The 2012 Pol Roger Winston Churchill Champagne is a remarkable wine that showcases the elegance and complexity associated with its esteemed producer. This vintage, primarily composed of Pinot Noir with Chardonnay, is notable for its full-bodied style and luxurious character, scoring highly across the board from professional reviewers.
James Suckling awarded it an impressive 98 points, highlighting its "intense aromas of strawberry and subtle apple" with a "smoky undertone." He praised its "full-bodied and very layered" nature, accentuated by "ultra-fine tannins" and a "velvety texture." He notes it is "delicious and luxurious to drink now," with potential for further aging.
Wine Enthusiast was equally enthusiastic, scoring it 99 points. Roger Voss remarked on the wine's "powerfully ripe and impressively full" profile, pointing out its dominance by Pinot Noir and tight minerality. He suggested it is "worthy of aging" and drinkable even in a decade.
Wine Spectator also offered high praise, scoring it 97 points. The review described it as "sleek, with racy acidity," while providing a "lovely range of flavors," including "ripe black cherry and currant fruit" with accents of "pomegranate, candied kumquat, and raw almond." It is noted for its "silk-like texture" and "lasting finish."
Decanter and Robert Parker's Wine Advocate both scored it 95 points. Decanter emphasized its "decorous and persistent bead" and "aromatic orchard fruit, yeast, spice, and crystallized lemon" qualities. Robert Parker's Wine Advocate appreciated its "richer and fleshier" nature compared to the 2013 vintage, with a "harmonious and precise" profile.
Overall, the 2012 Pol Roger Winston Churchill is a wine of exceptional quality, well-received by critics, offering complexity, richness, and the potential for further development.