Andrew Cullimore

9.3

Medium lemon yellow fine , persistent perlage . Quite rich and ripe on the nose with some roasted nuts , lemon peel , some camomile , still quite restrained and a little closed. On the palate again quite full and rich , ripe lemon fruit , orange rind , roasted nuts and a creamy mouthfeel , certainly enough acidity to balance but on the richer side . Good length and lightly toasty finish . This is good now but will probably improve over the next few years and last well a further 5-10 . — 11 days ago

Bob McDonald

9.5

Another wine from the Burgundy dinner in Sydney 6 weeks ago. I have been figuring out how to get photos from my camera roll to Delectable. It is not always straightforward. Notes to come later. We had 2 vintages of La Grande Rue. This is the 2012. I found my notes. Not a big fruit influence from this cooler year. Initially a fair bit of oak and a fair bit of whole bunch. Medium weight at best. Meadows tells us that the wines ageing potential most closely mirrors that of Romanee Saint Vivant. After La Romanee, La Grande Rue is the smallest of the Vosne Grand Crus. — 8 months ago

Matt Austin

Owner/Winemaker, Grosgrain Vineyards, Walla Walla, WA

9.7

Amazing for its level, though still more expensive than most Grand Crus. — 2 years ago

Sarah Oettel

9.1

Added at Caves Taittinger 5 days ago. — 2 months ago

Stefan Dolhain

9.0

2022 vintage. Just another good, well-balanced Haut-Médoc in this excellent vintage.Good fruit, ripe tannin, uncomplicated pleasure. Ready to go, but will keep also. Incredibly cheap too, at least over here. Abv. 14%. — 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. — a year ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.5

I’ve said it before…for Dauvissat, I consistently find Forest to drink pretty much just as well as the Grand Crus, especially after proper aeration. 2020 is a fabulous rendition, open and giving and adding serious weight with some time in the decanter. Pure, textured and expansive with electric acids and layered Chablisen minerality. As it is often with these wines, last glass was the best. — 4 months ago

Alvaro Bustillos

9.4

Rod/nobumex — 7 months ago

Gilbert Van Hassel

9.5

On par with many of the burgundy grand crus — 2 years ago

Scott@Mister A’s-San Diego

9.5

2022 vintage. @ Mister A’s Restaurant, San Diego-Les Caves de St. Charles CDP dinner. 100% Roussanne-driven. Initial mineral indication of interest, broad mid-palate transition, yang-styled, white grape “fat” on the judiciously-honeyed finish. Wowzers. Grab you some if you can find it. 95 cases produced. Good luck with that. 11.16.23. — 3 years ago