Paul Bara
Paul Bara Grand Rosé Grand Cru NV – 96 Decanter | 93 James Suckling
Paul Bara Grand Rosé Grand Cru NV – 96 Decanter | 93 James Suckling
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96 POINTS DECANTER! 94 POINTS TYSON STELZER! 93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING! 100% BOUZY GRAND CRU! 80% PINOT NOIR! 12% BOUZY ROUGE! THE EXTRAORDINARY PAUL BARA GRAND ROSÉ – ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST EXCITING GROWER ROSÉS FOR JUST $160!
96 Points – Decanter | 94 Points – Tyson Stelzer | 93 Points – JamesSuckling.com
Paul Bara Grand Rosé Brut Grand Cru NV – Champagne, France
RRP $160 per bottle
NOW THIS IS SERIOUS GRAND CRU ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE!
There are Rosé Champagnes made to look pretty in a glass.
And then there are Rosé Champagnes made from extraordinary Pinot Noir vineyards that deliver genuine depth, complexity and character.
PAUL BARA GRAND ROSÉ BELONGS FIRMLY IN THE SECOND CATEGORY!
This is Champagne with pedigree.
From one of Champagne's most celebrated grower producers.
Made entirely from fruit grown in one of the greatest Pinot Noir villages in the world.
BOUZY GRAND CRU!
And the details are particularly impressive.
96 POINTS DECANTER!
94 POINTS TYSON STELZER!
93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!
100% BOUZY GRAND CRU!
80% PINOT NOIR!
20% CHARDONNAY!
12% STILL RED WINE FROM BOUZY!
UP TO 50% RESERVE WINES IN DOCUMENTED RELEASES!
THREE TO FOUR YEARS OF LEES AGEING IN DOCUMENTED RELEASES!
JUST $160 A BOTTLE!
Think wild strawberries.
Fresh raspberries.
Red cherries.
Cranberries.
Pink grapefruit.
Dried rose petals.
Warm brioche.
And a wonderfully long, chalky finish.
This is a Champagne with beautiful fruit concentration.
Magnificent texture.
Fine, persistent bubbles.
And the sort of mineral precision that separates great Grand Cru Champagne from the ordinary.
THE POWER OF BOUZY PINOT NOIR – TRANSFORMED INTO ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S MOST COMPELLING GROWER ROSÉS!
Champagne Paul Bara – A Historic Family Estate in Bouzy
The story of Champagne Paul Bara is one of family, vineyards and an extraordinary commitment to Pinot Noir.
The Bara family's history in Bouzy dates back to 1833.
For generations, the family has worked the vineyards of this celebrated Grand Cru village on the Montagne de Reims.
And Bouzy is no ordinary Champagne village.
It is one of the great sources of Pinot Noir in the entire Champagne region.
A place where the combination of favourable vineyard exposures and chalk-rich soils produces wines of exceptional depth.
Richness.
And structure.
The estate became particularly celebrated under Paul Bara, a passionate advocate for Bouzy and its winemaking heritage.
Today, Chantale Bara continues the family's tradition.
The estate farms approximately 11 hectares of vineyards, with Pinot Noir occupying the majority of the plantings.
The philosophy remains firmly focused on expressing the individuality of Bouzy.
Exceptional fruit.
Traditional winemaking.
Patient maturation.
And a remarkable commitment to quality.
A HISTORIC FAMILY-OWNED CHAMPAGNE ESTATE WITH ROOTS IN BOUZY DATING BACK TO 1833!
Bouzy Grand Cru – One of Champagne's Greatest Pinot Noir Terroirs
Now here's the first thing that makes this wine so exciting.
100% BOUZY GRAND CRU!
Every grape comes from one of Champagne's most celebrated Pinot Noir villages.
Bouzy is situated on the southern slopes of the Montagne de Reims.
Its vineyards benefit from favourable exposures that encourage excellent fruit ripeness.
