Alway enjoy this excellent QPR sparkler! Always balanced and intriguing. Easy week-night decision to open and finish a few days later. For $5-7 more than basic cava this offers a lot more. Paid $16 locally.
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Pears and citrus in this gear QPR bubbly at Costco. Medium size pearls. Profile is smooth and elegant. Not very yeasty and devoid of any brioche in the flavors but still a classy sparkler.
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Don't you think it's adorable when I attempt to use millennial speak?
In my time, we would have thought the spelling wrong and you were trying to say beasties (Capt. Jack would understand that).
Taking it at its literal, and contemporary, meaning is more appropriate given today's wine and its association with another winery from the same stable, Roederer.
Scharffenberger Brut Excellence NV
You see, both wineries fall under the same ownership; Roederer. It is the close association with the Roederer Brut Reserve NV, that draws on similarities.
Both source grapes from Mendocino County, although Roederer is 100% Estate fruit while Scharffenberger may use their own along with a portion from Roederer. Their proportions of varietals used are identical (60/40 Chardonnay to Pinot Noir). Another reason for any difference may come from the fact that Roederer uses a small amount (roughly 10-15%) of oak-aged NV cuvée to their wine. They do have different winemakers as well. All of which might contribute to the noticeable differences between the wines, however slight. Primarily in the fruit department, which trails only by a skosh.
So is the savings worth the difference? That's the $9.99 question. That's the diff where I am.
The Roederer has been my "go-to" sparkling for a long time, but recent price increases into the $26 arena have made me more hesitant. At $16, Scharffenberger restores that sub $20 price tag.
Now towards the end of the year, there have been times the Roederer drops in price back to that $15 range, at which time I stock up. Though I can't rely on that.
The good news is that I have enough Scharffenberger to get me to year-end, so for now, I sit and wait.
I hope that doesn't drive me to drink as that may use up my stock and force the issue of choosing one of the stepsiblings or besties before the new year.
Cheers
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The Fifth Annual Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine: Retail $23. 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir. Straw to almost golden in color and quite biscuity on the nose. The palate for me is close to gangbusters with great fruit, that autolytic (yeasty) component that I really seek out, and a lengthy finish. 95 Points.
Another good showing. For under $20 this is a solid. Orange peel, lemon, spice, minerals and sour apple. Medium finish and nice acidity. 2nd time trying this in the fall and consistent.
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I've liked this more in the past. Perhaps its stature slipped following a left of over glass of NV Taittinger Brut La Francaise from the previous day. This had some oxidative notes which I always find unappealing. Serve well chilled and don't drink it along-side a Taittinger Brut La Francaise & perhaps that will yield a better showing.
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The Fourth Annual World’s Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine; 12/20/2021-12/23/2021: Retail $23. 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir. Close to a golden straw in the glass with plenty of pear fruit and an intense yeastiness on the nose. The palate is fruity and a touch (maybe more) sweet. Sure, there is fruit (citrus and pear) and a vibrant sparkle, but the high dosage pushes me a bit in the wrong direction. Still? This is a fantastic sparkler.
Followed over 2 hours. Light gold color with average fizz. Mild and simple aroma, primarily of warm plain bagel and lemon creme pie. Palate is clean and agreeable. Not much positive worth noting but it doesn't really have anything to complain about either. The best part is it's only $18. Disg’t 6/2019 4+9+15+6= 84
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60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir 120 acres of estate fruit at Sharffenberger, plus other growers. a small amount of Meunier. (sourcing from Pauli, James, Gibson Vineyards more inland for cooling in the evening) 80% of the wines go through ML, fuller, richer and more approachable. 15% Reserve wines using a continuous cuvee. >24 months of aging. DIAM cork. 1%RS, 10g/l 20,000cs of Brut Excellence. toast and bread aromas. more wheat bread than not. some oxidative elements to the nose. (light roasted coffee and brioche is noted) more mineral to the palate, but with generous fruit.
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This is sort of a revelation! I bought a bunch of these for $15 per for kind of a cooking/wife can easy pop-in-a-pinch type wine...have had it in the past, but always thought the Roederer Estate Brut was a better option in this price point. Recently disappointed in the Roederer for its inconsistent performances on a few bottles...some were as expected with great qpr...others disjointed and harsh tasting. Well...I've had 4 bottles of this Scharffenberger (disgorged 1/18) in the last week...and all have totally exceeded my expectation! Shows wonderful ripe and sappy orchard fruits...tart and zippy lemon/grapefruit acidity...a creamy and mouth filling soft ginger/almond paste mousse...and that classic brioche, yeasty, smoky flint strike lees...gives it a richness ala Crystal! Don't know the dosage...but it has more sweetness then the Roederer imo, but totally NOT too sweet, and I hate sweet! Very bright and vibrant...with balance. Such a super bubbly at that price point...and with four equal enjoyable bottles consumed...very consistent quality! Will be looking to re-load on these!
