Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Tasted from 1/2 bottle. They come in handy for dinner for two in many cases, but especially at a restaurant that allows corkage. Most do in California. It is even harder to find vintage champagne in 375ml’s.

The 2018 vintage was good to very good. You need to taste and or read up for its best offerings.

A note, I tasted at the Billecart-Salmon property in later October 2022 with Mathieu Roland-Billecart. As insightful as that was, he was asked other than Billecart Salmon champagnes, what was one of his favorite champagnes? His reply was surprisingly an older vintage Paul Bara he had recently. That’s a producer question that gets asked often. Normally generates a pause with some minor angst to answer.

The nose shows; lemon chiffon/meringue, bruised apple to slightly cider, bruised pear, yellow & white stone fruits, just ripe pineapple, orange citrus blend, lime pulp, tropical melons, whipped, white cream, white spice-ginger, yeasty bread dough, saline, crushed limestone pulp, crumbled chalk, sea fossils, white spring flowers set in yellow lilies.

The palate is round & soft. The mousse is delicate w/ micro oxidation. Ripe; lemon chiffon/meringue, white & yellow stone fruit, slightly bruised apple & Bosc pear, lime pulp, orange citrus rind, some tropical melons, cream, ginger white spice, yeasty bread dough, sea spray, saline, sea fossils, dry crumbled chalkiness, caramel notes, heather honey, warm perfectly toasted toast, graham cracker, nougat w/ nuts, yellow flowers set in a field of white spring flowers, excellent acidity with a nicely; balanced, structured, tensioned, polished finish that lasts a minute and falls on limestone laced with soft, dry, powdery chalkiness.

Photos of; the house of Paul Bara, chalky caves w/ riddling racks, old wood basket press & a vineyard picking party. — a month ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2020 vintage. The last vintage for this wine as it was bought from the Bécot family ( owners of Beauséjour-Bécot) by the owners of Haut-Brion in 2021. It will be incorporated into Château Quintus (which is a merger of 3 estates: Tertre-Daugay, L'Arrosée and Grand-Pontet). Many Saint-Emilion estates disappeared, incorporated into other estates, some very good wines sadly disappeared like Curé Bon La Madeleine (now into Canon), Cadet-Piola (now into Soutard) and so on. The fact that Grand Cru Classés can legally be incorporated into Premier Grands Crus Classés tells you that you have to take the classification with more than a grain of salt. A bit shy on the nose, even after a few hours. Medium-bodied, nice value for a Saint-Emilion Grand Cru Classé. — 2 years ago

Robert Ahlstrom

9.5

Nice minerals, citrus, opens up over five-ten minutes in the glass, bubbles are not overpowering. — 2 months ago

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.7

Amazing for its level, though still more expensive than most Grand Crus. — a year ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2022 vintage. @ Mister A’s Restaurant, San Diego-Les Caves de St. Charles CDP dinner. 100% Roussanne-driven. Initial mineral indication of interest, broad mid-palate transition, yang-styled, white grape “fat” on the judiciously-honeyed finish. Wowzers. Grab you some if you can find it. 95 cases produced. Good luck with that. 11.16.23. — a year ago

Martinez

9.4

The “second wine” from one of Alsace’s greatest winemaking dynasties. Unlike the single-vineyard Clos Ste. Hune, this is a blend from two (adjacent) sites in the Geisberg (sandstone) and Osterberg (limestone) grand crus in Ribeauvillé. Complex bouquet with aromas of yellow apple, candied citrus, beeswax, crushed stone and a hint of petrol. Full-bodied, rich, quite concentrated with flavors of citrus (lemon) and notes of white fruit. Pure, precise, intense, great acidity — 2 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.3

Sacal mora cleal flopez @ultramarinos — a year ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

On par with many of the burgundy grand crus — a year ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.1

Bougros for me the weakest of the grand crus. Still a tasty lemoney, chalky delight. — 2 years ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.1

A blend of about 40 crus from the Champagne region, with Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier, and about one-third Chardonnay, aged for almost 3 years. Fresh vibrant champagne, fruit/floral bouquet, w/chalky minerals. Fine bubbles, nice mousse, rich flavors of peach, lemon and honey, well balanced, good structure, creamy. Long finish ending with yeast & mineral notes. Very consistent quality. — 2 years ago