Paul Bara Grand Rose de Bouzy, Champagne

Attractive fruit with sliced-strawberry and apple aromas and flavors. Medium-bodied with fresh apples and citrus as well as touches of heather and bread dough. Tangy at the end. 70% pinot noir, 10% Bouzy rouge and 20% chardonnay. Dosage 5 g/L. Drink now.

93 points jamessuckling.com

Paul Bara Grand Rosé de Bouzy is a wonderfully expressive, deeply fruited and impeccably crafted grower rosé Champagne from one of the great Pinot Noir strongholds of the Montagne de Reims. Paul Bara farms exclusively Grand Cru vineyards in Bouzy, a village famous for its powerful, sun warmed Pinot Noir grown on steep slopes of chalk, limestone and clay. This terroir gives the rosé both its intensity and its finesse: vivid red fruit, fine structure, chalky precision and that unmistakable Bouzy generosity. The rosé is created by blending Chardonnay for lift and clarity with Pinot Noir from old vine parcels, and a carefully judged addition of still Bouzy red wine to give colour, depth and aromatic resonance. As with all Bara cuvées, there is no malolactic fermentation, preserving tension and ageworthy energy.

The nose is vibrant and seductive, bursting with wild strawberry, raspberry, redcurrant and pomegranate alongside blood orange and pink grapefruit. Beneath the brightness lie delicate floral notes of rose petal and hibiscus, along with pastry, almond cream, subtle spice and the flinty chalk dust aromas that only Grand Cru Bouzy can provide. As the wine opens, nuances of cherry skin, white peach, rhubarb, red apple and a whisper of smoky minerality add further complexity.

On the palate the wine is silky, energetic and beautifully poised. A fine, persistent mousse carries layers of bright red fruit, citrus zest and soft stone fruit, supported by crisp acidity that gives structure and drive. Flavours of strawberry, cranberry, lemon peel, cherry blossom and delicate spice glide through a creamy yet taut mid palate. Chalky minerality anchors everything in place, keeping the finish long, dry, pure and elegantly shaped. With a few years in the cellar, it will develop more honeyed, biscuity and savoury detail while retaining its lively core.

This is a rosé built for both celebration and the table. An excellent match for tuna tartare, salmon gravlax, duck with cherry glaze, lobster rolls, prawns, charcuterie, roast poultry, truffle cheese, mushroom dishes or simply as a luxurious aperitif.