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. — 9 months ago

Michael Brown

9.0

Earthy with notes of herbs and stone. — 4 years ago

Stacy S

9.4

Super tasty New Year’s Bubbles — 5 years ago

with Leslie

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

Greg Helmer

8.9

Very light floral aroma followed with crisp citrus and grassy flavors. Slightly Marlboro New Zealand flavors but not so unsettling. — 7 years ago

Peter Martin

9.3

Integrated red fruit with racy backend. — 8 years ago

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.0

This is a very good & fun Cremant. Perfect for summer and only around 8 degrees alcohol. — 10 years ago

Marc Stubblefield

Wine Sales at Vino Carta and Kogod Wine Merchant

8.9

On the brighter red, crunchier side of CdP. Tasty, but maybe missing some complexity and polish. Probably more interesting in a few years. — 10 years ago

Andrew Davidoff

9.4

This was the 2011 PH Beckstoffer Tokalon. Superbly constructed. Layers of fruit and subtle tannins. Approachable but deep and distinct. I can't wait for the opportunity to taste this again. Highly recommended purebred California Cab. — 11 years ago

Christian Fischer

9.1

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

Rebecca Graham

9.0

Delicious. About $25 from Liner & Elsen — 3 years ago

Charles York

9.1

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

Raul Puga

9.4

Just freaking delicious — 5 years ago

Nate Bowser

8.9

Picked this up a few months ago from the state store when I saw Louis Dressner. Seems different from the only other fleurie I’ve had. Lots of earth juice with raspberry. — 5 years ago

Heath Latham

9.4

Truly enjoyed this Pinot — 6 years ago

Joshua Wiedergänger

9.4

Really nice, dry pruned fruit, slate, high iron and mineral. Great lingering texture on mid to front palate — 8 years ago

Michael Seely

9.0

Held up well. — 9 years ago

with Joe

Robert Knowles

9.5

In a great place, really delicious right now. — 10 years ago

Peter van den Besselaar

9.0

Minerals. Like! — 11 years ago

Lori Sullivan

8.9

Raspberry, ripe strawberry, black cherry and leather. Awesome with barbecue. — 11 years 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

Caroline F

9.0

Good but not as good at the Châteauneuf du Pape — 3 years ago

Willie Carter

9.0

Light shimmering gold in the glass with a plethora of small, profuse bubbles. Primarily Pinot Noir and that’s clearly evident on the nose. Peaches and plums with a strong infusion of dried strawberries and red cherries. Apples aplenty with cinnamon rolls and toasted nuts.

One of the more esteemed growers, Paul Bara produces nothing but exemplary champagnes including this entry level bottle. Unmistakably Bouzy, their wines always represent the terroir and terrain so very clearly. 80/20 PN/CH with a dosage of 7 g/l and disgorged in September of 2020. The kicker here is the 50% of reserve wines they use for the final blend. Just astonishing and makes a huge difference.

The acidity here is tight with a bit of zip but mellows out over time given air. Nice harmony and balance, as usual. Apples and cherries dominant on the tongue. Creaminess abounds with medium spice and hazelnut. Amongst entry level grower champagnes, there just aren’t many better than this. Always an instant buy. — 4 years ago

Michael Phillips

9.2

Nice fruit and balance. Pleasant but undistinguished wine. — 5 years ago

Eric W Brown

9.0

Delish as usual — 6 years ago

Raun Kupiec

9.2

Smoky Syrah with fine tannins and restrained fruit. Very refined but very young. Long finish. — 8 years ago

with Barbara

Emily Anderson

9.1

#bojo fresh fruity yum — 8 years ago

Roastmaster General

8.9

Strawberry fields 4evah. Jean Paul Brun ain't nothing 2 fuck with — 10 years ago

Ron Siegel

8.9

Earth, sweet strawberry, floral, leather, clove, acid keeps it fresh tasting, light in texture. I would drink up — 11 years ago

Nicole Daniel

9.5

2012 vintage. Wonderful. — 11 years ago