And beneath the surface lie the chalk and limestone soils that help give Champagne its extraordinary freshness.
This combination is particularly important for Pinot Noir.
Because Pinot Noir needs ripeness to develop its beautiful fruit character.
But great Champagne also requires freshness.
Acidity.
And mineral precision.
Bouzy can deliver all of these qualities.
The wines are renowned for their generous fruit.
Beautiful structure.
And wonderfully expressive character.
Think ripe cherries.
Wild strawberries.
Red apples.
And subtle spice.
But beneath that richness lies the unmistakable freshness of great Champagne.
BOUZY GRAND CRU – ONE OF THE WORLD'S GREAT TERROIRS FOR PINOT NOIR!
80% Pinot Noir – The Heart of This Extraordinary Rosé
Now here's one of the most important details.
80% PINOT NOIR!
That is a substantial proportion of Pinot Noir.
And it defines the personality of Paul Bara Grand Rosé.
Pinot Noir contributes richness.
Structure.
And beautiful red-fruit concentration.
It gives the Champagne its generous palate.
Its wonderfully expressive aromas.
And its magnificent depth.
But this is not a heavy Rosé.
Because the Pinot Noir comes from exceptional Grand Cru vineyards.
And the winemaking preserves freshness and precision.
The result is a Champagne that possesses wonderful fruit intensity.
But also remarkable elegance.
80% GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR – EXTRAORDINARY DEPTH AND BEAUTIFUL RED-FRUIT CHARACTER!
20% Chardonnay – Elegance and Freshness
The remaining 20% of the blend is Chardonnay.
And it plays an important role.
Chardonnay contributes freshness.
Delicate citrus.
And mineral precision.
It provides a beautiful counterpoint to the richness of the Pinot Noir.
The result is a Champagne with wonderful harmony.
The Pinot Noir delivers depth.
The Chardonnay provides elegance.
And together they create a beautifully balanced wine.
80% PINOT NOIR. 20% CHARDONNAY. 100% GRAND CRU.
12% Bouzy Rouge – The Secret Behind Its Extraordinary Character
Now here's where Paul Bara Grand Rosé becomes particularly interesting.
12% BOUZY ROUGE!
Bouzy is not only famous for Champagne.
It is also celebrated for its still red Pinot Noir.
And the Bara family uses this extraordinary local wine to give its Rosé additional character.
The process is known as rosé d'assemblage.
A portion of still red wine is blended with the Champagne base wines before the second fermentation in bottle.
And in Paul Bara Grand Rosé, that red wine comes from Bouzy itself.
GRAND CRU PINOT NOIR FROM ONE OF CHAMPAGNE'S GREATEST RED-WINE VILLAGES!
The addition contributes beautiful colour.
But more importantly, it adds depth.
Wild strawberry.
Raspberry.
Red cherry.
And subtle spice.
It also provides additional texture.
And a wonderfully savoury dimension.
This is what makes the wine so compelling.
It is not simply a delicate pink Champagne.
It possesses genuine Pinot Noir character.
12% BOUZY ROUGE – THE SECRET TO ITS MAGNIFICENT RED-FRUIT DEPTH!
The Art of Rosé d'Assemblage
Rosé Champagne can be produced using different methods.
And one of the most celebrated is assemblage.
This involves blending a carefully selected proportion of still red wine into the base wine before the Champagne undergoes its second fermentation.
The challenge is achieving balance.
Too much red wine can overwhelm the Champagne.
Too little may fail to provide the desired complexity.
But Paul Bara has generations of experience working with Pinot Noir from Bouzy.
And that expertise is evident in Grand Rosé.
The wine possesses beautiful colour.
Wonderful red-fruit expression.
And impressive structure.
But the freshness remains.
The bubbles are refined.
And the finish is wonderfully precise.
THE ART OF ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE – BEAUTIFULLY EXECUTED BY ONE OF BOUZY'S GREAT GROWERS!
