Some recent CT TNs seem to be a bit down on this wine - a position that I find myself at odds with. Thinking about sparkling wines at the same price point, how does this compare? I would say pretty favorably with the various cremants de wherever (Loire, Bourgogne etc.) The Costco real champagne is slightly more expensive and maybe a bit more interesting but not a whole lot so. Do my eyes deceive or is there a pinkish tinge?
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average at best.. solid middle of the road domestic sparkler. haven't had in a bit. Probably three years? the original family has sold and it seems to have affected the quality. this used to be slightly above average for a domestic sparkler. now it is just there. nothing stands out. Not offensive, but it doesn't say look at me either.
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Don't get the apeal on these wines. Not much going on and boring. Minerals, some orchard fruit and short finish. Not very refreshing. Buy the Mumm Brut Prestige for a few more bucks.
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Clean wine with pale straw color slight citrus nose with good bready notes, dry wine with medium + acidity, melon and citrus on the palate, medium finish
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My first time with this "often touted" bargain wine, and it did not disappoint. Clean, citric and crisp, with a very fine bead. Definitely a repeat purchase.
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Retail $15. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. I last tasted this for the Fourth Annual World's Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine and really liked it then and I like it now. There is a bit of an odd nuttiness, particularly on the finish, however, and that resulted in a slightly reduced score here.
Been ages since I have tried this. Very primary bubbles - fresh apples and pears. A hint of wet stone or other mineral quality. Good mouthfeel; but overall pretty simple. Available almost everywhere and thankfully inexpensive.
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The Fourth Annual World’s Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine; 12/20/2021-12/23/2021: Retail $15. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. Fresh green apple, peach, pear, on the nose with bits of minerality and yeastiness. Yum. The palate is a tad sweet initially, but that is quickly washed away by the rather intense acidity. The palate also exhibits fantastic fruit, a vibrant bubble, and a lengthy finish. All the elements are here, Yum (again).
Pale lemon in color. Med. intensity aromas of lemon, lime, yellow apple, green pear, brioche, and toasted hazelnut. Dry, med (+) acid, med body, med alcohol (12%). Nicely balanced, with med body, intensity and length. Very approachable and refreshing, it is simple but yet impeccably executed. Great QPR.
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This is my favorite wine with fried chicken. Notes of apple, fruit but also quite a bit of brioche and toast, with very good acidity and lots of fine, bubbles. Drink now.
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Good nose of Granny Smith Apple, with a straightforward palate of citrus/lemon flavors and some vanilla with good acidity. A good drink for the price and perfect for Champagne Cocktails!
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It has been 5-6 years, maybe more, since I last had this. Now: easy drinking, maybe a touch sweeter and shorter finish than I remember. Once upon a time this was a decent sparkler for the money. No longer; although still inexpensive. The change in quality seems to coincide with the change in ownership, source of grapes, etc.
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Day 1: Decant sparkler with citrus, pie crust and chalk. Short to medium finish. Certainly not something I would buy again as you can get Mumm Brut Prestige for a few more dollars and it is much better. 87 points Day 2: Falls flat. Tastes like a cheap non alcoholic sparkler from the super market. NR Recommendation: Not a fan. Never liked Gruet Brut. Just does not have the complexity of Mumm Brut Prestige or Roederer Anderson Valley.
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The Third Annual Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine: Retail $15. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. Quite light straw color, aromas of peach, pear, yeast, a touch of citrus, yellow apple. Very nice. Tart on the palate with a heavy dose of both green and yellow apple. This is, in a word, lovely, really nice. But it comes off a bit young and might need some time to settle down a bit. Still, the finish here is stellar, and overall this is pretty gangbusters. 91. thedrunkencyclist.com
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Drank to celebrate NOT watching any election results. However, this bubbly was just OK for me. It was a little bit too sweet. There wasn't a whole lot of verve, though I did enjoy the mouthfeel of the smaller bubbles. I prefer the Gruet Rose'.
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Outdoor Fried Chicken Dinner with Friends (Princeton, NJ): Maybe I am an easy grader tonight, but ... we had this wine with our friend’s homemade, fried chicken in a paprika batter. The chicken was fried quite hot and was perfect. And this wine pairs amazingly well with great, fried chicken.
Notes of apple, fruit but also quite a bit of brioche and toast. The wine was much more complete with the fried chicken pairing (92 points); on its own (89 points) there was more fruit, less brioche and perhaps it was a touch less dry.
This wine is always improved with food. Terrific qpr.
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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. 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 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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Great value in a sparkling wine. Fruitier than Champagne, and more austere than California. Nice balance. Begs for one more sip. Grown from New Mexico grape vines grafted on Herman Wiemer's New York State root stock. Worth seeking out.
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The Second Annual Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine: Retail $15. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. Intense yellow/straw. Fresh and concise on the nose. Perfectly fine, everyday kind of sparkler. Good to Very Good. 86-88 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com
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Balanced, small bubbles and lots of them, a bit sweet but with acid to balance, just never clicked, good value, might drink again but lots of other choices for sparkling wine.
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I nice dry sparkling wine which is great for a party or with a meal. It is especially good for the price. I've been drinking this wine off and on for a long time and it is consistently pleasing.
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Very decent sparkling wine for the price. Excellent QPR. Hard to believe that this wine is from New Mexico. Bought it because of the 90 pt WS rating and we were not disappointed. Crisp, dry, notes of apple, nuts on the palate.
I had this after work on 10/11/18. It had a simple, straightforward bouquet of apple, toast and citrus aromas. The palate was simple and tart with flavors of apple, toast and lime.
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For the price I was impressed (added an extra point). Apples and pear flavors mixed with lots of tiny bubbles. Slightly high acidity, but nothing overwhelming. Well balanced, had several layers, and all for $11.
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This is very fine, with aromas of lemon and Golden Delicious and a notable richness on the palate, with hazelnut notes in addition to the higher-toned lemon and oyster shell. A soft but persistent mousse gives this a velvety texture. Consistently this is a great domestic sparkler.
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Minerally, hoppy, and biscuity aromas. Feels full, frothy, and long, with lime citrus and green fruit flavors that are dry and have a rustic edge. Estery fruit and crushed rock finish.
