Fully mature and ready for consumption. Outstanding secondary notes and the fizz is starting to fade. Complex and really yummy with Xmas morning brunch.
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Deep gold and caramel in color. Caramel, butterscotch, Meyer lemon, and brioche on the nose. Tart and sweet with lingering crispness. Caramel green apple flavor.
Paired very well with salmon to cut the oil.
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Lost some of its carbonation. But a dark straw color and some small bubbles still. A little acidic, surprisingly. Green apples, citrus, a little cherry perhaps. Good but not great.
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This showed so well tonight lots of mature golden apples,nuts and spices in the nose, plenty of expressive macerated golden apples and Lear on the palate developed elegant effervescence with pleasant acidity keeping the fruit fresh and lively
Wow. Compared to an 04 Roederer, this one was more complex, had more fruit density, although bubbles were a bit less. The fruit structure of this sparkler had not faded. Dense citrus note, spicy, dry, cumin, really good weight. A hint of tart that made the corners of your mouth pucker juuuust enough to take another sip. I could have drained the whole bottle in no time flat. Sparkler of the day.
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My third time with this since release, and it's still just as pleasing as the first time - if in a few different (read: developed) ways. The texture has become a little creamier, and the acidity a little more relaxed, but still plenty of good tension here. That said, I think it's in its plateau now, and can be enjoyed today and into the early part of the next decade. Not for those looking for a non-dosage NV Champers, this still brings the gusto. I think I liked it more on its own than with food - but that's only because there were no potato chips or fried chicken at hand. recommended
Audozed for 90 minutes, served non-blind.
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Drinking beautifully now with notes of crisp apple tart and just a hint of honey. Medium long finish. Drink now or hold. This wine has enough acidic backbone to evolve for several more years.
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Beautifully rich and round in the mouth with delicate nose encapsulating all the classic champagne notes. Has plenty of life left in it too and will hold up for many years yet. Delightful!
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Brown Bag Wine Dinner at Two Chefs - Double Blind (TWO CHEFS, MIAMI, FL): - Light gold color with small pearls and aromas of lemon and apricot. It's in total harmony and has flavours of lemon and apricot with a light/medium body. Bright texture with a long finish - Alvaro's bubbly. = to Bollinget Le Grande Annee I served Saturday.
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Per recommendation of the folks at Schramsberg I obtained this bottle. Believe it's still SLIGHTLY too early to drink - but definitely worthwhile! Bouquet: Nectarine and soft yeasts. Palate: Cream, mild apple and pear, hearty plantain, tiny tart with an ubiquitous sweetness. Presented with awesome golden color and continuous tiny pleasing bubbles!
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Really an outstanding CA bubbly, enjoyed last night after a NV Veuve Clicquot brut champagne at the start of a grilled elk tenderloin dinner with a group of friends. Dark yellow, effervescent and bubbly with a great mouth feel and texture. Beautiful yeasty nose of acid, yellow apple and cut grass with complex primary flavors of soft, creamy, surprisingly buttery and well balanced green apple, peach, acid and a hint of white pepper on the late palate. I strongly recommend this bubbly but at this price point this is not any kind of a reasonable QPR wine. As a side bar, although I did not personally smoke the cigar with this bubbly since as the host I was tied up with cooking and hosting duties, three good cigar buddies reported that the Epernay cigar which is specifically blended to go with champagne went very well with this.
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Pours with a beautiful color with tons of long lasting bubbles. Creamy, buttery flavor along with apples and pears. The long finish ends with hints of toast and pepper. Great way to bring in the New Year!
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Darker gold, very vinous, savory character; extremely creamy, fine with earthy caramel and raw nuts notes along with pear, melon; great lenth and power in this. Superb for a bigger, more powerful wine. 6 years on lees, 40% neutral barrel fermented; 75% Chardonnay, 25% PN
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Tasted at the winery. Fine bubbles in the appearance. Apple, mineral, and honey on the bouquet; with further notes of yeast and toast on the palate. Lingering finish. Nice complexitiy.
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Wilson Daniels Portfolio Tasting (Binny's Lincoln Park): Gorgeous wine of superb quality. As far as California sparklings go this is probably one of the best. Rich and dense with massive honeyed fruit. Aromatic and super yeasty. Length and layered textures. Really superb.
