Arden Fine Wines is based at 50 Brook Street, opposite Claridge’s, which was a favourite bolthole of Sir Winston Churchill.
This famous hotel is known as the “staff canteen” by some of my more disreputable colleagues at No.50.
As for me, I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat… 🩸💪😂😅
After his defeat in the 1945 General Election, Churchill (and his wife Clementine) moved into Claridge’s sixth-floor penthouse suite.
Probably he consoled himself with some of his beloved Pol Roger champagne, about which he said: “In success you deserve it and in defeat you need it.”
Cuvée Sir Winston Churchill was created by Pol Roger in homage to the great man. It is the only prestige cuvée champagne named after a non-French person.
Commencing with the 1975, only 19 vintages of Sir Winston have been released to date.
It’s always issued later than the other vintage champagnes from Pol Roger, acknowledging Churchill’s appreciation for well-aged wines.
The 1986 was the fifth vintage of Cuvée Sir Winston to be brought to life.
It’s not the oldest bottle of Pol Roger sold by Arden – we have sold some 1964 and 1966 – but this is the oldest Sir Winston to land on our Brook Street balcony yet and is a good example of the vintage.
We have five bottles left – if they’re not consumed in Brook Street in the meantime…
