Pinotman /// Andreas

9.1

I don‘t know. This has so much oak it overpowers everything. Might need another 10 years to be approachable. Cigar box, black berries. Deep, big and profound. I am not sure I would spend 70$ on this. It needs much much more time. Probably needs to be open for 2 days. Out of the machine at the Wine House in LA. — 2 months ago

Sipping Fine Wine

9.2

Mid 20th century fashionable country resort, popular with Hollywood due to 1892 stone Manor House & historic gardens. Blend of Cab Sauv, Merlot, Malbec, rest other Rhone varieties, aged 20 months in 37% new French oak. Dark Ruby, aromas of ripe berry fruits, herbs & spice. On the palate flavors of cherry and black currant with vanilla oak and earthy notes. Well balanced, fine tannins long finish ending with fruit, espresso notes and sweet spice! Nice now and will drink well over next decade. — 10 months ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

The first couple times I tried 08 I was definitely too quick to judge. It needs a ton of air, and it’s different from the rich, oxidative, nutty house style of the past, particularly the warm and ultra forward 2006, the previous release. 2008 is indeed young, tightly wound with a pulsating core of energy.

The first glass offers very little. Subdued, austere and youthfully reserved. But ensuing pours eventually unleash its core of powerful clean orchard fruit, coffee bean and grilled nuts. On the palate it continues to become so much more textural with crazy gains in weight, depth and fruit intensity as the night goes on. It really fills the mouth, saturating the palate with a satin-like texture, ripping citrusy acids and saline laced minerals that follow deep into its finish. Enjoyable now with enough air (needs 2 hours), but no doubt one to hold. To live forever. — 3 years ago

Vanessa

9.3

This wine is opulent & mouth-filling, with viscous tearing…

It wears a deep lemon robe & gives effortlessly expressive aromas & flavors of perfectly ripe peach, nectarine, papaya, grilled mango, honeydew, apple blossom, lemon curd, creme brûlée, bergamot, lemongrass, white tea, apricot confiture on buttered toast, cream, nougat, almondine, flint, struck match, & wet stones.

On the palate it’s dry & full-bodied with high alcohol (15.1 % ABV! 👀) and concentrated aromas & flavors & bright acidity to keep it in balance.

It’s positively delicious with a persistent finish & lingering presence. — 6 months ago

with Deked1

Ian Hamel

9.2

2024/1. I always love this wine and this bottle of the 2020 was a bit more in keeping with my impression of the house style than the last - savory, tangy red fruit, orange peel and earth, though still particularly rich and layered in this iteration — 2 years ago

Sam Wood

9.0

Pretty dark in the glass-bramble, wild grass and raspberry, wet mahogany beach house outdoor shower. — 3 years ago

Peter Sultan

9.0

My ‘ house’ wine shared w friends & paired with baked Cod & Roquefort sauce, roasted vegetables, & barley. Pretty in color & on the palate: rusted rose hips, some distant forest floor. Medium plus acidity but enough to cut through the Roquefort sauce, & low enough tannins to not spar with the cod. — 4 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. — 10 months ago

Laura Berry

9.0

Had in CA restaurant with Jenny — 3 years ago

Dylan Thomas

9.1

Class is in session — 4 years ago