2008 Pommery Grand Cru Royal is of great significance to us. In 2008 we visited the Champagne region for the first time. We were impressed by all Domaines, but Pommery and its Champagne were our favorite.
That’s why we picked a few bottles for ourselves and for our wine club 2021 Champagne Tasting and Sabrage party.
Domaine Pommery Story
Pommery is among the greatest and oldest Champagne houses in the region. It was established in 1836 in Reims, the heart of the Champagne region. Madame Pommery took over the estate in 1858, following in the footsteps of another great woman in Champagne – Madame Clicquot.
Louise Pommery was also at the forefront of the taste revolution when the prevailing taste for Champagne was sweet-toothed.
She was a very astute businesswoman and focused her strategy on the leading French wine consumer – Englishmen. Coincidentally, English wine drinkers preferred the drier style of wine, and she answered the market demand. Madame Pommery was the first to produce vintage Brut in 1874. The revolutionary dry style at the time is now the standard in Champagne and other sparkling wines around the world.
2008 Pommery Grand Cru Royal Brut
In the Bottle
Pommery Grand Cru Royal is a vintage Cuveé from Champagne Pommery, made only in exceptional years. The 2008 vintage had modest yields and resulted in wines of moderate concentration and acidity, with the sugar-acid ratio dropping to the level of the 1990s.
Grand Cru Royal Brut is the essence of the Pommery style and only made in exceptional years. This equal blend of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay comes from 40 selected villages in the Côte des Blancs and Montagne de Reims, and a few other areas of the Champagne region.
Royal Brut was aged in bottle on lees for at least 9 years and another 6 months after disgorging.
In the Glass
2008 Brut delivered what we expected from Grand Cru Pommery.
The fine bubbles produced a delicate creamy mousse.
The aromas of buttery warm dought seamlessly flowed into a full-bodied Champagne with flavors of Granny Smith green apples sprinkled with a ripe lemon.
Aftertaste
2008 Pommery Grand Cru Royal has everything we expect from top-tiered vintage Brut: elegance, structure, creamy mousse with fine bubbles, and well-balanced acidity.
While it’s a pricey Champagne, still a fantastic value for the price.