Paul Bara Grand Millésime / 2018 / 1.5L

Description:

The Paul Bara Grand Millésime 2018 is a vintage Grand Cru Champagne from Bouzy, built on 90% pinot noir with 10% chardonnay and carrying the depth and grip that come with a declared year. Presented in magnum, it is a Champagne of ripe red-fruited weight rather than lightness, with the drive of a house that blocks malolactic fermentation to keep its acidity intact.

Aromas run to poached white peach, blood orange and red apple skin, with brioche, toasted almond and a chalky, faintly smoky edge underneath. The palate follows with real flesh — griotte cherry and quince paste — while a fine, persistent bead keeps everything buoyant.

Structure comes from Bouzy's pinot noir: broad through the middle, then drawn tight by citrus acidity that has not been softened by malolactic. Texture is creamy without being heavy, and the finish is long, dry and mineral, leaving a savoury saline print rather than sweetness.

Pour it at the table, not just before it. Roast chicken with tarragon, veal, duck breast, mushroom risotto or a well-aged comté all suit, and the wine has enough grip for a rare steak if you feel like proving the point.

Drinking beautifully from 2025, with the magnum format ageing more slowly than a standard bottle — expect this 2018 to reward cellaring through to 2038 and beyond, gaining nutty, toasty complexity along the way.