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very good champagne - sharp and focused - we sipped and toasted a birthday celebration with the Scharffenberger - and everyone was smiling and happy and complimenting the birthday boy and the champagne!!!
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Medium golden yellow in appearance. A bit of hay on the nose and some nuttiness coated with stone fruits and minerality. Well rounded palate with medium acidity and a medium body. Crisp golden apples on the palate with some brioche and some light minerality. Medium plus finish. Drink till 2023.
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Bought one on closeout for 12 from a local independent at least 4 years ago. Light gold; good and persistent effervescence; light stone fruit nose that follows on the palate, some nuttiness, good mouthfeel. Solid but not special. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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This bottle was disgorged Oct 2013 thus color is much darker with intense brioche breadiness and taste. Its great for our palate as we prefer more intense taste over crisp & freshness. There's still acidity and some freshness to it. Great QPR
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What a great value sparkler and a perfect pairing for the occasion. Opened tonight with Nita's homemade chicken nuggets for the grand boys. Too much 3 & 6 year old ambient energy to mess anything fancy tonight. Paid $14 drinks like $25+.
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Took to Ana & Josh's tonight. Love this bubbly for just $15! Drinks more like $30+. Bright with racy tiny bubbles. Concentrated with a complex range of mineral, brioche, lemon, apple, orange rind and stone fruit.
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Pale straw in color with a consistent & steady perlage. Full, fragrant & attractive nose of green apples, pears & lemon/lime citrus overtones with some yeasty notes, floral notes & a hint of stony/minerals. Light bodied with a good concentration of well balanced & zesty textured, ripe fruit flavors of green apples, pears & lemons/limes, some yeastiness followed by mineral notes. Lingering crisp finish. Drinks quite well at present & it appears it is made for near term consumption. Quite enjoyable with a very good QPR.
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DISG Jul 2013. The extra time in bottle since disgorged has transform this wine to a more intense, concentrate style than a fresher style. Golden yellow color, noticeable apple taste (more like an apple thats been taken a bite and left on the counter for 30 mins), some pear. Intense concentrate, and perhaps a little more bitter than I would of liked. We prefer this intense style thus the cellar time from disgorge. Very serviceable, will buy again
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From the 2/17 disgorgement. Very tasty. Light and heathery with apples and pears. Breast nuance under the effervescence and acid. Finish tingles the tongue.
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Per cellar tracker, this one was a little past its best drink by date but being NV sparkling that's debatable.
Color: poured a light golden color Body: medium
Aroma: This sparkling was full of extra ripe golden apples and pears. I've read that California sparkling would suffer from lack of cold weather and an excess of ripe fruit and this lived up to that bill.
Palate: A good bit of yeasty flavor but too much honeyed apple and toasted brioche flavor and not enough acidity.
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Pale gold color with an energetic bead. On the nose, bruised apple and pear fruit aromas, and some faint floral notes. But mostly orchard fruit. On the palate, not a particularly fine mousse, but not terribly coarse either---middle of the road. The fruit is there, and it is a little fresher than on the nose, with some lemon citrus joining the apple and pear. There's also some mineral character, which adds a nice bit of complexity. There is a slight bitterness on the finish, though, which detracts a bit from the overall experience.
Overall, a straightforward, serviceable bubbly. I think you can do better by spending just a few more dollars or almost as well for a few less. But it gets the job done.
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Love this bubbly for $14. Drinks more like $25 plus. Crisp, concentrated, minerality and nice range of citrus flavors. So dam easy to open for any reason.
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NV SCHARFFENBERGER BRUT EXCELLENCE- 3L bottle; this was as impressive in the glass as was the bottle presentation; it had wonderful crisp and creamy citrus with lemon lime flavours most prevalent' with some toasty apple and pear coming in late; there`s an underlying streak of acidity that holds it up and enhances the palate pleasing finish.
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Drank over two nights. BTW, if you don't own one, buy those little rubber clamp down stoppers. We have been able to get our champagne bubbles to last a minimum of 3 nights with these cheap efficient little stoppers. I've liked this wine for a long time but this btl seemed even better than usual. Bright with racy tiny bubbles. Concentrated with a complex range of apples, mineral and other citrus elements. Paid $14 on sale locally. This would hold its own with wines 3 times its price. Even it you pay full boat at around $22, its a steal! And the label looks like something you see on a $100 btl. A very classy wine deserving of a cool lable :).
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Crisp and bright, very much shows the Chardonnay, crisp and brilliant, works it out at $20 or so. The chocolate maker who sold it to Cliquot. The estate borders the Roederer estate in America. The big difference between the two is full malolactic here where as the Roederer is no malolactic.
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Its hard to beat this for the price and overall crowd pleasing qualities. It has rich nicely defined fruit but stays taught and elegant. excellent value/party bubs
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Quite nice bubbly. Well balanced with an elegant profile of citrus and apples. If it had a bit more yeast and toast it would be very high end. As it is, it's a great value and a tasty bottle of wine.
