Ericsson

9.2

Great cellar find. Aged Syrah from Cote Rotie… Opulent Syrah. — 3 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. — 5 months ago

romo

9.2

Earthy and tense with dried leaves and old board game. Life. — 6 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. — 9 months 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% — 3 years ago

Alexander Vadas

9.5

Brimming with tension and depth. Crystalline and zest freshness. — 5 years ago

with Michael

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. — 3 months ago

Jay Kline

9.5

Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of several hours and it needed it. The 2017 Bienvenue Bâtard-Montrachet pours a straw color with medium viscosity. On the nose, this was initially quite shy but after a couple of hours, the nose exploded into a veritable cornucopia: apples, pineapple, passion fruit, stone fruit, lemon curd, honeysuckle, flint, gentle warm spices and a mix of limestone minerals and gravelly earth. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long with a chalky texture. A banger. Drink now with patience; better after 2027 and through 2042. — 6 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. — 7 months ago

Christian Fischer

9.1

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

Somm David T

Independent Sommelier/Wine Educator

9.1

A little different from the Rosés I drink but pleasant. Soft on the palate with micro oxygenation. Blood orange, we’ll cook rhubarb, poached strawberries, orange & tangerine citrus blend, some white citrus, extremely soft powdery chalkiness, limestone marl, baguette crust, crush rocks, light red & pink florals ( roses), nice acid, well balanced finished fruit & earth. 80% Pinot 20% Chardonnay @ Compline Tasting Bar — 3 years ago

Charles York

9.1

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

Bill Morgan

9.4

Big bold beautiful. Beckstoffer Crane wines are always excellent — 3 months ago

Vasudev Vadlamudi

8.9

Better on the second day — 5 months ago

Kelley Raymond

8.9

It was fine - decently crowd pleasing — 6 months ago

Karen Lowenstein

9.3

This was rich and delicious especially with a tasty steak kabob. — 7 months ago

Brad Jensen

9.2

Beautiful way to start our celebration for Tiva’s birthday! — 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. — 4 years ago

Michael Phillips

9.2

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