Peter Coulthard

9.2

Waitrose. Is a very B&B wine. Rich and fruity with elements of smooth buttery undertones. For a Cab Sav a bit different but I enjoyed this - was a pleasant glass with a meal. — 7 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.4

No formal notes . This is more lemon yellow . Not showing much perlage . Spiced ginger bread , slightly meaty notes . With some orange rind , and brioche , dried mushroom notes . This is creamy and rich on the palate , lovely spiced yellow fruits orange peel, and brioche . Long and complete , perfect now and over the next 5 or so years. At Vinous Icons NY , Pier 60 , Feb 2025 — 2 months ago

Hiroshi Tominaga

9.0

Buttery with some sweetness. Very good. Bought at TAC for ¥4,000. — 6 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.2

Been awhile since I’ve had this one. Always consistently good.

Beautiful mousse, bruised red apple & Bosc pear, underripe pineapple flesh, blood orange, quince, nougat, hints of white peach, white spice-ginger, whipped cream, yeasty bread dough, sea spray, speckled chalk bits, grey volcanics, limestone, withering yellow lilies/flowers, crisp acidity, well tensioned-structured, well balanced and elegant finish that last two-minutes.

@BalancesRestaurant - Lucerne. — 14 days ago

Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Quite young looking lemon , just a hint of gold . very fine bubbles , that dissipate quiet quickly in a white wine glass . Lots of roasted nuts , toasted bread , caramel , and a oyster shell , caramelised lemon peel , saffron , lemongrass and a hint of curry . On the palate this has more of the caramel notes , with saffron , some lemon, mineral a quite tight , slightly astringent acidity and mineral finish. Not overly intense but quite good length , with mineral , oyster shell , toasty , brioche finish . This is fully mature and is at peak in magnum , drink now and over the next 5 -10 years . Disgorged March 2020 — 4 months ago

"Odedi"

9.1

#AgedWineTuesday

Light yellow in color.

Strong nose of apples, yeast, spices, bread, minerals and sea salt.

Medium plus in body with medium plus acidity, and medium plus sized bubbles.

Dry on the palate with citrus, apples, pears, light earth, yeast, vegetables, spices and bitter herbs.

Nice finish with limes and almonds.

This 13 year old Vintage Champagne feels young and needs 5 years in the bottle to mature properly.

Rich and extracted with lots of bread notes. Elegant and robust.

Showing nice complexity, and will continue to age nicely in the next 10 years.

Paired beautifully with fresh oysters.

A blend of 60% Pinot Noir and 40% Chardonnay. Disgorged in 2020.

12% alcohol by volume.

91 points.

$120. — 7 months ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

Not as bad as I remember it. It’s been a while though.

Slightly, bruised pear & red & green apple, lime zest, lemon pulp, some ginger white spice w/ a touch of heat, limestone mixed in volcanic minerals, crisp chalkiness, sea spray, yeasty bread dough, yellow & white spring flowers, lively acidity and a balanced & nicely polished elegant finish that last 45 seconds and lands on volcanics.

Emirates SFO. — 20 days ago

Conrad Green

9.3

Rounded and plush. Hints of cherry, bread, stone. A little lacking in vivacity in the mid palate. Rounded. — 3 months ago

Jane Folske

8.9

Jane had with Dad and Nancy. Solid, good, drinkable, meets expectations for a Pinot, but not magical. — 5 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. — 7 months ago