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Impressive offering that deftly combines the richness and boldness (heck, the color alone lets you know you're in for BOLD) of CA fruit with the stony, citrusy and saline qualities of its inspiration in Champagne. This wine is not subtle, and for that reason alone it'll have a lot of fans. But where it succeeds, I think, is that it balances its richness and its liveliness with complexity and length on the finish. I first tasted this on release when the winemaker called on a store I was buying for. Impressed then, and again today. Should be rather long-lived. Bravo! recommended
PnP, served non-blind over 90 minutes; even better as it opened and warmed a little.
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7/18/2021 - kanowsky Likes this wine: 94 Points
Great bubbles. A hint of lemon curd.
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12/25/2020 - fdub Likes this wine: 95 Points
Fully mature and ready for consumption. Outstanding secondary notes and the fizz is starting to fade. Complex and really yummy with Xmas morning brunch.
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6/14/2020 - sstein19 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Deep gold and caramel in color. Caramel, butterscotch, Meyer lemon, and brioche on the nose. Tart and sweet with lingering crispness. Caramel green apple flavor.
Paired very well with salmon to cut the oil.
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5/10/2020 - fdub Likes this wine: 91 Points
Time to drink. Starting a decline still good bubbles but lacks the fresh pop.
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3/8/2020 - MINIWINERS wrote:
Delightful.
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4/2/2018 - karaseke wrote: 93 Points
Fine bubbles, aged apples, nuanced and balanced, still had some life and enough acidity to complement Easter dinner.
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12/25/2017 - qtsam11 wrote: 90 Points
Lost some of its carbonation. But a dark straw color and some small bubbles still. A little acidic, surprisingly. Green apples, citrus, a little cherry perhaps. Good but not great.
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9/3/2017 - eoinhharkins wrote: 94 Points
This showed so well tonight lots of mature golden apples,nuts and spices in the nose, plenty of expressive macerated golden apples and Lear on the palate developed elegant effervescence with pleasant acidity keeping the fruit fresh and lively
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8/25/2017 - mflesh wrote: 94 Points
Wow. Compared to an 04 Roederer, this one was more complex, had more fruit density, although bubbles were a bit less. The fruit structure of this sparkler had not faded. Dense citrus note, spicy, dry, cumin, really good weight. A hint of tart that made the corners of your mouth pucker juuuust enough to take another sip. I could have drained the whole bottle in no time flat. Sparkler of the day.
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6/28/2016 - Doc90 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Tasted blind. Unripe green apples, biscuit, coy nose. Energetic palate. Racy green apples. Good length. Definitely vintage Champagne style. Needs more time.
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6/8/2016 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
My third time with this since release, and it's still just as pleasing as the first time - if in a few different (read: developed) ways. The texture has become a little creamier, and the acidity a little more relaxed, but still plenty of good tension here. That said, I think it's in its plateau now, and can be enjoyed today and into the early part of the next decade. Not for those looking for a non-dosage NV Champers, this still brings the gusto. I think I liked it more on its own than with food - but that's only because there were no potato chips or fried chicken at hand. recommended
Audozed for 90 minutes, served non-blind.
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8/8/2014 - MystMrQ Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking beautifully now with notes of crisp apple tart and just a hint of honey. Medium long finish. Drink now or hold. This wine has enough acidic backbone to evolve for several more years.
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12/25/2013 - Alliwoohoo wrote: 88 Points
Lots of sugar. Raisins
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11/28/2013 - flydcjets Likes this wine: 95 Points
Just beautiful, with the wonderful flavors and aromas of honey, nuts, berries, vanilla, and citrus.
Cheers!
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9/28/2013 - WAWineGirl Likes this wine: 94 Points
Outstanding wine. Very smooth and pleasing on the palate. One of my favorite Chardonnay based sparkling.
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7/12/2013 - Sugarb Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drinking very well with good balance of fruit and acidity. Simply their best stuff!
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1/5/2013 - mattdathan Likes this wine: 95 Points
Beautifully rich and round in the mouth with delicate nose encapsulating all the classic champagne notes. Has plenty of life left in it too and will hold up for many years yet. Delightful!
