From Faith : I was excited to learn that Union League Cafe in New Haven had begun serving Pol Roger champagne by the glass, especially considering that the French-inspired restaurant is just a leap across the New Haven Green from our studio. My plans went like this… I’d make the next business meeting there, and I’d order a glass to go with my lunch. But that’s not close to what happened. What happened was that the man who invited me to lunch surprised me by ordering a bottle of Vintage 2002 Pol Roger. Rather than pretend to be used to this, I said, “Are you kidding?!” He laughed, knowing what a fan I am of Pol Roger.
As I watched it being poured into our glasses, I glanced over at the restaurant’s roaring fire and thought, I’m absurdly lucky. And then I tasted it. The 2002 Pol Roger has outrageous complexity; it drinks like a symphony in the glass, starting with a violin concerto and finishing with an orchestra of nuanced flavors… toasted brioche… a whisper of green apple… The thin line of bubbles streaming from the base to the top of the glass signals a truly fine champagne. It was on-point, ready to drink. And I was the lucky girl called upon to drink it.
If you’re looking for a tremendous bottle of wine (60 percent Chardonnay and 40 percent Pinot Noir), this is it, the perfect special gift champagne for a celebratory occasion, at around $100 per bottle at your wine store, or served at very good restaurants in Connecticut.
If it’s a wine store gift purchase, call ahead and tell them the distributor is Frederick Wildman & Sons. The 2004 vintage is also just out.
Or, head to Union League, enjoy a terrific meal, and have a bottle delivered to your table, as my generous host did. I keep the empty bottle on my kitchen counter. Just makes me happy to look at it.
