appears to be superior to 1982 and 1988. (96/100)
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(Blind tasting) From magnum. Fully mature but still fresh. Dried orchard fruit and apricots. Toffee, chocolate, cream, honey and subtle spice. Impeccable depth. Extremely concentrated rich and generous fruit. Of course it is in the dry fruit range. But the balance, elegance and fullness. The backbone of acidity. Complex ripe orchard fruit and pineapple, dark chocolate and lovely long toasty finish that goes on and on. A superb bottle.
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La Paulée de SF Gala Dinner (Fairmont Hotel, SF CA): Kick off to the La Paulee gala dinner. Gorgeous aged Champagne here. Broad and expansive palate with mature baked apple and loads of yeasty toast. A fine bead and still energetic.
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Mid gold, a pervasive nose with developed mature umami notes as expected: marmite, caramel on toasted brioche, creme fraiche, smoke and plenty more that draws you into the glass! A subtle entry with lovely fruit concentration, a tender, precise acidity underneath with a creamy lees base. Amazing depth of flavour, real intent and purpose this is showing way better than expected - almost full-bodied, a persistent finish, utterly enchanting.
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Complete Vertival Tasting of Winston Churchill in Magnums and Jero: für mich der zweitschönste Wein des Abends. Noch frische knackige Säure gepaart mit einer Zartbitterschokolade, gelben Früchten und etwas nuss. Auch vier Stunden später unverwüstlich und ein toller essensbegleiter. Schade ihn nicht gegen 82 trinken zu können. 97 punkte
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Fantastic aromas of warm brioche, soft smokiness, and amazing salinity and brine. Complex notes of fresh asparagus and broccoli are intermittent along with the more typical caramels and sweet coffee. Sensational smouldering smoke tones persistent throughout. Laser-like precision, lovely minerals, good effervescence. A real treat and pleasant surprise out of a magnum.
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This is not only likely the best Pol Roger Churchill of the last 30-40 years, it is undeniably among the best Champagnes of this timeframe, period. A gorgeously elegant, beautifully-structured wine that is still showing remarkable vitality combined with the maturity expected of a well-aged, great 27-year-old prestige cuvée. Ample floral and citrus notes accompany a lively brioche character, a bit of vanilla, even. Truly a magnificent Champagne, at a perfect time in its drinking window.
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Impreccably well stored. Really extraordinary. Harmonious, rich, and long. Notwithstanding the reputed high percentage of pinot noir in Cuvee Winston, this has plenty of chardonnay brioche notes. Mousse is subdued and passes quickly of course, but after 25 years, why should it be otherwise.
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Mycket rostad smak, knäck, kola. Fina frukaromer och en bra balanserad syra. Är det verkligen en 85a är en fråga som flyger genom huvudet. Har många år kvar på flaska men å så bra nu. Ren njutning
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Medium yellow in the glass. Notes of wet, and newly carved wood, or maybe newly acquired furniture. Lovely sweet flavour profile. Excellent definition. Superb harmony and concentration. This would have gotten a higher score had it not been for a slightly bitter quality right at the end of the long aftertaste. However, by any standards a teriffic Champagne.
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Champagne Tasting (Lafayette, Ca.): Very rich, meaty, smoky nose, very lovely taste of fruit, hint of grapefruit, medium/long finish. My #4 and Group #6.
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Pol Roger and Rochioli Pinot Noir (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Very fine bubbles but less bubbles than the Rose tonight, sweet and sour fruit, big fruit on the nose and palate, big body, very tasty, intense, powerful, big rich Champagne that needs four years to peak, and a long finish.
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8/4/2023 - drjb Likes this wine: 96 Points
At Lunch, The Queensland Club. This bottle opened beautifully with a relatively pale clear golden colour and very fine mousse. The nose was very pure with touches of fresh primary fruit starting with delicious apple, white peach and pale cherries leading into nougat and brioche with just a touch of caramel and cinnamon. The palate is rich and very pure with gorgeous Pinot fruit and a fine line of citrus and white peach backed by tons of texture and grip. This is a tremendous bottle of Champagne which won the lucky dip of longevity courtesy of fine cellaring and a closure that held up for over 30 years.
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4/16/2022 - fcxj wrote: 90 Points
Orange hue, mature but not tipping over.
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3/31/2019 - Jammy Wine Likes this wine: 96 Points
Provenance is key, especially important for mature Champagnes. This bottle of Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill 1985 is in an exceptional condition, fresh aromas and sharp acidity, fresher than some 2002 vintage Champagnes. This 1985 Sir Winston Churchill is a classic Pol Roger Cuvée from a great vintage. Powerful autolytic brioche note, potent, very full bodied with bruised Apple and smokey minerals. Sharp acidity and incredible punch. Gorgeous finish. Champagne 1985 appears to be superior to 1982 and 1988. (96/100)
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10/11/2018 - Argrath wrote: 96 Points
(Blind tasting)
From magnum.
Fully mature but still fresh. Dried orchard fruit and apricots. Toffee, chocolate, cream, honey and subtle spice. Impeccable depth.
Extremely concentrated rich and generous fruit. Of course it is in the dry fruit range. But the balance, elegance and fullness. The backbone of acidity. Complex ripe orchard fruit and pineapple, dark chocolate and lovely long toasty finish that goes on and on.
