Champagne Paul Bara Grand Cru Special Club 2016

Enjoy it now, or cellar for 10 years or more. No need to decant before serving. Paul Bara’s “Special Club” Champagne is only created in years of exceptional quality. It is composed with a majority of Pinot Noir and about 30% Chardonnay – a higher portion than any of the winery’s other cuvées. It showcases a compelling bouquet of orchard fruits and hedgerow berries, with hints of white flowers, mint, and freshly cut grass. The Bara family have lived in the Champagne region since the 1600s, with their current property, and their first forays into winemaking, being established in the 1860s. However, they did not sell wines under the family name until the 1950s, when Paul Bara took charge. Today, the winery is run by Chantale, Paul’s daughter, the face of and the driving force behind the modernised winery. Despite being one of Bara’s most elegant wines, Special Club is still an intense experience on the palate. You can find powerful flavours of wild strawberry, lemon zest, white-fleshed fruits, and honeysuckle. It contains a mineral edge, which expands as the wine breathes. Perfect for special occasions, consider pairing Bara’s Special Club with seafood and soft cheese, or serving it as an aperitif.

Price: £64.57 from 8wines UK