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Kinda of a savory type sparkler, not my favorite style even though it was brut style. High level of acidity, great mousse, and a good amount of green fruit. Nice finish although just a little off for me. Had with pad Thai chicken and was a relatively good match.
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75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir; 12% abv; toasty and yeasty aroma; nice mix of acid and savory flavor; the yeasty flavor is probably what sticks out most, but the rest of the flavors are not strong enough to match; short finish. At $17, would go with Roederer Estate Brut for a few bucks more, though this isn't bad.
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Over the course of a couple of days had this, the NV Brut Rose and NV Blanc de Blancs (zero dosage).
Preferred the Blanc de Blancs by a hair. It had a nervousness to it that is hard to explain. I'd give it a 92 and will be giving this a preferred position in my rotating line-up of sparkling wines. Will want to try it up against my preferred Prosecco's and NV Brut Champagnes. Had it with potstickers.
The NV Brut was better than prior showings. I'd give it a 91. I find it more complex than other recent postings. Lovely match to Erin Wade's Kale Quinoa Salad from Vinaigrette in Santa Fe. Here's the recipe https://www.newmexico.org/nmmagazine/articles/post/erin-wades-salad-days-95196/ . I double the kale and hand rub it with olive oil and a dash of salt.
The NV Brut Rose was loved by my partner but I found it a little sweet for my tastes. I'd give it 89.
All of them had copious mousse.
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Lots of toast, very drinkable, not much fruit, long finish, outstanding for the price. My first experience with this sparkling wine and I was stunned by the quality. If this was a french champagne it would be 2 to 3 times the price. Fantastic qpr.
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Gosh darn it, a solid bubbly that, while not overly complex, is easy to drink. Mildly yeasty with a good bit of bright fruit so it plays well with foods and is interesting enough on its own.
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Served at my daughter's wedding. Perfectly acceptable for a large event and quite good. A little yeast, some light tropical fruit and a nice mineral finish. Great QPR.
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Solid bubbly, great QPR. Decent amount of depth & flavors, complex for its price range comparisons. There's enough bready/yeast that satisfying - definitely would buy again
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The wine is bland and uninteresting. Between the two of us we barely drank half of the 375 ml bottle. A waste of $13. Wish I'd spent $10 more to get a half bottle of Moët.
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Very nice below $15 New Mexico Brut from a winery who has been turning out good, inexpensive sparkling wines for some time. Great QPR. We prefer the Blancs de Blanc over the Brut, but the Brut is not bad either. As previously noted, some depth, enjoyable, believe this is sweeter than the Blancs de Blancs. Great choice for entertaining, larger groups on a budget, they will come away impressed.
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Like this very much. Especially for $13.50. Not quite as exciting as a recent restaurant list Blanc di Noir pick from Gruet though. I need to find the BdN. I will buy this again though if the price remains sub $15. Great no frills bubbly with some depth and a big step up from basic cavas.
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I've always been a fan of this wine. Haven't posted on it in some time. Had a couple of bottles over the last week with spicy Chinese dishes and then spicy Indian Curry. Really does well with those.
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Drank a bottle over the course of an evening. Ended up putting some liqueur in the last couple glasses, because the wine itself is not that interesting. It has a soft nose that vaguely resembles champagne. The palate is rough, with pear and fruit driven. This seems slightly less desirable than my past experiences with the wine.
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This is nothing like the Gruets I used to enjoy. Profile of generic chardonnay, thin, coarse bubbles, chalky mouthfeel, lingering heat and chlorine notes. Barely useable for mixing cocktails. Sound bottle, could be the quality of the product just isn't what it used to be.
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There is a very heavy brioche/yeast note on the initial attack which eventually subsides to tropical fruit and green apple. Does not linger very long, but quite good for the price.
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In 1984, Gilbert Gruet of the French Champagne house Gruet & Fils made a bold choice to plant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir near Albuquerque, New Mexico. High vineyards at 4,300 feet meant cool nights for his experiment and a long growing season. In 1987 he was able to achieve his first production using the traditional French "Methode Champenoise" and the rest is history. Focused and richly styled sparkling wine. On the palate, green apples and cream with a toasty finish with subtle hints of brioche/yeast flavors lurking in the background. A great buy by at $12
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Not brut in rs. I suppose this was ok for $15 at whole foods but disappointed for what I was expecting. Gruet is supposedly known for sparkling wines but this was meh. Sparkling yes, sweet yes, funny after taste yes, green and red apple yes. Would not buy again.
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Tropical fruit, brioche, toast, lime. Perhaps not as good as past vintages but tasty with our pan-grilled swordfish and especially with the XX(squash, quinoa, spinach dish roasted) and to a lesser extent with the apples, sweet potato and celery dish. Good qpr for $12 / bottle
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Finally trying Gruet and surprised to see the community score isn't higher. I was highly impressed by this wine. Lots of yeast/bread on the nose along with some tropical fruit. Palate is layered, ranging from hard candy to toast to more tropical fruit. There is a flirtatious peach-pit bitterness on the finish. For less than $20 this NV sparkler delivers delightful complexity while also being crisp and refreshing.
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Tasting with Maverick at FHE. Dry apples, green pear. Touch lime stone, touch yeast, but very subtle. Crisp and refreshing. Not bad. Enough complexity.
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Sweet finish, not much going on. I always wonder how to keep track of NV sparklers, when is there a new batch. Have had this wine before and this bottle was not very good.
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Last of 6 bottles purchased in 2012 and it was imho, the best. There is something to be said for laying down even simple, NV sparklers for a couple years.
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Bubbly surprises (Private home in Arlington, Virginia): It was as all of us concluded rather boring. Some complained that it had a slightly bitter finish. Another participant thought that the bottle was off because she has had Gruet before and that this bottle was not truly reflective of the wine. I found no evident fault, but it lacked excitement. NO VOTES
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Dale Robertson - Houston Chronicle - 12/25/2013 "New Mexico's finest sparkling wine - OK, New Mexico's only sparkling wine anyone's ever heard of - is another consistent over-achiever. The high desert fruit delivers flavors of green apple, lime and grapefruit with slightly burned toast on the finish, thanks to the 24 months it spent on tirage. Honestly, I'm always shocked at how good this wine is." I agree!! Was a perfect addition to our present opening on Christmas morning!.