A superb bottle.
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3/3/2018 - fcxj wrote: 92 Points
Paulee. Maturity and acidity.
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3/3/2018 - Burgundy Al wrote: 92 Points
La Paulée de San Francisco - Gala Dinner (The Fairmont - San Francisco CA): Pie and powerful, very mature but certainly age appropriate degree of oxidation. Very concentrated, very long.
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3/3/2018 - Nanda wrote:
La Paulée de SF Gala Dinner (Fairmont Hotel, SF CA): Kick off to the La Paulee gala dinner. Gorgeous aged Champagne here. Broad and expansive palate with mature baked apple and loads of yeasty toast. A fine bead and still energetic.
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12/30/2016 - jhngo wrote: 80 Points
Tired. Too much Carmel toffee.
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12/24/2016 - rikipedia Likes this wine: 95 Points
Mid gold, a pervasive nose with developed mature umami notes as expected: marmite, caramel on toasted brioche, creme fraiche, smoke and plenty more that draws you into the glass!
A subtle entry with lovely fruit concentration, a tender, precise acidity underneath with a creamy lees base.
Amazing depth of flavour, real intent and purpose this is showing way better than expected - almost full-bodied, a persistent finish, utterly enchanting.
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11/6/2016 - aquacongas Likes this wine: 97 Points
Complete Vertival Tasting of Winston Churchill in Magnums and Jero: für mich der zweitschönste Wein des Abends. Noch frische knackige Säure gepaart mit einer Zartbitterschokolade, gelben Früchten und etwas nuss. Auch vier Stunden später unverwüstlich und ein toller essensbegleiter. Schade ihn nicht gegen 82 trinken zu können. 97 punkte
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1/14/2016 - BradE wrote:
The Boys of Bedrock without Bedrock. BBM and Dujac Clos St. Denis; 1/11/2016-1/14/2016: A perfect bottle, but we were spoiled by the array of white burgs following, and we didn't give it its due.
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11/12/2015 - The Vines That Bind wrote: 97 Points
Fantastic aromas of warm brioche, soft smokiness, and amazing salinity and brine. Complex notes of fresh asparagus and broccoli are intermittent along with the more typical caramels and sweet coffee. Sensational smouldering smoke tones persistent throughout. Laser-like precision, lovely minerals, good effervescence. A real treat and pleasant surprise out of a magnum.
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3/23/2012 - pacificoast wrote: 99 Points
This is not only likely the best Pol Roger Churchill of the last 30-40 years, it is undeniably among the best Champagnes of this timeframe, period. A gorgeously elegant, beautifully-structured wine that is still showing remarkable vitality combined with the maturity expected of a well-aged, great 27-year-old prestige cuvée. Ample floral and citrus notes accompany a lively brioche character, a bit of vanilla, even. Truly a magnificent Champagne, at a perfect time in its drinking window.
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8/29/2010 - theusualsuspect wrote: 96 Points
Impreccably well stored. Really extraordinary. Harmonious, rich, and long. Notwithstanding the reputed high percentage of pinot noir in Cuvee Winston, this has plenty of chardonnay brioche notes. Mousse is subdued and passes quickly of course, but after 25 years, why should it be otherwise.
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10/10/2009 - Jeremy Holmes wrote:
Nice minerally spine but too many nutty, oxidative notes. Showed some white mushroom with further air.
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9/26/2009 - Shorepower wrote: 96 Points
Mycket rostad smak, knäck, kola. Fina frukaromer och en bra balanserad syra. Är det verkligen en 85a är en fråga som flyger genom huvudet. Har många år kvar på flaska men å så bra nu. Ren njutning
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1/9/2004 - mnh wrote:
Outstanding, complex, youthful
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6/1/2003 - Joe Belmaati wrote: 94 Points
Medium yellow in the glass. Notes of wet, and newly carved wood, or maybe newly acquired furniture. Lovely sweet flavour profile. Excellent definition. Superb harmony and concentration. This would have gotten a higher score had it not been for a slightly bitter quality right at the end of the long aftertaste. However, by any standards a teriffic Champagne.
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4/2/2001 - mnh wrote:
will go the distance
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12/5/1996 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 91 Points
Champagne Tasting (Lafayette, Ca.): Very rich, meaty, smoky nose, very lovely taste of fruit, hint of grapefruit, medium/long finish. My #4 and Group #6.
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8/2/1996 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 95 Points
Pol Roger and Rochioli Pinot Noir (Walnut Creek, Ca.): Very fine bubbles but less bubbles than the Rose tonight, sweet and sour fruit, big fruit on the nose and palate, big body, very tasty, intense, powerful, big rich Champagne that needs four years to peak, and a long finish.
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4/1/1995 - mnh wrote:
Wonderful creamy texture. Not as yeasty as expected. Elegant. Needs some time for greatness
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12/18/1993 - bestdamncab Likes this wine: 90 Points
Champagne and Christmas (Hi-Time Wine Cellars, Costa Mesa, Ca.): Very rich, yeasty nose, dry taste, elegant, very rich toasty wine, good oak, nice, long finish, needs 3 years, paired with their fruit and nut plate.
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