Mature Grand Cru Vines – Exceptional Fruit Concentration
Another important part of the story is the vineyards themselves.
The estate's vines average approximately 35 years of age.
And that is significant.
Mature vines can develop extensive root systems.
They can produce fruit with wonderful concentration.
And they can help express the distinctive character of their vineyard sites.
In Bouzy, that means ripe Pinot Noir fruit.
Beautiful structure.
And a distinctive chalky mineral character.
These qualities are particularly important for Grand Rosé.
Because the wine needs sufficient depth to support its red-fruit character.
But also enough freshness to remain elegant.
MATURE GRAND CRU VINES – BEAUTIFUL CONCENTRATION AND EXTRAORDINARY FINESSE!
Reserve Wines – Complexity and Consistency
Another important component of Paul Bara Grand Rosé is the use of reserve wines.
Reserve wines are wines retained from previous harvests.
They are an essential part of producing exceptional non-vintage Champagne.
Because each growing season is different.
Some vintages deliver particularly ripe fruit.
Others produce greater freshness.
And others offer exceptional aromatic complexity.
By combining wines from different harvests, the winemaker can create a Champagne with consistent character.
But reserve wines also contribute depth.
Texture.
And additional complexity.
Some documented releases of Grand Rosé have included approximately 50% reserve wines.
That is a substantial proportion.
And it helps explain the Champagne's wonderful balance between freshness and maturity.
RESERVE WINES – THE FOUNDATION OF BEAUTIFUL DEPTH AND HARMONY!
Extended Lees Ageing – Beautiful Texture and Complexity
Now here's another reason this Champagne is so impressive.
EXTENDED LEES AGEING!
Paul Bara Grand Rosé spends several years maturing in bottle on its lees.
Different releases have been documented with approximately three to four years of lees ageing.
During this time, the wine develops additional complexity.
Fresh brioche.
Toasted pastry.
Delicate almond.
And subtle savoury notes.
The bubbles become beautifully integrated.
The texture becomes more refined.
And the palate gains additional depth.
But the fruit remains vibrant.
The strawberries and raspberries retain their freshness.
And the chalky mineral finish provides wonderful precision.
YEARS OF PATIENT MATURATION – MAGNIFICENT COMPLEXITY AND BEAUTIFULLY REFINED BUBBLES!
93 Points – James Suckling
AN OUTSTANDING ENDORSEMENT OF THIS GRAND CRU GROWER ROSÉ!
96 Points – Decanter
SERIOUS RECOGNITION FOR THIS MAGNIFICENT GRAND CRU ROSÉ!
94 Points – Tyson Stelzer
FURTHER RECOGNITION FOR THIS OUTSTANDING GROWER CHAMPAGNE!
Wild Strawberries, Red Cherries, Rose Petals and Extraordinary Mineral Precision
Now this is where Paul Bara Grand Rosé really comes into its own.
In the glass, the Champagne displays a beautiful delicate pink colour.
The bubbles are fine.
And the mousse is wonderfully persistent.
The aromas are magnificent.
Wild strawberries.
Fresh raspberries.
Red cherries.
And cranberries.
Then come the more complex characters.
Pink grapefruit.
Dried rose petals.
Warm brioche.
And delicate spice.
On the palate, the wine is beautifully balanced.
There is wonderful red-fruit concentration.
A creamy texture.
And beautifully integrated acidity.
The Pinot Noir provides depth.
The Chardonnay contributes freshness.
And the Bouzy Rouge adds another layer of complexity.
The finish is long.
Fresh.
Chalky.
And beautifully persistent.
A MAGNIFICENT COMBINATION OF RED-FRUIT RICHNESS, ELEGANCE AND GRAND CRU MINERAL PRECISION!
A Magnificent Champagne for Serious Food
One of the great attractions of Paul Bara Grand Rosé is its remarkable versatility at the table.
This is not simply a Champagne for an aperitif.