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Drank at a Christmas party. Good solid bubbly at a good price. Light yeast over a nicely balanced base. Not as crisp as I prefer and thus not as sophisticated and bubble size is on the large side but totally enjoyable. A good value.
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I took one sip and threw away the rest. It tasted like water with something like whey added to it. It didn't taste horrible, but something about it was very off for me. I don't think that it was defective as I've had it before and it tasted similar only more bitter.
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Tasted at our wine bash with the NV Extra Dry, and while surprisingly good in my view the Extra Dry was more complex though the Brut was crisp and had nice tropical notes I enjoyed. Due to the party nature of the evening no more detailed notes available.
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Drank at a friend's 30th birthday party. Such a solid sparkler for the price. Melon and lemon themes mix with crisp acid, a bit of creaminess and some nutty notes. Crisp and citrus-driven finish. At a party, a bottle of this never lasts long.
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After trying as many domestic sparklers as I could get my hands on in the $7-20 range (above that I can get great french sparkling wine) Gruet Brut, seemed the only one that had balance, some complexity, and where all the elements combined in tasty harmony. This wine is way more subdued than champagne, but if you can tune-in to it's muted characteristics, it offers a pleasurable experience for around $12.
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Tremendous fizz, extremely light straw color. Very light nose of clean Chardonnay, steel, and a note of nut. Not very dry or packing much potency on the palate but there is some distinction of place.. as in, someplace besides France ;). I fully enjoy, but certainly am not enthralled. Would like to be more thorough in reporting but quite often, sparkling wine disappears from my glass before true contemplation is possible. Worth the try and even a repurchase. Would like to try an older bottling so maybe I'll lay a few down for awhile 4+9+16+7 = 86
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Retail ~$14. This is the sole wine on the list from outside of California, this sparkler is produced in New Mexico. Like three others on the list, Gruet has its roots in Champagne–the New Mexico winery was started by Gilbert Gruet, the owner of the Gruet Champagne house in Béthon, France. Therefore they should know better than to continue to put “Méthode Champenoise” on the bottles, since the people of Champagne get their culottes in a bunch whenever the term is used. The wine has fine bubbles and a vibrant mousse, great apple and citrus on both the nose and the palate, a bit of nuttiness on the finish. Great with shellfish, roasted turkey, or anything with a pesto sauce. Very Good. 85-87 Points.
Nicely aromatic with distinct pear notes which follow through on the fairly dry palate. Decidedly less champagne-like than the last bottle but not california sparkling either. Maybe it's NM-like? Either way it's very good and better than the asking price.
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Giant Wine Sale & Tasting Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC 2/23/2013 (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): I may not be tasting the same wine as everyone else, but I thought this was awesome. There is a depth, structure and character reminiscent of real Champagne. The color is rich golden. Across the palate are rich earthy flavors of peach skin and apricot with some slate type minerality. Superb little active bubbles. Smooth. Refreshing. Crisp. Surprising long finish. Great job.
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First time in several years I am having this. Pale gold color. Nose is mostly flowers and fruit, with the faintest toasty note, but very clean and fairly sedate overall. Good effervescence with fine bubbles. Palate is very round- pear, apricot and honey- with muted acidity. A little minerality on the back of the palate as well. This is very drinkable and compares well with similarly priced Prosecco and Cava. Solid stuff.
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Simple flavors of Granny Smith and Jonathan apple abound. Not long on complexity, but a nice mouthfeel and enough acidity to keep it honest. Good QPR for $13.
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consistent with bottle of a few months ago. Slightly better than the previous bottle, this has average complexity and avg(-) length and focus. At $15 it's an OK value, at best; $11-$12 would be more like it.
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I like this a smidge more than the Blanc de Noirs. Toasty. Citrus. Apples. Pears. Great Mousse. Great price and it's from right here in NM. My go to bubbly.
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Golden tan color with full mousse. And persistent, fine bubbles. Toasty apple on the nose, echoedonthe palate with a good lengthy finish. Not spectacular, but a good value for $15 or less. Very good with food, especially for "classing up" lower-cost cuisine. Favor the Blanc de Noir for a more interesting drink. Solid.
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A solid go-to sparkler, but nothing memorable. For $14 or less you get fine composure, lots of tiny bubbles, a nose of fresh baked bread that actually lingers (the highlight of the wine) and a short-ish finish. Seemed to work best with savory appetizers. I prefer some of their other (BdB, Vintage, etc), but this works for a weeknight bubbly. 12,0% abv.
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Light bodied and light color, and more austere than most CA sparklers. Plenty of carbonation and a very small bead. Also has crisp acidity that, combined with the reserved fruit, was more Champagne like than most CA bubblies.
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Full straw color with fine, aggressive bubbles forming a frothy mousse on top. Nose: green apple, pear, and lime fruit with accents of biscuit/brioche, honeysuckle, chalk, and some toasted marshmallow. Medium body with rich, soft bubbles on the palate: red apple, green pear, and lime framed by honey-roasted almond, toasted marshmallow, tea leaf, and a little brioche. Medium acidity. Lingering tea leaf, almond, marshmallow, and red apple skin on the moderate finish. Relatively well balanced...though the almond and toasted marshmallow notes sit a little too much in the foreground. Easy and pleasant. Very good everyday bubbly.
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I drank this with my colleagues at our work holiday party. They enjoyed it a lot. It shows medium body and acid, solid yeast, showing fresh yellow apple flavor, nougat. Quite crowd-pleasing.
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Yeasty, croissant on the nose like an actual Champagne. Pale yellow color. Green apples on the nose. Crisp and lively with moderate structure, and a bit of tin or aluminum foil at the end. Decent enough for a pre-brunch starter on Labor Day.
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Popped and poured. Awesome QPR as always. Crisp, bready, dry. Just the slight hint of foxiness. Awesome acid, a little too effervescent (swirling fixes that). Holds its own with Champagne, and a steal for $14.
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I was very excited because I have heard how wonderful this sparkler is, but I have to say I was not impressed. Did not have anywhere near enough acid for a sparkler and tasted very fat. On top of that it was just a boring wine.... too bad, I will continue my search for a low priced sparkler
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V light citrus nose. Nice pinpoint bubbles,lots of mousse, but not a lot of flavor across the board. Hints of citrus, and what little there is has some length, there just isn't much there. 12%
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Very light yellow, almost clear with plenty of pinpoint bubbles. Nose offers bread dough, with faint citrus and green apple notes. On the palate, mousse had somewhat creamy mouth feel. It was tart with green apple, citrus flavors, very acidic with a somewhat bitter grapefruit taste on the back palate for me. Enjoyable, but one-dimensional. Good QPR (Quality-Price ratio).
