Peter van den Besselaar

9.1

Vintage 2010 | gave it two hours in decanter, a barnyard stinky in smell (not everyone appreciates this, I do), cedar very present, hints of spices and a good concentration. When accompanied with food it is ready to drink now. Fine right bank wine, neighbour of Cheval Blanc (I take a special interest in neighbours of the priceless top domaines). — 3 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.7

2022 vintage. 82% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Petit Verdot. A legend in the making. I love these wines. Couvent des Jacobins has never given in to the fashion of the day, always crafting classic, profound, elegant and long-lived wines. The 2022 might well be the finest ever! Attractive nose with red and black fruit and subtle violet. Succulent,layered fruit, with impeccable purity, silky tannins, freshness and impressive length. This is Premier Grand Cru level! Enjoy over the next 40 years. Abv. 14,5%. — 4 months ago

romo

9.2

Even better than the real thing. — 6 months ago

Jack Krawczyk

9.2

smacks of blackberry — 6 months ago

Jose Lorenzo

9.6

Just spectacular!! — 7 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

Nice drinking Bordeaux that is ready showing berry, cassis fruit, savory spice with notes of underbrush, graphite & tobacco — 8 months ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Vintage 2016 | well balanced, spicy, warm, beautiful integrated vanilla — 9 months ago

Kara Stockman

9.5

Dry and smooth. Went very well with steak. — 3 years ago

James Forsyth

9.0

Stewed fruit, cherries, leather and more leather and more leather. Very good if you like leather things. — 6 years ago

Yoon Ha

Master Sommelier/Wine Director Benu

9.1

Stems incorporating nicely with some brett. — 9 years 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. — 4 months ago

Tracy Hall

9.5

Initially Raspberry tart and Brett in a good way. Cork is amazing! Rich thick chewy mouthfeel. Fruit and wood still very prominent and well integrated. Surprised this has really held up well. — 5 months ago

Ron Siegel

9.3

This like most 11’s are starting to reach their sweet spot showing rich dark cherry, berry fruit with good spice & crushed rock. — 6 months ago

A. R.

8.9

Big and modern. Very extracted. — 6 months ago

Mark Eastom

9.0

Bought for a tasting, forgot to do the notes. Cassis, mint, cigar box, olive tapenade, nice acid. Threw some sediment, so needed to decant. Very nice. — 8 months ago

Andrew Belzer

9.2

Raspberry, dried rose petals, strawberry seed, chalk, rich with great acid. Large bubbles. — 9 months ago

Bosco

9.8

No lo oxigené mucho y delicioso . Al tiempo pierde cuerpo — 2 years ago

Patricia Schnitzer

9.4

Oct 23, 2020. Celebrating champagne day. This ones a winner! 70% Pinot noir, 30% Chardonnay. Tart green apple. So good! — 5 years ago

Femi Oyediran

9.5

Pretty awesome — 9 years ago

Paul Albright

9.5

1989 from a mag - super transparent - love this vineyard! — 10 years ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.7

Ultima cena de la paulee — 4 months ago

Jay Kline

9.6

The 1999 Clos de la Roche VV pours a slightly hazy ruby color with a transparent core; medium viscosity with no staining of the tears. On the nose, the wine is developing with gorgeous notes of ripe red and black fruits: raspberry, bruised strawberry, black cherry, dried red flowers, licorice, mushroom, sous bois, all spice. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and dripping with complexity. During the first couple hours, this was pretty locked up and willing to share its secrets. Towards the end of the night, this ended up being one of the wines what really started to pour it on. My favorite pairing with the boeuf Bourguignon. Drink now with some patience but better after 2029 and through 2049 with ease. — 4 months ago

MICHAEL COOPER DipWSET

Owner TomeVinos wine shops, WSET Level 3, Blogger www.spanishwinesandmore.com, blog.tomevinos.com

9.5

Meaty. Amazing nose intense aromas. — 6 months ago

Douglas Braun

9.2

This the 2015 Vintage - from Bouzy Grand Cru - seems so fresh pear/apple ,Brioche, toasted grain , great mousse — 6 months ago

Mike Evans

9.4

It needed air, but it filled out well with time in the glass to show quite a lot of class. — 7 months ago

Riccardo L.

9.0

Great vintage, great age on it, but still lost the day’s blind tasting against a Grenache 😢 — 8 months ago

Loren Gesinsky

9.8

Maybe I’m not objective because of such fond memories of smelling this in the tank and tasting its two predecessors en barrique with Hubert on our honeymoon. But I can’t imagine this being any better than it was last night on our 25th anniversary. — 9 months ago

Byron Hewett

9.3

2 different bottles of the same wine. One from an East Coast Importer and one from the West. The one from the East Coast Importer was more fresh and expressive. — 2 years ago

ADAM STROMFELD

9.4

Very soft nose and tight on the initial palate. Raw cherries and a touch of leather. Great balance. Opened up to to a red fruit compote with mushrooms?? Great lunch wine! — 7 years ago

with Frank

Patricia Schnitzer

9.0

Anniversary wine #2. Paris. Dec 2013 — 11 years ago