It has the depth and structure to complement serious food.
Fresh Kingfish Crudo
The Champagne's citrus freshness complements delicate raw fish.
Seared Scallops
Beautiful with the wine's generous texture and fine mousse.
Blue Swimmer Crab
A magnificent pairing with sweet crab meat.
Roast Duck Breast
The Pinot Noir richness complements the savoury character of duck.
Roast Chicken
Wonderful with the Champagne's depth and freshness.
Salmon
The red-fruit character and acidity work beautifully with rich fish.
Pork Belly
The Champagne's freshness cuts through the richness of the pork.
Mushroom Risotto
Beautiful with the wine's savoury complexity.
Aged Comté
An outstanding pairing with its mature, nutty characters.
Serve at approximately 9–11°C to appreciate its fruit, texture and complexity.
Why We Love This Wine at Liquid Vibe
At Liquid Vibe, we are particularly passionate about grower Champagnes that deliver exceptional vineyard pedigree.
And Paul Bara Grand Rosé is exactly that sort of wine.
First, there is the producer.
A HISTORIC FAMILY-OWNED CHAMPAGNE ESTATE!
Then there is the village.
BOUZY GRAND CRU!
Then there is the Pinot Noir.
80%!
Then there is the Chardonnay.
20%!
Then comes the really exciting part.
12% BOUZY ROUGE!
Then there is the maturation.
YEARS OF LEES AGEING!
Then come the scores.
96 POINTS DECANTER!
94 POINTS TYSON STELZER!
93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING!
And finally, there is the price.
JUST $160 A BOTTLE!
For anyone who loves Champagne with genuine depth, beautiful red-fruit character and extraordinary freshness, this is a magnificent choice.
A Champagne with history.
A Champagne with pedigree.
And a wine that demonstrates why Bouzy is one of the greatest Pinot Noir villages in the world.
96 POINTS DECANTER. 94 POINTS TYSON STELZER. 93 POINTS JAMES SUCKLING. 100% BOUZY GRAND CRU. JUST $160.
Paul Bara Grand Rosé – a magnificent expression of Grand Cru Pinot Noir from one of Champagne's most celebrated grower producers.
Wine Details
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Producer: Champagne Paul Bara
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Wine: Grand Rosé Brut Grand Cru
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Vintage: Non-Vintage
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Region: Champagne, France
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Village: Bouzy, Montagne de Reims
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Estate History: Family established in Bouzy in 1833
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Grape Varieties: Approximately 80% Pinot Noir and 20% Chardonnay, including Bouzy Rouge within the Pinot Noir component; exact proportions vary by release
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Vineyard Classification: 100% Grand Cru
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Vineyard Origin: Bouzy
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Vine Age: Approximately 35 years on average
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Vineyard Area: Approximately 11 hectares across the estate
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Soils: Clay and limestone over chalk
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Production: Traditional-method bottle fermentation
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Rosé Method: Assemblage with approximately 12% still red Bouzy Pinot Noir
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Vinification: Stainless steel
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Reserve Wines: Approximately 50% in some documented releases
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Lees Ageing: Approximately three to four years in documented releases
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Dosage: 5 g/L for the January 2025 disgorgement; older releases vary
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Style: Pinot Noir-dominant Brut Grand Cru Rosé Champagne
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Alcohol: Approximately 12.5%
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Aromas: Wild strawberry, raspberry, cherry, pink grapefruit, rose petals and brioche
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Palate: Rich and expressive, with fine mousse, fresh acidity and a long mineral finish
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Published Critic Scores: 96 Points – Decanter; 94 Points – Tyson Stelzer; 93 Points – James Suckling (different reviewed releases)
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RRP: $160 per bottle
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Food Pairing: Kingfish, scallops, crab, salmon, duck, roast chicken and pork
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Serving Temperature: 9–11°C
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Drinking: Beautiful now, with further cellaring potential under suitable conditions
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