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Not having had the higher level Champagnes, it's hard for me to really comment on how this compares to those. I will say that for $17 here in Rhode Island, this seems like a stunning value. Soft, airy, light and fluffy, followed by a rich, texture of sweetness and grip that deliver meyer lemon, gooseberry, and tangerine. Balanced, elegant, and well done in my opinion.
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Toasty sparkler with apple and pear notes; faint bead of bubbles. Toast is more dominant than I would have liked and the finish seemed a bit bitter. Decent for the price ($13).
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a nice light sparkler that has more character than most in this price range. fairly simple green apple and toast flavors. hint of strawberry. light on palate.
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Pear and apple with yeast on the nose. Had read a lot of hype about this in terms of value, and happy to say I concur. For 14 bucks, I'll take two of these over one $30 bottle of champagne for New Year's.
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Oh, this one makes me proud having grown up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Who would have thought that a good sparkling wine would come out of the Southwest, let alones Albuquerque, but there's more winemaking and grape growing in the area than you might think. This particular Brut, under $20 (even in the Marin, CA store where I bought it) is a great QPR bubbly. Very rich but also mellow and not too overbearing, with tons of great citrus and acidic notes. This is one of the best sub-$20 bubblies I've tasted.
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Wow, I'm impressed again. Popped and poured, coarse bubbles. On the nose, quite yeasty with a little bit of caramel apple. Refreshingly crisp on the palate, dry with very Champagnesque breadiness and fruit profile. This bottle tastes slightly past its peak, but that's the problem with dateless NV bottles. Nothing all that complex or life-changing, but a great performer for the price ($16) and an interesting find from a bizarre region.
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I've had this several times in the past year at restaurants and have come to appreciate this as Akin to a Spanish cava....bright and straightforward flavors... Friday nights bottle(along with an uninspiring merlot) at VOLT was a concession really, to an underwhelming overpriced list with decidedly mediocre wine service...multiple wines on the list were available only in different vintages. The food at volt ranks in the top cadre of US restaurants and is worth a special trip.
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Nose of latex glove and yeast. The predominate notes I get on the palate include lime and latex glove. Now while that might not sound great, this wine has everything going for it- great bubble mouthfeel, good acidity, dry, and creamy. It's rare that a sparkler is this good for $11.
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Med lemon color, med bubbles with fairly long persistence. Med intensity to the youthful nose of lemon, lime, ripe apple, mineral, slight notes of sugar cookie. Off-dry, med+ acidity, creamy mouse, med alcohol, med body, med intensity to the flavors of lemon, lime, mineral. Simple, slighty off-balance finish with med- length. A pretty good value as it a trad method sparkler with good flavor at under $15.
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First Tasting on 3/26/10 was corkedSecond tasting on 4/2/10---good bubbles on front end but not overpowering, hint of fruit with short finish. Satisfying, but not remarkable. A good champagne value
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Corks: Odd Varietals: Yest bomb on the nose. Crisp. Leesy! Medium bodied. Very light sweetness. Delicious, biscuity, and not unlike a decent Champagne. Impressive. $18
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This is an excellent utility wine. Pleasant sweetness, good acidity, a touch of yeasy complexity, and it goes with almost anything. On top of all that, it's dirt cheap.
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I've had this in my rack for awhile. I definitely noted chalk, but I also smelled caramel and walnuts. Nicely balanced acidity and a clean finish. Very enjoyable. Now I need to restock it.
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Thanksgiving at the In-Laws: On Thanksgiving I try to open American bottles. This was out opener. It runs around $15 Ohio which is ok value, but I suspect those of you in the free world can find this cheaper. Golden in color with medium bubbles. The nose is doughy with some ginger. On the palaate, this is ok but not great. The ginger is interesting but it is not smooth. Still, a glass at the beginning was a nice start for all.
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This was pretty good. Brought it to a 4th of July picnic to serve with chicken apple sausages & white bean salad. The faint citrus and apple on the pallet played well with the lemon juice in the beans and apple in the sausage. I'd drink this again.
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Nice grapefruit aroma, smallish bubbles. Grapefruit and yeast, some sweetness, and some apples in the finish. This won't be mistaken for grower champagne, but it's a fine sparkler and a great value. The label says it's 75% chardonnay and 25% pinot noir, no indication of when it was bottled.
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My wife and I ordered a split of this wine at a restaurant for $12. Not really a Brut in my opinion. Too sweet for that. Perhaps more of an extra dry style. Fruity and pleasant but lacking complexity. 85 points.
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Probably the best domestic sparkling that sells for less than $20. Has a little bit of sweetness, so it tastes more like an Extra Dry sparkling, not a Brut. It doesn't have any of that malolactic aftertaste you find in cheap domestic sparkling wines. 88+
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Very light and pale color...still showing a nice, but lite nose revealing a little lime and stone fruit notes, and maybe a touch of minerals. Dry, crisp, and clean...again, not a wow factor, but easy to drink.
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The first 3 bottles of this champagne blend were all fabulous consistent green apples, bubbly with pie crust, Yet I went to a larger store in the metro that sells mostly french and purchased several out of their cooler. These bottles were consistently horrible, they were definetly oxided and subjected to heat. One was completely undrinkable piss, that smelled of yeasty old beer turning to vinegar. The other bottles were tolerable but not for giving to others, they had some citrus and apples but were dominated by an unpleasant yeastness. It just goes to show, never buy the inexpensive where they have vast quantities of top shelf champagnes. The cheap stuff will not be treated with proper care, which is to bad because before my awful bottle this was my favorite bubbler of the holidays. Over 36 days I averaged a bottle per night from domaine ste. michelle to taittinger, mumms to krug and cristal.
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Would certainly drink again. Not fair to compare to top rate Champange or Cali. sparklers, but beats anything else I've tried in the price range (ie. Korbel)...