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Wines At Our Table; May 17th, 2015; 5/11/2015-5/17/2015: Pale gold color with appealing brioche, soft red fruits, pear, citrus and a kiss of spice aromas. On the palate, it's medium-bodied with a creamy mousse, and a soft harmonious character. It shows pear, strawberry , mandarin orange, just a bit of plum and cinnamon flavors with a clean satisfying finish.
The Scharffenberger Brut is blended with two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay. All the fruit for Scharffenberger Brut undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation
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Bottle disgorged Apr 2013. Really enjoy this sparkling (probably due to the 40% Pinot Noir). Darker Yellow color, initial fruits follow by good intensity & complexity in the mouth, med+ long finish. Offers more than the price, great QPR. Personal preference/bia over 100% chardonnay sparklings. Need to buy more of same disgorgement date to experience aging over time.
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Really nothing special here for $20. They say its 2/3 Chard, 1/3 Pinot Noir, but hard to tell. Little creamy, but on the light side. Not a lot of depth and struggle to pull specific flavors out of it. Can't agree that this is good for the $$$ when you have Gruet and similar (try their Blanc de Noir) for well under $20. By the next day after properly securing it, it had lost all carbonation. Disappointing but good. Would have been happy if I paid $10-12 for it.
A lot of apple aroma and flavor, accompanied by lemon and a hint of caramel. Finish is cleansing; the bead is quite fine, although not as persistent as one would expect were this a more expensive sparkler. A very, very good wine for the price. We drank before Christmas Eve dinner.
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If you like CA chardonnay, then you will probably like this. This is not a style I prefer, but can appreciate. Disgorged 1/2013. This must be mostly chardonnay as it is full of apples, fresh lemony citrus, and fresh bread ought with more yeasty lees than most other CA sparkling wines. Very, very young but I wan't to evaluate potential. I prefer the Brut Rose more but this is a decent product. Doesn't hold a candle to the DP 2003 I had on Saturday, but not bad. I think I like more PN balanced sparklers done in a Methode Champainoise. This could easily stand up for another 10 years in the cellar. Nice to have disgorgement date on the top and a lot number on the cork. Cork indicates that it is mostly '11 vintage. A bit of a yawn, but still pleasant. I don't know if I am a fan of the creamy texture, but it makes for a lovely mousse.
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Took to a graduation party to toast. Even out of a plastic tumbler, this is nice stuff. A completely reliable sparkler from what is now a division of Roederer. Glad they brought it back, as it's a less yeasty alternative to their Cal "Estate."
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Decent mousse, although a bit coarse; nicely dry and yeasty on the palate with a bit of pear, citrus, and mineral. This has 3/4 of the quality of Champagne at half the price -- not great wine, but very good quality for the money.
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Just excellent for the $17.99 I paid. Bright and vigorous in the palate, with nice tropical fruit and just a slight kiss of sweetness. Great depth. Very easy to drink.
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From the notes, it was better than I expected; but it also took a bit of time to appreciate. It is more subtle. Good persistent fruit of not-so -tart apple, light brioche. The bubbles are big then fade fast. What I do like about it is that it is not sweet, nor too heavy, nor too yeasty, nor too green-apple. If you ever wanted a true down the middle California champagne-style wine, this is it. Very easy, light toast on the end. Easy and thumbs up for me.
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Golden-yellow color. Medium bead. Evokes aromas of dough and baked apple. Palate follows accordingly with apple pie and a hint of lime. Shortish finish. Nothing too profound, but enjoyable.
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Pale yellow-gold color with tiny bead of bubbles that dissipated somewhat quickly, and bread dough, faint apple aromas. On the palate it's light-medium bodied, with a moderately creamy mousse, and sweet fruity sweet apple, and lemon-lime flavors. Short finish. Blend of Chardonnay (67%), and Pinot Noir (33%)
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4/11/2024 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Alway enjoy this excellent QPR sparkler! Always balanced and intriguing. Easy week-night decision to open and finish a few days later. For $5-7 more than basic cava this offers a lot more. Paid $16 locally.
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3/11/2024 - leachriscellar Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great QPR, notes of melon and pear.
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12/31/2023 - Cosmo M. wrote: 86 Points
Slightly off dry. Apples, lemons, pears. Syrupy and a little cloying mid-palate. If you want off dry, this is a fine choice.
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12/23/2023 - brigcampbell wrote:
Decent domestic sparkler for the price. Playdough nose with yellow apple.
Light bubbles, almost frize in style. Medium plus acidity, good cut, green apple unripe pear. Not particularly sophisticated or complex but enjoyable.