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12/24/2012 - firstgrowth wrote:
Christmas Eve 12/24/12
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11/6/2012 - markellen.foodies@gmail.com wrote: 93 Points
Brown Bag Wine Dinner at Two Chefs - Double Blind (TWO CHEFS, MIAMI, FL): - Light gold color with small pearls and aromas of lemon and apricot. It's in total harmony and has flavours of lemon and apricot with a light/medium body. Bright texture with a long finish - Alvaro's bubbly. = to Bollinget Le Grande Annee I served Saturday.
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9/24/2012 - Someofthis wrote: 90 Points
Creamy and buttery. Not as bubbly as expected. Overall very good wine.
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9/3/2012 - jcurl wrote: 92 Points
Very good. Toasted nuts, apple, crisp.
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7/19/2012 - rjmcdougall wrote: 92 Points
Toast and nuts
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7/4/2012 - mjf@ulkner wrote: 91 Points
Ripe, dense, plenty of yeasty biscuit aromas. A top notch Cali sparkly albeit at a significant price.
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7/1/2012 - DanH wrote: 89 Points
Really good wine, but still tastes very young...acids too prominent...very buttery mouth feel...needs time badly.
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6/14/2012 - DruStemm wrote: 93 Points
Per recommendation of the folks at Schramsberg I obtained this bottle. Believe it's still SLIGHTLY too early to drink - but definitely worthwhile! Bouquet: Nectarine and soft yeasts. Palate: Cream, mild apple and pear, hearty plantain, tiny tart with an ubiquitous sweetness. Presented with awesome golden color and continuous tiny pleasing bubbles!
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5/12/2012 - ikkaariainen wrote: 92 Points
Really an outstanding CA bubbly, enjoyed last night after a NV Veuve Clicquot brut champagne at the start of a grilled elk tenderloin dinner with a group of friends. Dark yellow, effervescent and bubbly with a great mouth feel and texture. Beautiful yeasty nose of acid, yellow apple and cut grass with complex primary flavors of soft, creamy, surprisingly buttery and well balanced green apple, peach, acid and a hint of white pepper on the late palate. I strongly recommend this bubbly but at this price point this is not any kind of a reasonable QPR wine. As a side bar, although I did not personally smoke the cigar with this bubbly since as the host I was tied up with cooking and hosting duties, three good cigar buddies reported that the Epernay cigar which is specifically blended to go with champagne went very well with this.
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2/19/2012 - emf Likes this wine:
Good yellow color with citrus and yeast. Citrus, lemon and some yeast but it was lively and acidic. Another good sparkler!
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2/10/2012 - WineLoversLA wrote: 98 Points
nectar of the gods
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12/31/2011 - GoodfellaWizeguy wrote: 92 Points
Pours with a beautiful color with tons of long lasting bubbles. Creamy, buttery flavor along with apples and pears. The long finish ends with hints of toast and pepper. Great way to bring in the New Year!
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11/25/2011 - peternelson wrote: 93 Points
Darker gold, very vinous, savory character; extremely creamy, fine with earthy caramel and raw nuts notes along with pear, melon; great lenth and power in this. Superb for a bigger, more powerful wine. 6 years on lees, 40% neutral barrel fermented; 75% Chardonnay, 25% PN
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5/30/2011 - MattMauldin wrote: 92 Points
Tasted at the winery. Fine bubbles in the appearance. Apple, mineral, and honey on the bouquet; with further notes of yeast and toast on the palate. Lingering finish. Nice complexitiy.
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5/4/2011 - beezer6 wrote: 92 Points
Wilson Daniels Portfolio Tasting (Binny's Lincoln Park): Gorgeous wine of superb quality. As far as California sparklings go this is probably one of the best.
Rich and dense with massive honeyed fruit. Aromatic and super yeasty. Length and layered textures. Really superb.
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2/13/2007 - Tim Heaton Likes this wine:
Impressive offering that deftly combines the richness and boldness (heck, the color alone lets you know you're in for BOLD) of CA fruit with the stony, citrusy and saline qualities of its inspiration in Champagne. This wine is not subtle, and for that reason alone it'll have a lot of fans. But where it succeeds, I think, is that it balances its richness and its liveliness with complexity and length on the finish. I first tasted this on release when the winemaker called on a store I was buying for. Impressed then, and again today. Should be rather long-lived. Bravo! recommended
PnP, served non-blind over 90 minutes; even better as it opened and warmed a little.
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