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Wet dog on the nose. This was very acidic and lacked body and fruit. Did not fare well compared to other sparkling wines in a tasting of cava, prosecco, champagne, and california sparkling wine.
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I drank a bottle of this unbelievable wine on Friday and another on Saturday night to make sure that I had consistently good bottles. I found this to be the best over-all domestic champagne blend of 2008. I was surprised that it is grown in New Mexico as well as how delightful the nose of apple and citrus coinicided with a perfect taste of pippin apples, a slight bit of citrus and a minerally backbone. This was so enjoyable with a perfect acid balance and just a hint of residual sugar to give this bubbly a wonderful sweet finish with no biterness what-so-ever. This is the perfect New Years eve staple as it price is well below any of the drinkable californians and oregon bubblies. I am returning to the store today to pick up a case of these because only one store in the metro carries them, otherwise the must by shipped cross country from K&L, whose write up gave me the courage to gamble on this champagnoise from the SouthWest. Both bottles were consistent at 92+
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A ripe, fruity style with pear, melon, citrus and light toast notes. Appealing for its effervence and effusive fruit flavors, this remains a bit flabby on the palate without the depth I look for in good sparklers, domestic or otherwise.
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Tasted blind in a mixed, slightly oddball field of international bubbles. Strongly effervescent. Cork took out a chunk of ceiling plaster. Fruity nose of white flower and melon. In the mouth, a little flabby and bland but not without a little energetic acid. Nice mineral finish. If I was having a 1000 people over to the house that I didn't know and wouldn't likely see again, I'd serve this.
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Initially very yeasty and bubbly. The cork on this was in a hurry to come out and popped out before I got the cage off the bottle. This is all tart apple flavor with lots of nice bubbles. It's not too tart, and would make a nice pairing with some sweeter desserts. I'd love to try it with a strawberry shortcake or cheesecake. I will definitely buy this again.
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As before a pale straw color with maybe just a tad of a light green high light. On opening a brief note of yeast on the nose that blew off showing some nice light citrus and a soothing minerality. Smooth texture from entry to finish and a nice balance and grip...much better than before, and while not a tremendous wow factor...a very suave and easy sipper with a good QPR ratio.
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Straw yellow in color. Fine mousse with vigerous bubbles. Lemon zest and mineral on the nose. Palate is initally green apple with nice acidity. About 45 minutes later, mild bready notes emerged. The finish has orange peel and grapefruit. QPR for sure!
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My first ever New Mexico wine...unfortunately, I have a cold...so not much of a note here. I find this very refreshing, with apple/pear, almonds, yeast, BIG spritzy effervescence. Lots of carbonation in this wine, yet still creamy. Great for the money....will definitely try another after this cold!
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Pale straw color...medium fruit nose and a lacking of telltale yeast or brioche, but nice. Firm and crisp entry with a rather monolithic fruit texture that yielded a rather firm mouth feel with a quick finish. For the money, not bad...
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Traditional method. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. Aggressive foam on the pour, the nose on this wine has significant yeast and an almost tropical apple character (almost pineapple). On the palate, it opens up in a big way with chalky minerality and lemon custard. Mouthfeel is much creamier than sparklers at this price point and the acidity is fresh and bracing. Excellent. I bought this for under $10 USD and at that QPR, it's rating tilts to 90+.
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NM sparkler??? Yup, great QPR. This was an easy drinker. Alison decided she doesn't like sparkling wines. (I must remember). We paired with mesquite grilled swordfish. I loved it. Usually I like all sparkling wines. The true test whether this cheap wine is quality will be in the morning.
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Nice golden straw color with a small bead. Toast, bitter green apple, lemon peel on the nose. Creamy on the palate with green apple and lemon oil. Great everyday sparkler. Tremendous value.
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Quick Sparkler Sips, Day 1: Simple, but still nice bubbles for the price. Clean, nice acidity, with a medium finish. Would work well as a palate cleanser and the price is right. 86-87
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A torrent of bubbles that would make a jacuzzi jealous made this fun from the start. No real notes, as I drank this awhile ago, but I remember it as enjoyable and better than expected. A fun surprise.
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medium golden color. small bubbles, fizzy mousse. great nose with yeast and bright fruit. mouth feel a bit bland. flavors so-so citrus with some creaminess. short almost earthy finish with chalkiness. this is a great alternative to some of the lighter champagnes. not my style so much. maybe a party toast wine.
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Watch out, the cork shot out once I took off the muselet! Okay, fancy French word for the wire cage, I had to look it up because I knew there had to be a word for it. Another trivia thing I saw, most use 6 half-turns/3 whole turns. Next time you're buying some vintage Krug with your buddy, bet them you can guess the number and stick them with the whole cost. Luckily no major dent in the ceiling and the Ming vase collection was unscathed. Because people who drink N.V. sparkling from New Mexico are notorious for their Ming vase collections ;-)
On to the wine...Light lemon and yeast, a bit floral. Apricot, lemon, dough, and floral on the palate. Long, pleasant but singular finish. After chilling a bit longer, a little more bitter surprisingly. Going to let it warm up again. Paid $15. Generally good reviews (upper 80s), but don't think I'd buy again. Can find better at this price point. Cheers!
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A very respectable NV bubbly from New Mexico, of all places. Hard to beat for the price--a little more complexity than Chandon Brut and others in the sub-$15 category.
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There is lots of fruit of the nose. I got some apple and pear, plus a small amount of citrus, and a touch of earthiness. The palate is crisp, and had lots os citrus, mixed with a bit of apple and pear. It finishes with some earthiness, but falls off rather quickly.
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Enjoyable, but I couldn't see where the Wall Street Journal article was coming from, I've had better sparklers at similar price to this one. I'd buy it again, but I'm surprised that it was their #1 value wine. Anyone reading this, try L. Mawby or M. Lawrence (same producer, one name signifies Close Cuvee method, the other Method Champanois) which is a Michigan producer - their wines were excellent and even a bigger bargain than this one.
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One of the best things (along with Hatch Valley chilies) to come out of New Mexico. Great sparkling wine from a family with a long history of making champagne in France. An outstanding value in the market as well.
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Pleasant, crisp, with nice citric notes and lots of medium size bubbles. This was a fine bottle, but it really paled in comparison to the Cameron Hughes Lot 25 served at the same time. Both wines were purchased for the same price.
