At 96 points and a Cellar Selection, this stunning 2012 is not only the top-rated Pol Roger vintage ever; it beats some vintages of the $300 Winston Churchill! They say:
This rich, full-bodied Champagne is a classic from this producer. Its richness is emphasized by ripe Pinot Noir that dominates the blend, typical of the house style. A blend of grand and premier cru wines from across the Montagne de Reims and Côte des Blancs, this wine will age much further.
The Wine Advocate agrees, giving it 94+, their top Pol Roger Vintage Brut rating ever:
Disgorged in October 2018, the 2012 Brut Vintage offers up aromas of smoky peach, apples, pastry cream, white flowers and mandarin. On the palate, the wine is full-bodied, broad and powerful, with more volume and amplitude than its blanc de blancs counterpart, revealing racy balancing acids, an already refined mousse and the impressive concentration that typifies this low-yielding vintage. It's a classic blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay that saw seven grams per liter dosage. Drink through 2045.
As does even Burghound:
A cool, pure and distinctly airy nose is comprised by notes of green apple, spice, citrus and plenty of yeasty brioche nuances. The supporting mousse is generous and relatively fine on the wonderfully textured, rich and substantial flavors that deliver excellent complexity on the impressively long finish. This is already drinking very well though it clearly has the stuffing to age for another 10 years if a more mature fruit and flavor profile is your preference. Lovely stuff and fashioned in a full-flavored style.
This is about as good (okay great) as vintage Champagne gets.
