Located in Bouzy just to the east of Epernay in the Marne Valley, Champagne Paul Bara uses only their own estate grown fruit from 100% Grand cru rated vineyards to craft it’s small range of champagnes.\n \n Their superbly sited vineyard sites have over the years been sought after by many of the top Champagne houses, and while many other producers have been busily expanding, Paul Bara have remained producing the highest quality possible from these same 11 hectares for seven generations. Now managed by Chantal Bara, the beliefs and methods remain true to previous generations, producing very low yields of the best possible grapes from these superb vineyard sites. The great art in the champagnes of Paul Bara remains the same as it always has, it is the stunning purity and depth of 100% Grand cru Bouzy fruit maintained with finesse and balance that is achieved by using such a high percentage of Pinot Noir in the blend.It was deep and brooding, with notes of black cherry, tarragon, dried meat, and earth. Great length, medium tannins and acidity with very good balance. A really wonderful and delicious wine.\n \n Producer Information\n Champagne Paul Bara is a Grand Cru Champagne producer of the Bouzy commune. The Champagne house is widely known as the most renowned producer of the region. The estate was first constructed as an agricultural farm in 1860, but it wasn't until 1965 that the building was converted to a winery. Paul Bara first started to produce the eponymous brand in the 1950s and today, the estate is managed by his daughter Chantale Bara. Paul Bara is a rare récoltant-manipulant (meaning the house produces champagne from grapes grown by themselves) of Bouzy, a major of producers here are large, corporate Champagne houses. Estate vineyards are all Grand Cru and found within the commune of Bouzy in the Montagne de Reims subregion. The deep and chalky soils here are excellent terroir to create wine with intense fruit and mineral complexity. The Bara family have cultivated 11 hectares of vineyards, 9.5ha of Pinot Noir and 1.5ha of Chardonnay in Bouzy for seven generations. Grapes are hand-harvest prior to a whole-bunch press in both a wooden-basket and a modern electric press. Each plot is kept seperate throughout the fermentation process with the white and rosé wines prevented from malolactic fermentation. The Brut "L'Annonciase se Paul Bara" Blac de Noir is produced in commemoration of a family ancestor; Annonciade was a daughter of a local winemaker who married into the family to Auguste Bara, a young cooper. Their son Jules Bara constructed the first cellar of Paul Bara. The grapes are sourced from vines with an average age of 50 years. Other notable wines in the collection include the Bouzy Brut Grand Cru "Comtesse Marie de France". It was first produced for a restaurant that has since ceased operation and now, is the reason why Paul Bara are required to add MA meaning Marque d'Acheteur rather than RM for récoltant-manipulant onto wine labels.