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Tart but with some flavour. I paid $11 for a half bottle. Good. Per back label: A classic blend "En Tirage" for at least 2 years of 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir give this wine aroma of green apples and hints of grapefruit.
Per www.gruetwinery.com: A crisp and full-bodied sparkling wine; rich complexity and fine mousse. Toasty finish from twenty-four months on tirage, a complement to apple and citrus flavor. Fine bubbles and bouquet.
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Creamy and sweet with somewhat coarse bubbles compared to "benchmark" stuff like White Star or Laurent Perrier Brut but a notably elegant and more full bodied palate than White Star or LP can deliver. Finishes long. Went very well with a slightly sweet dijon and shallot vinagrette on some braised vegetables. Very good value.
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With early Thanksgiving dinner after LC returned from buying some ocean front land in Mazatlan. Simple, but refreshing, not either too much yeast or too little. Nice fruit. Good when you want sparkling and not too complicated. 3.5++ LC thinks it tastes like a more expensive wine.
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Dinner at the Givens Home (Newburyport, MA): Nose of pear. Very dry initially but fruit eventually came through for a pleasing overall experience. Tasted as aperitif with cheese plate.
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Purchased for $14.99 at Premier Liquors in Buffalo. While it is not very complex, this is a serviceable sparkler that is on the lighter side. Green apple and citrus flavors. Fine bubbles build to a refreshing finish. Would compare more with prosecco than champagne.
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It wasn't bad, I would say that if you served this sparkling wine, nobody will complain. That is why I scored it on the high side of average. Very plain.
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($13) Mona Kidnaps James: This is aged for 2 years and has .8% residual sugar. Light, bright lemon fruit. Slightly sweet with perhaps some red fruit on the nose. Not a bad value. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir.
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Pale color. Bubbles seemed strange consistency, more soap bubbles than sparkling wine. Nice fruity flavor, finishing a bit sweet for my tastes. More cocktail party than food IMHO. Heard a lot about these guys and was fun to try.
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I have seen some good words for this sparkler and figured it was worth a try. Starting from the nose and moving to the palate this is definitely in the fruit-driven mold rather than the yeasty/toasty mold. The bubbles are bigger than in the fine French sparklers and it doesn’t have quite the mouthfeel, but it doesn’t have the same price, either. The label mentions green apples and grapefruit. I don’t get the green apples part but there is a definite acidic and slightly puckery grapefruit flavor to it. With a cap it even lasted into the second night without suffering. Tasty enough for what it is and with the novelty value of this sparkler coming from New Mexico it wasn’t a disappointment. The premium for the vintage bottling is not that much, roughly five dollars and might be worth a try. But New Mexico – who’da thought?
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12/30/2023 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 87 Points
4/21/2023 disgorgement. Good overall with apple, pear, spice and minerals. Shorter finish.
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12/9/2023 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 87 Points
The Sixth Annual World's Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine (Houston, Texas): Retail $15. Medium color with a fruity and funky nose. The palate is a bit disjointed and rather meh. Still, I would opt for this over (just about) any beer at a wedding reception! Very Good (barely). 87 Points.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/2/2023 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 87 Points
4/21/2023 disgorgement. Better than recent wines from them with toast, apple, and minerals. Good acidity.
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8/26/2023 - Wissam’s Cellar Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great value for the money sparkling
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7/16/2023 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
Some recent CT TNs seem to be a bit down on this wine - a position that I find myself at odds with. Thinking about sparkling wines at the same price point, how does this compare? I would say pretty favorably with the various cremants de wherever (Loire, Bourgogne etc.) The Costco real champagne is slightly more expensive and maybe a bit more interesting but not a whole lot so. Do my eyes deceive or is there a pinkish tinge?
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4/9/2023 - mark.gularte@gmail.com wrote: 85 Points
Worked fine for making mimosas.
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1/24/2023 - Dad300 wrote: 80 Points
average at best.. solid middle of the road domestic sparkler. haven't had in a bit. Probably three years? the original family has sold and it seems to have affected the quality. this used to be slightly above average for a domestic sparkler. now it is just there. nothing stands out. Not offensive, but it doesn't say look at me either.
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1/15/2023 - gharter Likes this wine: 85 Points
Part of a large tasting. a blend of grapes from New Mexico, California and Washington. Apple, pear, peach. Lighter body, Good acidity. Short finish.
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1/9/2023 - Agecphd wrote: 90 Points
Bold at the end! Kind of peppery/earthy. Goes down light.
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1/1/2023 - JohnRachelWine Likes this wine: 85 Points
Drank at Bucs tailgate. Very dry, biscuit-y.
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12/21/2022 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 88 Points
The Fifth Annual Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine: Retail $15. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. Quite light, nearly colorless in the glass. Not much coming from the nose either, and quite dry, on the verge of austere on the palate. 88 Points.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/3/2022 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 80 Points
Don't get the apeal on these wines. Not much going on and boring. Minerals, some orchard fruit and short finish. Not very refreshing. Buy the Mumm Brut Prestige for a few more bucks.
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10/28/2022 - bmcconnell@rchospitalitysoluti wrote: 89 Points
Clean wine with pale straw color
slight citrus nose with good bready notes, dry wine with medium + acidity, melon and citrus on the palate, medium finish
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9/10/2022 - xyc wrote: 86 Points
Flat on the palate, indistinct mineral, hazelnut shell, lacking fruit and character. Disappointing compared to previous Gruet sparklings.
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9/8/2022 - mdefreitas wrote: 90 Points
My first time with this "often touted" bargain wine, and it did not disappoint. Clean, citric and crisp, with a very fine bead. Definitely a repeat purchase.
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7/30/2022 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 89 Points
Retail $15. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. I last tasted this for the Fourth Annual World's Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine and really liked it then and I like it now. There is a bit of an odd nuttiness, particularly on the finish, however, and that resulted in a slightly reduced score here.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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4/4/2022 - dalemosier Likes this wine: 89 Points
provided for wedding toast wine. Excellent balance of quality and price
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3/19/2022 - AlphaMikeFoxtrot wrote: 85 Points
Been ages since I have tried this. Very primary bubbles - fresh apples and pears. A hint of wet stone or other mineral quality. Good mouthfeel; but overall pretty simple. Available almost everywhere and thankfully inexpensive.