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12/9/2023 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 88 Points
The Sixth Annual World's Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine (Houston, Texas): Retail $24. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir. Straw to golden with a shy nose of cashew and maybe some tree fruit. The palate is a bit flabby, lacking some sparkle and comes off as a bit sweet. Very Good. 88 Points.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/3/2023 - brujazz wrote: 89 Points
Pears and citrus in this gear QPR bubbly at Costco. Medium size pearls. Profile is smooth and elegant. Not very yeasty and devoid of any brioche in the flavors but still a classy sparkler.
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10/22/2023 - Rezy13 wrote:
Another solid bottle of bubbles, not Champagne but it has the weight, yeast and riper rounder fruit that is very satisfying and good value.
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10/14/2023 - Torchy wrote: 88 Points
Nose of butter, salt, grass, seaweed, and some notes of yellow apple. The palate has sweet spice and sweet fruits. A bit on the sweet side.
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9/12/2023 - Hi.its.Don.4.Wine Likes this wine: 91 Points
Stepsiblings or Just Besties?
Don't you think it's adorable when I attempt to use millennial speak?
In my time, we would have thought the spelling wrong and you were trying to say beasties (Capt. Jack would understand that).
Taking it at its literal, and contemporary, meaning is more appropriate given today's wine and its association with another winery from the same stable, Roederer.
Scharffenberger Brut Excellence NV
You see, both wineries fall under the same ownership; Roederer. It is the close association with the Roederer Brut Reserve NV, that draws on similarities.
Both source grapes from Mendocino County, although Roederer is 100% Estate fruit while Scharffenberger may use their own along with a portion from Roederer. Their proportions of varietals used are identical (60/40 Chardonnay to Pinot Noir). Another reason for any difference may come from the fact that Roederer uses a small amount (roughly 10-15%) of oak-aged NV cuvée to their wine. They do have different winemakers as well. All of which might contribute to the noticeable differences between the wines, however slight. Primarily in the fruit department, which trails only by a skosh.
So is the savings worth the difference? That's the $9.99 question. That's the diff where I am.
The Roederer has been my "go-to" sparkling for a long time, but recent price increases into the $26 arena have made me more hesitant. At $16, Scharffenberger restores that sub $20 price tag.
Now towards the end of the year, there have been times the Roederer drops in price back to that $15 range, at which time I stock up. Though I can't rely on that.
The good news is that I have enough Scharffenberger to get me to year-end, so for now, I sit and wait.
I hope that doesn't drive me to drink as that may use up my stock and force the issue of choosing one of the stepsiblings or besties before the new year.
Cheers
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12/21/2022 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 95 Points
The Fifth Annual Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine: Retail $23. 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir. Straw to almost golden in color and quite biscuity on the nose. The palate for me is close to gangbusters with great fruit, that autolytic (yeasty) component that I really seek out, and a lengthy finish. 95 Points.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/3/2022 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
Another good showing. For under $20 this is a solid. Orange peel, lemon, spice, minerals and sour apple. Medium finish and nice acidity. 2nd time trying this in the fall and consistent.
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10/1/2022 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
In-Store Tasting (Some really bad wines) (Bloomington, MN): One of the highlights of a dismal wine shop tasting. Carmel, biscuit, lemon, orange zest and tropical fruit. Lively sparkling wine.
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8/30/2022 - chablis28 wrote: 86 Points
I've liked this more in the past. Perhaps its stature slipped following a left of over glass of NV Taittinger Brut La Francaise from the previous day. This had some oxidative notes which I always find unappealing. Serve well chilled and don't drink it along-side a Taittinger Brut La Francaise & perhaps that will yield a better showing.
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7/7/2022 - pdev wrote: 88 Points
Quality bubbly at a reasonable price. Touch of bready/toasty, with a clean, crisp palate.
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1/27/2022 - bwk Likes this wine: 88 Points
Apple, ear and pronounced bread/yeast flavors with hint of sweetness. Good QPR.
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12/29/2021 - chablis28 wrote: 89 Points
Solid value at $17 locally. Balanced, racy and perhaps a tad simple but great for week nights. 88-89
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12/23/2021 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 89 Points
The Fourth Annual World’s Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine; 12/20/2021-12/23/2021: Retail $23. 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir. Close to a golden straw in the glass with plenty of pear fruit and an intense yeastiness on the nose. The palate is fruity and a touch (maybe more) sweet. Sure, there is fruit (citrus and pear) and a vibrant sparkle, but the high dosage pushes me a bit in the wrong direction. Still? This is a fantastic sparkler.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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8/13/2021 - LMArcher Likes this wine:
Bright gold robe.
Brioche, honey, Turkish delight aromas.
Tiny bubbles, profuse mousse. Supple tannins.
Golden apple.
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3/18/2021 - fingers wrote: 84 Points
Followed over 2 hours. Light gold color with average fizz.
