Robert Stackowiak

9.0

100 per cent Syrah. A very nice Crozes Hermitage that will provide a day to day solution for those of you who like Hermitage wines. May 2025. — 2 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. — 4 months ago

Hayley Sykes

9.1

A delicious birthday wine gifted by the lambertys — 5 months ago

with Kristi and Arika

Douglas Braun

9.2

This the 2015 Vintage - from Bouzy Grand Cru - seems so fresh pear/apple ,Brioche, toasted grain , great mousse — 7 months ago

Ron R

9.4

Nose presents baking spices and a touch of soft brown sugar. Palate is dense and layered, as usual for this producer (before the winery changed hands the first time around). Notes of coffee, tobacco and maple syrup come through on the mid palate. Nice tannin/acidity combination complete what is a classic BV presentation. Drink these within the 24 months. This winery has been on the slide ever since Ed Snyder and team departed. I tasted some of the 18’s and 19’s and they were a mere shadow of the previous product.
Fasano, Angra dos Reis (wifey’s b/day 😍). — 9 months ago

with Anne-marie

Lauren Young

8.9

At first a little too fruity but then mellowed out — 9 months ago

Ericsson

9.2

Mature Bordeaux. It is refined elegance. — 3 months ago

David White

9.2

Bordeaux Blend- Cabernet Sauvignon 70%, Cabernet Franc 15%, Merlot 15% 2018 was wet season and this impacted the normally bold style.
It is still full bodied - deep ruby red colour - but t’s a more lighter, elegant classic style, with blackcurmat red berry and cassis. So what is lost in power is replaced by a more refined and elegant wine.
— 3 months ago

Ana Bumgardner

8.9

2023 vintage at Narcoossees’s with bucatini pasta and scallops. Really nice buttery wine. — 4 months ago

Stephen Fitzpatrick

9.0

Heavy plum and blackberry currant on the nose, smooth and robust/full bodied finish. Excellent Napa Cab. — 4 months ago

romo

9.2

Even better than the real thing. — 6 months ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.6

2014 vintage. Excellent fill and cork. Not decanted. Tasted after 1.25 hours open. The best red I’ve ever tasted from Paul Hobbs (and have had approx 125 samples over the years-including the high-end bleep). In a really admirable place currently between integration and balance, fruit and tannins. Will it improve? Doubtful. Can it hold steady for a spell? Definitely. Not exactly the biggest fan of what consists of To Kalon/Tokalon juice/interpretation these days vs the 60’s/70’s/80’s/earlyish 90’s but this was phenomenal. Medium body with respectable sed. A mullet wine…all business up front with a party on the back palate. Color me surprised and impressed. 11.8.24. — 8 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

David M Thompson II

9.3

Terrific!! Dark fruit, even tannins, smooth lingering taste — 3 months ago

Christian Fischer

9.4

I was going through my La Chapelle section today and my eyes got stuck on this 1999 - bottle looked absolutely pristine and I decided it was a perfect age to drink. Cork was in great condition and the wine was powerful and youthful with no signs of oxidation. Could have kept the bottle for a few more years, but it was probably perfect today. All the complex leathery earthy goodness you expect from this wine was there. — 3 months ago

Paul J

9.4

Bright gold color. Apple, minerals, stone fruit, and camomile on the nose. Same on the palate. Very rich, deep wine. Drinking well now. — 4 months ago

with Brooke

Jason Bowman

9.2

Good, no complaints — 6 months ago

Christian Fischer

9.1

Nice floral acidity. Very pleasant to drink right now — 6 months ago

with Jonathan

Jose Lorenzo

9.6

Just spectacular!! — 7 months ago

Andrew Belzer

9.2

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