Chris MacLean

9.2

Dependably pretty — 2 months ago

with Sarah

Ana Bumgardner

8.9

2023 vintage at Narcoossees’s with bucatini pasta and scallops. Really nice buttery wine. — 3 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 — 6 months ago

Andrew Belzer

9.2

Raspberry, dried rose petals, strawberry seed, chalk, rich with great acid. Large bubbles. — 8 months ago

Kenneth

9.1

Pale ruby, med body, med finish, full of raspberry, strawberry, high acidity, 14% alcohol, balance, little oak, vanilla, still fresh, med complexity, $285 hkd CP 8.5 — 10 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

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. — 3 months ago

romo

9.2

Even better than the real thing. — 5 months ago

Jose Lorenzo

9.6

Just spectacular!! — 7 months ago

Lauren Young

8.9

At first a little too fruity but then mellowed out — 8 months ago

Bob Chlopak

9.3

Tasted the young 2020 and loved it. Full body but nice fruit forward. Aging only 20% of volume in oak gives wine perfect amount of oakiness. Putting these babies away for several years and will be looking forward to them. Was a family favorite. — 10 months ago

Robert B

9.0

There isn’t a better Cote du Rhone for the price. — 2 years 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. — 3 months ago

with Brooke

Stephen Fitzpatrick

9.0

Heavy plum and blackberry currant on the nose, smooth and robust/full bodied finish. Excellent Napa Cab. — 3 months ago

Jason Bowman

9.2

Good, no complaints — 5 months ago

Christian Fischer

9.1

Nice floral acidity. Very pleasant to drink right now — 5 months ago

with Jonathan

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. — 7 months ago

Timothy Eustis

Wine Director, Red Lion Inn

8.9

Showing quite nicely. 2004. Rich caramel honeysuckle. Not premoxed. — a year ago

Rebecca Graham

9.0

Delicious. About $25 from Liner & Elsen — 2 years ago