Mild and simple aroma, primarily of warm plain bagel and lemon creme pie. Palate is clean and agreeable. Not much positive worth noting but it doesn't really have anything to complain about either. The best part is it's only $18. Disg’t 6/2019
4+9+15+6= 84
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3/5/2021 - nzinkgraf wrote:
60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir
120 acres of estate fruit at Sharffenberger, plus other growers. a small amount of Meunier. (sourcing from Pauli, James, Gibson Vineyards more inland for cooling in the evening)
80% of the wines go through ML, fuller, richer and more approachable. 15% Reserve wines using a continuous cuvee. >24 months of aging. DIAM cork. 1%RS, 10g/l
20,000cs of Brut Excellence.
toast and bread aromas. more wheat bread than not. some oxidative elements to the nose. (light roasted coffee and brioche is noted) more mineral to the palate, but with generous fruit.
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11/26/2020 - DbertCellar wrote: 90 Points
Strawberry and peach aroma. Green apple tartness. Very bubbly
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11/18/2020 - Mrbuzz Likes this wine: 93 Points
This is sort of a revelation! I bought a bunch of these for $15 per for kind of a cooking/wife can easy pop-in-a-pinch type wine...have had it in the past, but always thought the Roederer Estate Brut was a better option in this price point. Recently disappointed in the Roederer for its inconsistent performances on a few bottles...some were as expected with great qpr...others disjointed and harsh tasting. Well...I've had 4 bottles of this Scharffenberger (disgorged 1/18) in the last week...and all have totally exceeded my expectation! Shows wonderful ripe and sappy orchard fruits...tart and zippy lemon/grapefruit acidity...a creamy and mouth filling soft ginger/almond paste mousse...and that classic brioche, yeasty, smoky flint strike lees...gives it a richness ala Crystal! Don't know the dosage...but it has more sweetness then the Roederer imo, but totally NOT too sweet, and I hate sweet! Very bright and vibrant...with balance. Such a super bubbly at that price point...and with four equal enjoyable bottles consumed...very consistent quality! Will be looking to re-load on these!
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11/14/2020 - JTROCKER Likes this wine: 89 Points
A festive and spirited drinker with hints of lemon, apple and toasted spice flavors leading to a vibrant and steely finish.
Scharffenberger brut is in my rotation of reasonably priced,, any occasion sparklers that I keep on hand.
This bottle was disgorged in June, 2019 and is in line with previous bottlings.
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10/30/2020 - alabunka wrote: 90 Points
very good champagne - sharp and focused - we sipped and toasted a birthday celebration with the Scharffenberger - and everyone was smiling and happy and complimenting the birthday boy and the champagne!!!
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8/4/2020 - Millennial Drinkers wrote: 88 Points
Medium golden yellow in appearance. A bit of hay on the nose and some nuttiness coated with stone fruits and minerality. Well rounded palate with medium acidity and a medium body. Crisp golden apples on the palate with some brioche and some light minerality. Medium plus finish. Drink till 2023.
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6/13/2020 - whudock Likes this wine: 89 Points
fresh, crisp, pinpoint bubbles, good fruit and a bit of depth
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6/11/2020 - CAJR Likes this wine: 88 Points
Vanilla bread
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5/14/2020 - Oenecnist wrote:
Bought one on closeout for 12 from a local independent at least 4 years ago. Light gold; good and persistent effervescence; light stone fruit nose that follows on the palate, some nuttiness, good mouthfeel. Solid but not special. Stored horizontally in a cool, dark basement since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable when considering quality, age, and price.
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5/1/2020 - bboard Likes this wine:
This bottle was disgorged Oct 2013 thus color is much darker with intense brioche breadiness and taste. Its great for our palate as we prefer more intense taste over crisp & freshness. There's still acidity and some freshness to it. Great QPR
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2/21/2020 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
What a great value sparkler and a perfect pairing for the occasion. Opened tonight with Nita's homemade chicken nuggets for the grand boys. Too much 3 & 6 year old ambient energy to mess anything fancy tonight. Paid $14 drinks like $25+.
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2/2/2020 - gmaibach Likes this wine: 85 Points
Suttle hints of strawberry, brioche, and
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12/31/2019 - DbertCellar wrote: 89 Points
Tasty
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12/23/2019 - Bax62 wrote: 87 Points
Very fine bubbles but short on acidity.
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8/9/2019 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Took to Ana & Josh's tonight. Love this bubbly for just $15! Drinks more like $30+. Bright with racy tiny bubbles. Concentrated with a complex range of mineral, brioche, lemon, apple, orange rind and stone fruit.
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2/2/2019 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 89 Points
Pale straw in color with a consistent & steady perlage. Full, fragrant & attractive nose of green apples, pears & lemon/lime citrus overtones with some yeasty notes, floral notes & a hint of stony/minerals. Light bodied with a good concentration of well balanced & zesty textured, ripe fruit flavors of green apples, pears & lemons/limes, some yeastiness followed by mineral notes. Lingering crisp finish. Drinks quite well at present & it appears it is made for near term consumption. Quite enjoyable with a very good QPR.
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1/1/2019 - dtjhio wrote: 90 Points
A really enjoyable and inexpensive sparkler. Will definitely buy again.
