Good Life Cider

Paul Bara

Grand Millésime Brut Grand Cru Champagne Blend 2018

Somm David T
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.
— 3 months ago

Shay, Scott@Mister and 13 others liked this

Simple Life

California Pinot Noir 2019

Very smooth flavorful Pinot noir. Good vanilla notes. Great inexpensive table wine. — 3 years ago

Milissa liked this

Leeuwin Estate

Art Series Margaret River Cabernet Sauvignon 2014

2014 vintage. Good combo of fruity and savory. Red currant, black cherry, sage, white pepper, tree bark, sandalwood. Lots of life left. — 4 years ago

Daniel P., Lyle and 1 other liked this

Eric Bordelet

Poiré Authentique Pear Cider

Every New Years I try to drink and/or to gift. Elegant, near bone dry pear goodness in its most articulate essence. Truly life affirming. — 5 months ago

Peter, Bob and 5 others liked this
Lyle Fass

Lyle Fass Influencer Badge Premium Badge

Did you get any of the swiss apple cider I sold from Riehen? Blows this away and I was a huge fan of Bordelet.
Peter Sultan

Peter Sultan Influencer Badge

No! Why do you deprive me so?😉@Lyle Fass
Erik Longabardi

Erik Longabardi

@Peter Sultan Glad y’all tasting good cider

Château Lynch-Bages

Grand Cru Classé Pauillac Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 2016

Okay. Again the same dilemma. If a wine does not meet expectation is it basically bad (for me)? 🤔 because in life everything is relative, right? Any thoughts on puzzling matter??The wine was well balanced, dark red fruit flavors, polished, smooth tannins, good intensity and concentration, but limited length and lacking any meaningful complexity… Eight year old left bank Bordeaux. A fourth or fifth growth winery, maybe not, can’t remember for sure. Do remember what I paid though, $120. Definitely too much for what we experienced this evening…. as to our expectations. — 9 months ago

Tammy de Weerd
with Tammy
Jan, Andrew and 13 others liked this
Dawn E.

Dawn E.

@Jan de Weerd from reviews not personal experience. Most let this wine age twenty plus years?

Dominus Estate

Dominus Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend 1992

Dark tawny and opaque, darker than the 82 Gruaud Larose next to it. Similar complex nose with notes of black cherry and tobacco, old cedar cabinet, black earth and some dark fruit. Powerful in the mouth, and with 5+ hours of air, this was singing. In a good drinking window, but this easily has 10+ years of life ahead of it. Paired with the 82 GL, it was interesting to find how much these wines resemble each other. — 5 years ago

Shay, Jan and 20 others liked this

Louis Roederer

Cristal Brut Champagne Chardonnay Pinot Noir Blend 2015

Quite light lemon yellow , very persistent , fine bubbles . Quite taut and strict on the nose , chalk dust , white flowers , honey suckle and elderflower , lemon peel , touch oyster shell and a touch of fresh baked bread . On the palate really good volume and density , lively acidity . Lots of citrus with good mineral , oyster shell notes . Long and mineral , saline, tinged finish , hint of toasty brioche on the end . This is really quite young and shows tighter and more mineral than the first bottle we had . Would leave this a few years and will have a long life , better in 10 -15 years and last well a further 10 or so . Great potential — 5 months ago

Somm, Jan and 12 others liked this

Domaine Saint Préfert

Réserve Auguste Favier Châteauneuf-du-Pape Red Rhone Blend 2017

For CdP this was quite good. Fair amount of fruit and brightness. There’s still plenty of life still. — 8 months ago

Ira, Neil and 1 other liked this

Eric Bordelet

Poiré Granit 2019

I think this is now my favorite cider ever. So f-Ing good. Every time I drink this, it seems to be better than the last. Maybe this is my Pliny the elder of cider! — 3 years ago

Josh liked this

Krug

Brut Champagne Blend 2002

Somm David T
9.7

Now, this is a Champagne worthy of my last year in my current decade.

It’s not inexpensive but, there’s a reason for that.

From the moment I put my nose to the glass, I got a a sense of warm, inviting delicacy. There is; cream, soft ginger, fall green apples, mango, guava, slightly sour lemons, lime zest/candy, perfectly, ripe pineapple, white peach, green melons, lightly bruised pear, marmalade jam, as soft as white spice can be, grey volcanics, good chalkiness, vanillin, sea spray, lovely, melted caramel notes, yeast, bread dough to baguette crust, non funky cheese rind, toast, silvered almonds to nut skin with white & lilies, jasmine and spring flowers.

The palate enters like Tango dancers & cross-fades into ballet. Perfect richness, mousse & micro-oxygenation with gentle, absolute, perfect acidity. The minerality is fine, delicate & straight up in my wheelhouse. Cream, understated, melted butter, ginger, fall, Granny Smith apples, mango, guava, slightly sour lemons, lime zest/ peel/candy, perfectly, ripe pineapple, white peach, peach, tangerine, green melons, lightly bruised pear, some apple cider, marmalade jam, honeysuckle, herbaceousiness, a shade of mint, as soft as white spice can be, delicate, grey volcanics with limestone, good chalkiness, vanillin, sea spray, lovely, melted caramel notes, yeast, bread dough to baguette crust, non funky cheese rind, toast, silvered almonds to nut skin with, orange blossoms, white & lilies, jasmine and spring flowers. The long, amazing, well balanced finish is simply Mozart.

The 02 is a blend of 39% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay & 21% Pinot Meunier. This bottle spent at least 12 years in Krug's cellars, receiving its cork in autumn 2014.

Photos of; the House of Krug, their very tall & countless stainless steel tanks they hold still wine(s), fermenting or library bottles in their caves & Krug Clos du Mesnil Vineyard.
— 5 years ago

Eric, Vanessa and 39 others liked this
Ryan Vento

Ryan Vento

Very nice.
Sofia Jalilie

Sofia Jalilie

Lovely to share this Champagne with you as we celebrate your birthday
🥂🎂💕