The aromas of candied lemon, orange peel, pear, mirabelle plum, mandarin, honey, and roasted hazelnuts and almonds can already be enjoyed today.
With its mineral structure, impressive concentration, and phenomenal length, it will continue to develop for decades to come.
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Winston Churchill combines fruity charm with nutty complexity. Compared to Bollinger, it offers a perhaps less powerful but even more elegant interpretation of Pinot Noir from old vines.
2002 also has a perfect balance of creamy fullness and mineral energy. The small yields of the vintage ensure impressive density and intensity.
After a perfect flowering, a warm, sunny summer followed, which—with sufficient rain—promoted healthy, ripe grapes. In the weeks leading up to harvest, the grapes began to shrivel, leading to exceptional ripeness and concentration. The absence of extreme heat preserved a classic structure. At least for Pinot Noir, 2002 is a great year.
2002 is a fabulous vintage that combines immediate enjoyment with great potential. What are the alternatives? Krug is on a similarly high level. Comtes de Champagne 2002 is almost as good but, as a pure Chardonnay Champagne, has less deep nuttiness. Dom Pérignon and Cristal 2002 are other strong alternatives.
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