We love Pol Roger. It sits very easily towards the top of the league table of the big Champagne houses. Both the vintage and the non-vintage releases balance 'a pinot-driven depth with an often exquisite refinement', as Champagne specialist Peter Liem neatly puts it. Pol Roger has long had a reputation as 'the English house'. It goes all the way back to their founder's early decision to favour a Brut style, which he knew the English market preferred — and the English market quickly became the cornerstone of his business.

But that's far from the only thing Pol Roger is known for. The house has also garnered a reputation as a vintage specialist, and only releases vintage cuvees when the year merits it. 2018 does, amply. 2018 saw an exceptional crop in Champagne. Long, sunny summer days led to an early harvest. On the heels of the difficult 2017 vintage, the sight of abundant quantities of immaculate fruit being brought in warmed the hearts of the Champenois. While Decanter magazine describes the 2018 Chardonnay as 'outstanding', it rates the 2018 Pinot even more highly, scoring the vintage 5 out of 5 for Pinot Noir — the backbone of vintage Pol Roger.

As Peter Liem notes, Pol Roger makes vintage Champagnes 'of renowned longevity... stocking vintage Pol Roger away in the cellar is always a wise move'. Magnums age even better than bottles. So for the purchase of 12 bottles of 2018 Pol Roger, we are offering a free magnum of the same Champagne (while stocks last). We'll also have it on tasting in the shop tomorrow — come and taste any time between 12 and 6pm. /NT