Mud House Summer Offers.
Summer is here again, and with it, life seems to get that little bit simpler. Formal dinner parties make way for impromptu barbecues with friends, allowing us to take things easy. Relax in the garden with a tasty glass of chilled Sauvignon Blanc, and those winter blues quickly become a distant memory.
The wines on offer are perfect for serving over the carefree weeks of summer and, with up to a 36% discount on unmixed cases, all are extremely affordable.
Champagne Pol Roger is one of the very few remaining houses still
owned and run by the founding family, who remain responsible for the
winemaking and selection of the cuvées each year.
Pol Roger was born on 24th December 1831 in the village of Aÿ elected not to follow his father’s footsteps by entering the law, but received his support when he showed a determined interest in the wine trade. Pol set up in Aÿ as a négociant or wholesaler at the age of 17, drawing initial business from his family’s contacts and clients of his father.
The following year, 1849, saw the birth of the new champagne house as Pol Roger began to create his own cuvées (for release from 1853) rather than bring in wines solely from other houses. His sales for the first six months of operation were 3,769 bottles and 825 half-bottles. Today that has grown to around 1.5 million bottles per annum.
Historical events for Pol Roger champagnes in England began in the second half of the 19th century, which saw the rapid development of the business, in what was a golden era for champagne.
In 1876 Conrad Reuss of Reuss, Lauteren & Co. of Crutched Friars, Mark Lane in the City of London was appointed as the first UK agent for Pol Roger, selling in to the top end of the hotel trade, prestigious clubs and the following year to the Royal Household.
In 1887 Maurice Pol-Roger, the son of Pol who with his brother Georges had changed their surname by deed poll to Pol-Roger, paid his first visit to England to learn the business here, starting a close relationship between the family and this country that has been maintained ever since.
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White Foil Brut Reserve |
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Bin No |
POL/001 |
Size |
75cl |
Price |
£27.50 |
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Brut Réserve is blended from 30 still base wines from different vineyards, different vintages and the three main grape varieties which dominate the champagne region: Pinot Noir contributes body, depth of character and life-extending tannins and comes from the villages of the Montagne de Reims – Verzy, Verzenay, Mailly, Ambonnay, Mardeuil and Louvois; Chardonnay provides the lightness, elegance and finesse and is drawn from Epernay itself and the villages of the Côte des Blancs – Cuis, Oiry, Oger, Vertus, Moussy and Chouilly; Pinot Meunier supplies youthful freshness, vigour and plump character with the grapes coming from the Vallée d’Epernay – Vincelles, Venteuil, Troissy, Damery, Vandières, Brugny, Chavot, Monthelon and Pierry. On the nose, the champagne is dominated by white flowers, green apple, brioche and a trace of minerality. On the palate there are notes of stone fruits, a certain nuttiness and a hint of honey supporting the freshness of the acidity. UK stock receives an additional 6 months post-disgorgement ageing so it is ready to drink upon release but cellaring for a few years will reveal greater depths. The aperitif champagne par excellence but one which has sufficient backbone to be drunk with fish and even spicy dishes. |
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Brut Vintage 1998 |
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Bin No |
POL/011 |
Size |
75cl |
Price |
£45.00 |
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The 1998 Brut Vintage follows the traditional Pol Roger formula of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay from up to 20 Grand and Premier Cru vineyards in the Montagne de Reims, the Grand Vallée de la Marne and the Côte des Blancs: the Pinot Noir comes from the villages of Cumières, Champillon, Aÿ, Ambonnay, Mareuil, Chigny, Rilly, Bouzy and Mailly; the Chardonnay comes from Le Mesnil, Oger, Vertus, Oiry, Cuis and Chouilly. 1998 was a year of extremes and contrasts during the growing season but in the end a final climatic somersault proved vital in producing a stunning vintage. The 1998 is golden in colour with a nose of dried and ripe fruits as well as hints of nougat, butter and toast. In the mouth it is fleshy and ample but with remarkable refreshing acidity and length. Classically balanced this will continue to drink well for a decade or more. Typically this has the power to match fine dining and would work well with lobster or other crustaceans as well as rich or pungent or spicy dishes. |
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Brut Rosé 2000 |
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Bin No |
POL/015 |
Size |
75cl |
Price |
£52.00 |
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Vintage champagne is by definition the wine of a single year and it must rely entirely on the character and relative success of that harvest alone. It follows that a vintage champagne is produced only when all the necessary components of climate, grape quality and ripeness at harvest come together for the winemaker to produce a wine of optimum intensity, structure and balance. An alluring and intense golden pink in colour. The nose is powerful and concentrated and initially shows ripe red fruits such as wild strawberry and raspberry. The wine is lively and retains a refreshing lightness throughout with hints of dried fruits such as apricot and subtle aromas of mint which underline the lightness. The finish reveals the wine’s youthfulness and suggests that it has a bright future both on its own and when paired with food. |
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