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9/15/2018 - WineJunkieWest Likes this wine: 87 Points
Great QPR at Costco for under $14 a bottle. Good on it's own with appetizers or as a base for a cocktail or as a Sunday mimosa.
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9/8/2018 - rsct2001 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Consistently very good. Perfect for fried chicken!
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1/28/2018 - bboard Likes this wine:
DISG Jul 2013. The extra time in bottle since disgorged has transform this wine to a more intense, concentrate style than a fresher style. Golden yellow color, noticeable apple taste (more like an apple thats been taken a bite and left on the counter for 30 mins), some pear. Intense concentrate, and perhaps a little more bitter than I would of liked. We prefer this intense style thus the cellar time from disgorge. Very serviceable, will buy again
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1/1/2018 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Straw in color. Tiny bubbles. Flavors of white grape.
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12/24/2017 - Jake112380 Likes this wine: 89 Points
From the 2/17 disgorgement. Very tasty. Light and heathery with apples and pears. Breast nuance under the effervescence and acid. Finish tingles the tongue.
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12/5/2017 - Renton Does not like this wine:
Per cellar tracker, this one was a little past its best drink by date but being NV sparkling that's debatable.
Color: poured a light golden color
Body: medium
Aroma: This sparkling was full of extra ripe golden apples and pears. I've read that California sparkling would suffer from lack of cold weather and an excess of ripe fruit and this lived up to that bill.
Palate: A good bit of yeasty flavor but too much honeyed apple and toasted brioche flavor and not enough acidity.
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10/29/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 90 Points
Monthly Tasting Group: Champagne and Sushi (Wakame Sushi & Asian Bistro, Mpls): Small bonus pour to start the night. This is so good at the price point; check that, this is so good period. Bright, clean and fresh. What a steal.
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9/16/2017 - JVG wrote:
Pale gold color with an energetic bead. On the nose, bruised apple and pear fruit aromas, and some faint floral notes. But mostly orchard fruit. On the palate, not a particularly fine mousse, but not terribly coarse either---middle of the road. The fruit is there, and it is a little fresher than on the nose, with some lemon citrus joining the apple and pear. There's also some mineral character, which adds a nice bit of complexity. There is a slight bitterness on the finish, though, which detracts a bit from the overall experience.
Overall, a straightforward, serviceable bubbly. I think you can do better by spending just a few more dollars or almost as well for a few less. But it gets the job done.
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7/30/2017 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Love this bubbly for $14. Drinks more like $25 plus. Crisp, concentrated, minerality and nice range of citrus flavors. So dam easy to open for any reason.
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7/4/2017 - Blake Brown Likes this wine: 92 Points
NV SCHARFFENBERGER BRUT EXCELLENCE- 3L bottle; this was as impressive in the glass as was the bottle presentation; it had wonderful crisp and creamy citrus with lemon lime flavours most prevalent' with some toasty apple and pear coming in late; there`s an underlying streak of acidity that holds it up and enhances the palate pleasing finish.
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3/4/2017 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Drank over two nights. BTW, if you don't own one, buy those little rubber clamp down stoppers. We have been able to get our champagne bubbles to last a minimum of 3 nights with these cheap efficient little stoppers. I've liked this wine for a long time but this btl seemed even better than usual. Bright with racy tiny bubbles. Concentrated with a complex range of apples, mineral and other citrus elements. Paid $14 on sale locally. This would hold its own with wines 3 times its price. Even it you pay full boat at around $22, its a steal! And the label looks like something you see on a $100 btl. A very classy wine deserving of a cool lable :).
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2/11/2017 - gwkozar Likes this wine: 89 Points
very nice
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1/1/2017 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Golden color with tiny bubbles. Dry texture. Great value.
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12/26/2016 - qtsam11 wrote: 89 Points
Crisp and dry. Not a lot of depth, but a nice QPR. A great sparkler for a weekend brunch.
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11/27/2016 - DbertCellar wrote: 90 Points
Crisp, dry, very pleasant.
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11/11/2016 - chablis28 wrote: 86 Points
Not as good as previous btls but still a decent value for $14
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10/8/2016 - chablis28 wrote: 89 Points
Always, a easy to open reliable bubbles. Bright, crisp with a nice range of apples, toast, and other citrus. Completely worth the $14 I paid for it.
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9/25/2016 - Rollerball wrote: 85 Points
Starts OK but tails off quick and not pleasantly. Good mimosa wine.
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9/4/2016 - Evansak wrote: flawed
Bottle shattered upon opening.
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2/8/2016 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Crisp and bright, very much shows the Chardonnay, crisp and brilliant, works it out at $20 or so. The chocolate maker who sold it to Cliquot. The estate borders the Roederer estate in America. The big difference between the two is full malolactic here where as the Roederer is no malolactic.
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12/25/2015 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 87 Points
Too good for mimosas. A little toasty, citrus, rich. Nice value.
