Ross Bathgate

9.3

Opened after Xmas lunch as we needed a follow up to the Black Shiraz. Did not disappoint. Mature and soft with all the lovely spice and dark fruit of the basket pressed. Lovely. — 6 months ago

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 year ago

Dani Jensen-DeNofa

9.7

Medium yellow color. Tropical and vanilla on nose. Oak With something I can’t distinguish.. maybe some salinity? Bright pineapple. Then rich buttery creaminess. Slight vanilla into an oak finish. Slightly dry — 6 years ago

Lindsay Corrigan

8.9

Full Strawberry nose with white pepper. Taste juicy red berry front settles down to a wash blueberry. Then at back of mouth intensity starts with flavour of roasted red peppers done over oak coals and finish cleanse of eucalyptus.🍷 — 7 years ago

Jeff Thornhill

9.2

Very good. Great bouquet, flavor and finish. Worth the $16. Definitely a repeat purchase. — 8 years ago

Bob McDonald

9.4

Interesting that earlier comments from the Wine Press wondered if the tannins would ever soften. At 23 years of age I can report that they have. Notes of Blackberry, Liquorice, Dust and Dark Chocolate. Berries and chocolate on the palate with a slightly bitter finish. Fine persistent tannins. Will keep for a few more years yet. — 9 years ago

Erik Helms

Sommelier/Wine & Beer Buyer Whole Foods Oakland

9.3

Blackberry jam, boysenberry, black currant, cassis, black olives, black tea, vanilla... just so dark and brooding. Very rich, ripe, and lengthy. 10 years old and still going strong! Really solid bottle. — 9 years ago

Bryan Vanderkruk

9.3

Fantastic. Dried fruit, oak, spice, rich bodied. Damn. This is fantastic. — 7 months ago

with Corrie

Bryan Vanderkruk

9.3

Drank for 2024 anniversary alongside 2015. Very dry still, could have aged longer still. Nice fruit, cherry, berries. Very tasty. Might grab another. — 2 years ago

with Corrie

Brendan Devine

9.2

Whoa! This was a surprise. Tart apple, Brie cheese. Slightly effervescent. In that ABv sweet spot as well. Drink with impunity. — 5 years ago

Jodi M

9.2

Gorgeous Barossa shiraz. Not too heavy, very drinkable. — 7 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.1

So this ChMont doesn't hold the line with the prior cab. It's solid, as always, but lacks complexity, depth, and frankly even body. This is medium. A nice smoked wood note makes its somewhat different. But otherwise, it feels underripe, and thin. It's worth laying down for a while (ask @Shay A how long) to look for you improvement. I really wanted to press to 9.2 here but couldn't.

91+ points — 7 years ago

Bryan Vanderkruk

9.0

Dry, oaky, lots of dark fruit, cherries, chocolate, delicious. Pairs great with smoked meat and duck confit. — 9 years ago

with Corrie

Lewis Chester

9.4

NV Sparkling Shiraz. Basket press. Dark purple hue. Wow - amazing nose. Black plums, sweet spice, mulberries, leather, and hints of earthy manure. Fabulous. On the palate, off dry, high acidity, deep concentration of flavours, medium plus body and medium alcohol. Great depth on the long lingering finish. A revelation. Clearly the best sparkling Aussie wine I have tried, never mind sparkling red wine. Awesome. 94 points. — 9 years ago

Ray Vanderhoff

9.0

Interesting “Vin de France” that is the brainchild of the great Louis Barruol. Primarily made with Grenache that is a blending of several vintages, all vinified in concrete tanks. This one was bottled in 2019. Deep ruby/garnet/purple color. Aromas of ripe red berry fruit, dried purple flowers and dusty earth. Flavors of strawberries, red and black cherries, blackberries, red and black licorice and baking spices. Touch of black pepper spice on the medium-plus and slightly earthy/musty/peaty finish. Medium-plus acidity. Light and well integrated tannins. Pleasant texture and purity. Interesting concept that has led to an interesting wine. Excellent QPR. — 9 months ago

Dennis Hogenkamp

9.3

12.6% ABV
Blend:
45% Twin Hills (So.Sebastopol)
5% Balinard Vineyard (Occidental)
23% declassified Hirsch, Mays Canyon, The Pivot
The Haven,& Thieriot Vineyards.
28% press wines of same vineyards
Light bodied, medium color, cherry — 4 years ago

Jason Troendle

9.4

Sweet and not too strong — 6 years ago

with Mandy

Ceenic

9.0

Super smooth — 7 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.4

Beautiful, dark red, perfume fruits. Black currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, boysenberries, lots of blue fruits, expresso, anise, leather, some graphite, sweet dark moist soils, medium intensity volcanic minerals, limestone with blue and dark red floral bouquet.

The body is full. The tannins are round and nicely soften. The structure, length, tension and balance have hit harmony with plenty of life left ahead. Dark currants, blackberries, dark cherries, black plum, black raspberries, boysenberries, loads of blue fruits, expresso roast, anise, dark chocolate, a little caramel, leather, some graphite, leather, dry tobacco, touch of dry herbs, sweet dark moist soils, medium intensity volcanic minerals, limestone and blue and dark red floral bouquet. The acidity is round and beautiful. The finish is long, very well balanced, elegant, polished and lasts minutes.

Photos of; The barn used for winemaking and to host tastings. The first harvested Cabernet grapes of the season, an old school basket press that decorates their grounds, Estate vines and a giant fan to dry the vines if needed amongst the hilltop mountains that surround the Estate. — 8 years ago

Nicole

8.9

I snuck aboard the space station and made my way to the holding cell where I was told the princess was being held. Upon breaking down the door, I was confronted by a short person in a diaper and odd headdress who said "I'm sorry, but the princess is in another death star".

About that time all the alarms in the space station started going off.

After some brief firefights I found myself cornered, my only escape to done down a shoot into a garbage compactor. So I did. Once in the trash compactor I met a friendly monster called a Dianoga. We shared a lovely bottle of Slow Press while the walls of the compactor slowly closed in on us.

Fortunately for me, I'm the hero of this tale and, as such, made a timely escape, rescued the princess (eventually), and managed to do it all without realizing I had spilled wine on myself. — 9 years ago