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1/20/2022 - DTK Rockstar wrote: 85 Points
Served from a bottle in a bucket of ice.
Fine bubbles as would be expected from the traditional method. Pretty simple nose of apple and yellow pear.
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12/23/2021 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 90 Points
The Fourth Annual World’s Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine; 12/20/2021-12/23/2021: Retail $15. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. Fresh green apple, peach, pear, on the nose with bits of minerality and yeastiness. Yum. The palate is a tad sweet initially, but that is quickly washed away by the rather intense acidity. The palate also exhibits fantastic fruit, a vibrant bubble, and a lengthy finish. All the elements are here, Yum (again).
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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10/18/2021 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Ditto previous notes.
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9/18/2021 - Graniwinkle wrote: 85 Points
Crisp, lemon zest, pleasant.
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7/3/2021 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 90 Points
Pale lemon in color. Med. intensity aromas of lemon, lime, yellow apple, green pear, brioche, and toasted hazelnut. Dry, med (+) acid, med body, med alcohol (12%). Nicely balanced, with med body, intensity and length. Very approachable and refreshing, it is simple but yet impeccably executed. Great QPR.
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5/1/2021 - TashNYC wrote: 92 Points
This is my favorite wine with fried chicken. Notes of apple, fruit but also quite a bit of brioche and toast, with very good acidity and lots of fine, bubbles. Drink now.
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2/14/2021 - Condrieu82 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Good nose of Granny Smith Apple, with a straightforward palate of citrus/lemon flavors and some vanilla with good acidity. A good drink for the price and perfect for Champagne Cocktails!
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1/27/2021 - Quiller wrote: 84 Points
It has been 5-6 years, maybe more, since I last had this. Now: easy drinking, maybe a touch sweeter and shorter finish than I remember. Once upon a time this was a decent sparkler for the money. No longer; although still inexpensive. The change in quality seems to coincide with the change in ownership, source of grapes, etc.
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1/9/2021 - winebytoth wrote: 87 Points
Nice bubbles for the price, not too expressive. For a few dollars more you can get the sauvage and that has a lot more going on
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12/31/2020 - curtex Likes this wine: 82 Points
Yeasty, easy drinking, but fairly undistinguished on the nose and on the palate. Usually a fan of Gruet, but this one falls a little short.
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12/28/2020 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 87 Points
Day 1: Decant sparkler with citrus, pie crust and chalk. Short to medium finish. Certainly not something I would buy again as you can get Mumm Brut Prestige for a few more dollars and it is much better. 87 points
Day 2: Falls flat. Tastes like a cheap non alcoholic sparkler from the super market. NR
Recommendation: Not a fan. Never liked Gruet Brut. Just does not have the complexity of Mumm Brut Prestige or Roederer Anderson Valley.
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12/25/2020 - amenges Likes this wine: 87 Points
Decent sparkling wine- notes of toast but overall strong Brit. Some straw.
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12/14/2020 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 91 Points
The Third Annual Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine: Retail $15. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. Quite light straw color, aromas of peach, pear, yeast, a touch of citrus, yellow apple. Very nice. Tart on the palate with a heavy dose of both green and yellow apple. This is, in a word, lovely, really nice. But it comes off a bit young and might need some time to settle down a bit. Still, the finish here is stellar, and overall this is pretty gangbusters. 91. thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/12/2020 - GasperTheWineGuy Likes this wine: 86 Points
Clean, crisp, some wet stone on the finish. Good quality for the price.
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11/14/2020 - jsjones Likes this wine: 86 Points
A little too sweet. More fruity than yeasty but still good. Went well with Thai food.
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11/3/2020 - ptaylor2112 wrote: 86 Points
Drank to celebrate NOT watching any election results. However, this bubbly was just OK for me. It was a little bit too sweet. There wasn't a whole lot of verve, though I did enjoy the mouthfeel of the smaller bubbles. I prefer the Gruet Rose'.
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8/15/2020 - TashNYC wrote: 92 Points
Outdoor Fried Chicken Dinner with Friends (Princeton, NJ): Maybe I am an easy grader tonight, but ... we had this wine with our friend’s homemade, fried chicken in a paprika batter. The chicken was fried quite hot and was perfect. And this wine pairs amazingly well with great, fried chicken.
Notes of apple, fruit but also quite a bit of brioche and toast. The wine was much more complete with the fried chicken pairing (92 points); on its own (89 points) there was more fruit, less brioche and perhaps it was a touch less dry.
This wine is always improved with food. Terrific qpr.
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5/4/2020 - FFXJ Likes this wine:
A bit on the sweeter end but not overly sweet. Great value at only $15.
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12/31/2019 - Vinnut Likes this wine: 88 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. 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 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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12/28/2019 - gkharrin wrote:
OK, but not worth purchasing again. For 25% more $, I can get 100% more enjoyment.
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12/26/2019 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Great value in a sparkling wine. Fruitier than Champagne, and more austere than California. Nice balance. Begs for one more sip. Grown from New Mexico grape vines grafted on Herman Wiemer's New York State root stock. Worth seeking out.
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12/21/2019 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 87 Points
The Second Annual Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine: Retail $15. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. Intense yellow/straw. Fresh and concise on the nose. Perfectly fine, everyday kind of sparkler. Good to Very Good. 86-88 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/20/2019 - oldwines Likes this wine: 89 Points
An Around the World Introductory Tasting/Holiday Event for a Philadelphia Law Firm (The Union League of Philadelphia): Served as a welcome at the Holiday tasting at the Union League of Philadelphia. I find this to always be a pleasant, inexpensive way to enjoy sparkling wine. It is light to medium yellow, fragrant with toasty brioche and creamy citrus, pear and green apple in a nicely balanced offering.
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11/20/2019 - mwneil wrote: 85 Points
Balanced, small bubbles and lots of them, a bit sweet but with acid to balance, just never clicked, good value, might drink again but lots of other choices for sparkling wine.
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11/14/2019 - JNebs wrote: 85 Points
Nothing special. There are better options at this price point.
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10/19/2019 - rialla977 Likes this wine: 90 Points
I nice dry sparkling wine which is great for a party or with a meal. It is especially good for the price. I've been drinking this wine off and on for a long time and it is consistently pleasing.
