Jay Kline

9.3

Presented double-blind at Tasting Group. The wine pours a deep ruby/purple color with a near opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and some rim variation along with signs of sediment. On the nose, the wine is vinous with powerful notes of ripe and slightly dried black and red brambles, red and purple flowers, maybe some rotundone, leather, stony earth and a mix of cool spices and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannin and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and the ABV is medium+ to high.

Initial conclusions: this could be a GSM blend, a Bordeaux blend, or a Tempranillo (and blends) from France, the United States or Spain. Despite the powerful fruit, I felt that the wine leaned more towards its structure and non-fruits so I wanted this to be in the geography formerly known as the Old World. I also felt the generosity of the fruit and elevated ABV was pushing me towards a Southern Rhône GSM. Furthermore, I thought this saw a generous use of new oak. Final conclusion: this is a GSM blend from France, Southern Rhône, Châteauneuf-du-Pape, from a modern producer, 2007. Close!! This is another really great showing of “Cuvée La Côte Ronde”. Drink now through 2035. — 5 months ago

David White

9.4

See earlier note, this is a great Bordeaux blend- 75% Cab Sauvignon , 14% Cab Franc and 11% Merlot.
A deep ruby colour with nice berry fruit nose and good acidity and long finish.
Excellent wine — 8 months ago

James Everhart

9.3

Did not expect a basic chablis to be so full-bodied yet balanced. It was a perfect match for roasted chicken with a tarragon mustard slurry. Purchase for $25 in March 2022. — 10 months ago

Pooneet K

9.0

Forgot to take detailed notes, but this was nice. Not really any carbonic / natural / “new agey”notes, just a solid classically made gamay. Definitely has some structure, opened 4 hours before serving which was good. Didn’t sing on any one dimension of fruit / earth / acid / length / texture but was nice overall. — a year ago

Brad Jensen

9.2

Beautiful way to start our celebration for Tiva’s birthday! — 2 years ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.4

2013 vintage. The second wine of La Chapelle, that is now named " Maison Bleue", but an excellent wine in its own right. At 9 years old this is absolutely gorgeous with an expressive nose of blackberries, wild flowers, pepper and leather, enhanced by a subtle smokiness. In the mouth it combines power with elegance, with pure fruit, subtle spices, silky tannins and great length. Terrific value if the mythical La Chappelle doesn't fit your budget. Abv. 13,5% — 4 years ago

James Everhart

9.0

Good northern rhone. 2015 vintage mature in 2025. $35. — 5 months ago

Paul J

9.5

1hr decant. Dark red color. Very similar to previous notes/vintages. Dark cherries, cedar, caramel etc. Medium depth and finish. — 8 months ago

with Brooke

Ericsson

9.2

Great cellar find. Aged Syrah from Cote Rotie… Opulent Syrah. — 8 months ago

Kelley Raymond

8.9

It was fine - decently crowd pleasing — a year ago

Karen Lowenstein

9.3

This was rich and delicious especially with a tasty steak kabob. — a year ago

Christian Fischer

9.1

Very young. Still somewhat unstructured and tannins that need to mellow. But good potential. — 2 years ago

Loren Gesinsky

9.3

Secondary notes like black tea are becoming more pronounced, which I enjoy. It’s a different wine than when we first tried it soon after release at the winery. Both are really impressive. — 3 years ago

Michael Brown

9.0

Earthy with notes of herbs and stone. — 5 years ago

Roman Ochocki

9.0

Rough - in a good way. Very dry, short finish. A pepper, clove, dark chocolate and mature fruit. — 6 months ago

Doug Powers

9.4

This aged Beaujolais is just gorgeous, crushed red berries, minerals, floral, great acidity, long, lingering finish, could easily evolve another 5 years in a cold cellar, truly an outstanding wine from a great Beaujolais vintage!! — 8 months ago

with Jim

Lyn Farmer

9.6

Sensational Champagne with pale gold color and deep autolytic flavors. Crisp ripe apple and lemon, chalky minerality, subtle raspberry, biscuit, brioche, Acacia, hawthorn, and hazelnut with an achingly long finish showing chalk, flint, honey and biscuit. A dazzling match with pan-seared scallops. — 8 months ago

romo

9.2

Earthy and tense with dried leaves and old board game. Life. — a year 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

Charles York

9.1

Honeysuckle. White flower. Citrus notes. Nicely made. — 4 years ago