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12/17/2015 - jsherdc Likes this wine: 89 Points
Toasty. Bitter finish but in a good way. Was better last time.
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11/23/2015 - camben Likes this wine:
Its hard to beat this for the price and overall crowd pleasing qualities. It has rich nicely defined fruit but stays taught and elegant.
excellent value/party bubs
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9/6/2015 - maxima wrote: 88 Points
Un très beau mousseux Américain.
De belles notes de brioche et de citron confit, vif et frais et assez long, délicieux.
Top RQP!
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8/30/2015 - Polindz Likes this wine: 89 Points
An enjoyable bubbly with nice citrus tones.
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8/21/2015 - sdwineguru Likes this wine: 88 Points
Light-mid straw gold; light yeasty nose, citrus, spice; mid-body, decent acids, good fruit and finish. w/appetizers. Good value $17.
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5/22/2015 - brujazz wrote: 90 Points
Quite nice bubbly. Well balanced with an elegant profile of citrus and apples. If it had a bit more yeast and toast it would be very high end. As it is, it's a great value and a tasty bottle of wine.
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5/16/2015 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 88 Points
Wines At Our Table; May 17th, 2015; 5/11/2015-5/17/2015: Pale gold color with appealing brioche, soft red fruits, pear, citrus and a kiss of spice aromas. On the palate, it's medium-bodied with a creamy mousse, and a soft harmonious character. It shows pear, strawberry , mandarin orange, just a bit of plum and cinnamon flavors with a clean satisfying finish.
The Scharffenberger Brut is blended with two-thirds Pinot Noir and one-third Chardonnay. All the fruit for Scharffenberger Brut undergoes 100% malolactic fermentation
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5/10/2015 - Headless Likes this wine: 88 Points
Quite nice QPR. Good acidity, nice brioche aromas and creamyness on the palate. Would like more depth, but can't complain too much for the price.
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5/8/2015 - soyhead wrote:
tasted with and fared comparably to the Roederer Brut from the Anderson valley. next up is to blind it into some champagnes
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3/13/2015 - Blacksmith450 wrote: 90 Points
Style classique champagne au prix d'un mousseux. RQP incroyable !
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2/27/2015 - wirelesswine wrote: 87 Points
Very nice, if perhaps a tad sweet, but served very well as an aperitif. Apple flavors prominent, with some nice minerality as well.
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2/8/2015 - CameronSumpter Likes this wine: 85 Points
Light golden colour and dry yet smooth. Excellent with harder cheeses.
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1/28/2015 - ecola Likes this wine: 87 Points
Crisp green apple, soft earth and moderate acidity with a medium length finish.
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1/17/2015 - camben Likes this wine:
Very nice for the money. Tastes well with many high priced California bottles
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12/26/2014 - gnosis Likes this wine:
Ditto my last notes. Very easy drinking bubbly that is like Champagne. I appreciate it. Mmmm. Thumbs up!
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12/22/2014 - Rezy13 wrote: 87 Points
Darker golden straw, fine bubbles; rich ripe red apple, some yeast; fuller body, expansive; good.
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8/28/2014 - mazik wrote: 85 Points
Somewhat generic yeasty-toasty bubbly, nice enough as an aperitif.
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8/20/2014 - bboard Likes this wine:
Bottle disgorged Apr 2013.
Really enjoy this sparkling (probably due to the 40% Pinot Noir). Darker Yellow color, initial fruits follow by good intensity & complexity in the mouth, med+ long finish. Offers more than the price, great QPR. Personal preference/bia over 100% chardonnay sparklings. Need to buy more of same disgorgement date to experience aging over time.
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7/25/2014 - mwneil Likes this wine: 88 Points
Decent sparkling wine with good flavor, nice fruit and acid, medium body. Some complexity but missing something. Would drink again.
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6/16/2014 - alabunka wrote: 86 Points
decent bubbly that's good for mixing in a punch or a mimosa but I think we would prefer the Gruite from New Mexico for such fare...
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6/14/2014 - mwneil Likes this wine: 88 Points
VG sparkling wine. Drank with cheese and oysters. Fruity but dry and medium bodied. A decent value.
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1/1/2014 - vinoceros wrote:
Leaked a bit and clearly past its prime, but still drinkable, especially at the end of the night.
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1/1/2014 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 86 Points
Really nothing special here for $20. They say its 2/3 Chard, 1/3 Pinot Noir, but hard to tell. Little creamy, but on the light side. Not a lot of depth and struggle to pull specific flavors out of it. Can't agree that this is good for the $$$ when you have Gruet and similar (try their Blanc de Noir) for well under $20. By the next day after properly securing it, it had lost all carbonation. Disappointing but good. Would have been happy if I paid $10-12 for it.
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12/24/2013 - bear Likes this wine: 88 Points
A lot of apple aroma and flavor, accompanied by lemon and a hint of caramel. Finish is cleansing; the bead is quite fine, although not as persistent as one would expect were this a more expensive sparkler. A very, very good wine for the price. We drank before Christmas Eve dinner.
