Earlier this month in France, Champagne purveyor Pol Roger finally opened the first two bottles of their rare 120-year-old champagne. The bottles had been recovered from a 1900 cellar collapse, which devastated the company. The collapse was caused by rain and cost the company an estimated 1.5 million bottles of premium champagne. The bottles were discovered in January of 2018, as the company was building a new packaging facility, above the site of the collapsed cellar. Before torrential rain halted the excavation, they were able to unearth 23 intact bottles which were sealed with wax. Last week, Pol Roger brought their famous champagne to Brooklyn, to toast the borough’s most well-known bridge. A champagne reception and intimate dinner were held at 1 Hotel Brooklyn Bridge’s, stylish rooftop eatery, Harriet’s. The evening was hosted by Hubert De Billy, a fifth-generation member of the Pol Roger family who thoroughly explained Pol Roger’s connection to the massive Brooklyn Bridge which was once used to store their precious champagne. At the base of the landmark, there are a set of vaults which in 1876 were used by a small shop owner, to store Pol Roger. The temperature of the vault made it the ideal location to ensure that consumers would enjoy the same quality champagne as their French counterparts.
The night began in the rooftop garden bar, with full flutes of Pol Roger White Foil 2009, offered as a toast to the bridge. We highly recommend visiting the Hotel’s rooftop bar, the view is spectacular! The bridge looms larger than life with the city skyline in the distance. After the toast, invited guests were led back inside for a gourmet feast in one of the hotel’s private dining suites. A glass of Pol Roger champagne accompanied every course, each wine was chosen to work cohesively with the flavors of each dish, creating a one of a kind dining experience. Throughout the four-course meal, Hubert kept guests entertained as he recounted the history of the brand and the winemaking process. The first course offered a selection of fresh finger foods with distinctive flavors. A charcuterie board offered smoky salted meats and creamy pungent cheeses, this was accompanied by a bowl of warm briny olives and fresh pumpkin brioche with a sweet vanilla bean butter. For this course, the Brut Vintage 2012 was served. This wine has a subtle flavor that enhanced the spice in the meats and a freshness to balance the intense flavor of the warm olives, the Rosé 2009 was served with the salad course. The salad was a mixture of baby gem lettuce, carrots, fennel, pomegranates, and green goddess dressing. The wine enhanced the flavor of the pomegranates, presenting a subtle sweetness with a tart fruitiness. For the entree, we were treated to their Prestige Cuvee, Sir Winston Churchill 2008. This was the most robust and mature of the wines, an homage to the man for which it was named. This wine was paired with an assortment of dishes including Papparadelle, Salmon with lentils, Roast Chicken in Jerk Marinade with cornbread pudding and New York Strip, with wasabi Spinach. The wine held up well against the onslaught of flavors and textures its yeast and floral notes worked well with the hearty collection of dishes. The last wine of the evening was the Pol Roger Demi-sec, Rich NV, a sweet aromatic wine to accompany the dessert course. The last bites of the evening included. elevated campfire smores, tangy but sweet Citrus Cheesecake and moist Sticky Toffee Pudding.
Pol Roger is not only a household name, but they are an institution, known well by aficionados across the globe. Their family-owned and operated business has known some hardship but mostly success as they continue to create enticing blends and collectible vintages. Their champagne has been served at Buckingham Palace, for both Prince Harry and Prince William’s royal weddings. Pol Roger also has a lengthy history with world leaders and dignitaries, including Sir Winston Churchill 2008 (which is sold out in France) who is said to have enjoyed their champagne for most of his life. In fact, his love of their product forged and an unbreakable bond between the Churchill’s and Roger’s that has endured even beyond Churchill’s passing. Pol Roger’s legacy is one of excellence and refinement that is unmatched. To learn more about their vintages and exciting history visit PolRoger.com.