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12/12/2013 - pmk wrote: 88 Points
nothing spectacular here - drink now
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12/9/2013 - Champagneinhand Likes this wine: 88 Points
If you like CA chardonnay, then you will probably like this. This is not a style I prefer, but can appreciate. Disgorged 1/2013. This must be mostly chardonnay as it is full of apples, fresh lemony citrus, and fresh bread ought with more yeasty lees than most other CA sparkling wines. Very, very young but I wan't to evaluate potential. I prefer the Brut Rose more but this is a decent product. Doesn't hold a candle to the DP 2003 I had on Saturday, but not bad. I think I like more PN balanced sparklers done in a Methode Champainoise. This could easily stand up for another 10 years in the cellar. Nice to have disgorgement date on the top and a lot number on the cork. Cork indicates that it is mostly '11 vintage. A bit of a yawn, but still pleasant. I don't know if I am a fan of the creamy texture, but it makes for a lovely mousse.
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8/25/2013 - gnosis wrote:
Pleased with this once again. A nice, buttery, rich, champagne-style California sparkler. I like.
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8/16/2013 - mwneil Likes this wine: 90 Points
VG sparkling wine. Medium bodied with fine bubbles. Very balanced with nice fruit and acid. Would drink again. Drank with grilled lobster.
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6/15/2013 - Martnmac wrote: 87 Points
Decent bubbles to start a nice night. For price no complaints.
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6/13/2013 - jsherdc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Drank to celebrate a major model release. Fine bubbles. Slightly sweet. Crisp. Delicious.
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6/1/2013 - Not647f wrote:
Took to a graduation party to toast. Even out of a plastic tumbler, this is nice stuff. A completely reliable sparkler from what is now a division of Roederer. Glad they brought it back, as it's a less yeasty alternative to their Cal "Estate."
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4/18/2013 - jsherdc Likes this wine: 92 Points
Aroma of yeast and apple pie. Nice tiny bubbles. A drop of sweetness, Delicious! 91/92
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4/18/2013 - RichardP wrote: 86 Points
Decent mousse, although a bit coarse; nicely dry and yeasty on the palate with a bit of pear, citrus, and mineral. This has 3/4 of the quality of Champagne at half the price -- not great wine, but very good quality for the money.
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4/14/2013 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Tiny bubbles. Straw color. Some nuttiness, Consistent.
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3/31/2013 - msilver wrote: 88 Points
Good bottle for the ($14) price paid
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2/2/2013 - gnosis wrote:
Good, would have passed for Champagne this time.
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1/2/2013 - mr.spock wrote:
dry...tasted like yeast. Was it defective? I don't know, but we drank it anyway!
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1/1/2013 - Benj wrote: 89 Points
Warm yeasty apple nose. Very juicy and clean palate. Medium-fine mousse, nicely balanced. Great value Champagne-style sparkler under $20
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12/31/2012 - ericed wrote: 88 Points
Straw in color. No nose to speak of. Very nice acidity. Showing some stone fruit and lemon juice. A little thin.
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12/31/2012 - BRR wrote: 89 Points
Just excellent for the $17.99 I paid. Bright and vigorous in the palate, with nice tropical fruit and just a slight kiss of sweetness. Great depth. Very easy to drink.
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10/31/2012 - Jake112380 wrote: 86 Points
Crisp apples and honey nose. Perfect bubbles. Apples, peaches, and pears balance the carbonation and acidity. Not bad for a sparkler.
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10/12/2012 - gnosis wrote:
From the notes, it was better than I expected; but it also took a bit of time to appreciate. It is more subtle. Good persistent fruit of not-so -tart apple, light brioche. The bubbles are big then fade fast. What I do like about it is that it is not sweet, nor too heavy, nor too yeasty, nor too green-apple. If you ever wanted a true down the middle California champagne-style wine, this is it. Very easy, light toast on the end. Easy and thumbs up for me.
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9/8/2012 - ToniTony wrote: 88 Points
Good taste but little body
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6/25/2012 - swade wrote: 86 Points
Golden-yellow color. Medium bead. Evokes aromas of dough and baked apple. Palate follows accordingly with apple pie and a hint of lime. Shortish finish. Nothing too profound, but enjoyable.
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5/13/2012 - vinoceros wrote: 91 Points
Definitely excellent! It was a hit with everyone. Quite dry, very creamy with just a hint of yeast and maybe a little pear. Impressive!
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4/6/2012 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 87 Points
Pale yellow-gold color with tiny bead of bubbles that dissipated somewhat quickly, and bread dough, faint apple aromas. On the palate it's light-medium bodied, with a moderately creamy mousse, and sweet fruity sweet apple, and lemon-lime flavors. Short finish. Blend of Chardonnay (67%), and Pinot Noir (33%)
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