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8/15/2019 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 97 Points
Solid for the price, per usual. Fun, post-beach sparkler.
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5/27/2019 - CLL Likes this wine: 87 Points
Rating transferred from Vivino in Jan 2021 and translated to 100 point scale.
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4/21/2019 - 2015 Likes this wine:
To Bel Air for Easter
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2/9/2019 - RomanPski Likes this wine:
Crazy good QPR sparkler. A go to for pleasing the crowds
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1/1/2019 - rahul_d_chatter@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 87 Points
Clearly a hit at the party. Very nice QPR. A pleasing sparkling wine. Pears, peaches, hint of honey. Crisp and light on the palate. A crowd pleaser.
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12/26/2018 - rahul_d_chatter@yahoo.com Likes this wine: 86 Points
Very decent sparkling wine for the price. Excellent QPR. Hard to believe that this wine is from New Mexico. Bought it because of the 90 pt WS rating and we were not disappointed. Crisp, dry, notes of apple, nuts on the palate.
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11/22/2018 - kmejkwe Likes this wine: 90 Points
Wine Spectator - 90 Points - Smart Buy - Top 100 Values - #1 Sparkling Wine
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10/11/2018 - garambler wrote: 87 Points
I had this after work on 10/11/18. It had a simple, straightforward bouquet of apple, toast and citrus aromas. The palate was simple and tart with flavors of apple, toast and lime.
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6/1/2018 - InFrom/HF Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great qpr.
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5/24/2018 - The Great Hatsbys Likes this wine: 86 Points
Mr. & Ms. Hatsby both find this sparkly to be quite palatable - and for the moderate price - a good, safe buy.
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5/16/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Crisp and fresh and ripe green apple and a little bit higher dosage than I would like.
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5/16/2018 - Joe Kane wrote:
20 mo sur lee, 75 chard, 25 PN. Doesn't smell yeasty for that much lees aging. Pretty clean and simple.
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5/5/2018 - bdibbell wrote:
A go-to cheap sparkler. Apple dominates. Medium-high acidity. Short-medium finish. Pleasant.
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4/23/2018 - ahwt Likes this wine: 88 Points
A pleasant wine and a good one for a party. Nothing exceptional or noteworthy- just a pleasant sparkling wine. .
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3/14/2018 - Echodog Likes this wine: 88 Points
For the price I was impressed (added an extra point). Apples and pear flavors mixed with lots of tiny bubbles. Slightly high acidity, but nothing overwhelming. Well balanced, had several layers, and all for $11.
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3/10/2018 - TashNYC wrote: 90 Points
Very good with sushi at Mori Sushi. Especially good with the yellowtail, crab, white tuna and mackeral. Great qpr.
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1/19/2018 - Tabergman Likes this wine: 88 Points
Ok for price point. Improves as it warms and bubbles fade. Slightly fruity, quite acidic.
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12/31/2017 - Wineteacher Likes this wine: 89 Points
Lovely and balanced wine. Fresh and very efferescent. As good or better than anything at this price.
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12/31/2017 - jahoma Likes this wine: 90 Points
Great taste
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12/1/2017 - PT insurgent wrote:
Really quite bitter - and it's not like a high acid bitter/tartness, the wine is almost tannic in its phenolic bitterness. Not very nice.
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11/25/2017 - sduraybito wrote: 91 Points
With Doug, Arkansas River fly-fishing trip. Nice depth, very drinkable, outstanding QPR. Paired very well with honey-smoked salmon.
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11/17/2017 - MBusk Likes this wine: 91 Points
This is very fine, with aromas of lemon and Golden Delicious and a notable richness on the palate, with hazelnut notes in addition to the higher-toned lemon and oyster shell. A soft but persistent mousse gives this a velvety texture. Consistently this is a great domestic sparkler.
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9/12/2017 - Baron Slick wrote: 87 Points
Minerally, hoppy, and biscuity aromas. Feels full, frothy, and long, with lime citrus and green fruit flavors that are dry and have a rustic edge. Estery fruit and crushed rock finish.
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9/10/2017 - Muledog71 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Kinda of a savory type sparkler, not my favorite style even though it was brut style. High level of acidity, great mousse, and a good amount of green fruit. Nice finish although just a little off for me. Had with pad Thai chicken and was a relatively good match.
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8/26/2017 - Justin S wrote: 86 Points
75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir; 12% abv; toasty and yeasty aroma; nice mix of acid and savory flavor; the yeasty flavor is probably what sticks out most, but the rest of the flavors are not strong enough to match; short finish. At $17, would go with Roederer Estate Brut for a few bucks more, though this isn't bad.
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8/3/2017 - drdecanto Likes this wine: 91 Points
Over the course of a couple of days had this, the NV Brut Rose and NV Blanc de Blancs (zero dosage).
Preferred the Blanc de Blancs by a hair. It had a nervousness to it that is hard to explain. I'd give it a 92 and will be giving this a preferred position in my rotating line-up of sparkling wines. Will want to try it up against my preferred Prosecco's and NV Brut Champagnes. Had it with potstickers.
The NV Brut was better than prior showings. I'd give it a 91. I find it more complex than other recent postings. Lovely match to Erin Wade's Kale Quinoa Salad from Vinaigrette in Santa Fe. Here's the recipe https://www.newmexico.org/nmmagazine/articles/post/erin-wades-salad-days-95196/ . I double the kale and hand rub it with olive oil and a dash of salt.
The NV Brut Rose was loved by my partner but I found it a little sweet for my tastes. I'd give it 89.
All of them had copious mousse.
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4/22/2017 - cuffthis wrote: flawed
Corked.
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3/13/2017 - kmejkwe Likes this wine:
Nice Bubbly. I'd give it and "A"
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12/25/2016 - ctbob Likes this wine:
Completely acceptable $14 sparkler...
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12/17/2016 - Bax62 Likes this wine: 85 Points
Crisp and clean, but not especially complex. Drank with smoked salmon crostini.
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11/25/2016 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 86 Points
Not bad, just blah. Not much structure. Very low acidity.
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10/31/2016 - americanstorm Likes this wine: 88 Points
Lots of toast, very drinkable, not much fruit, long finish, outstanding for the price. My first experience with this sparkling wine and I was stunned by the quality. If this was a french champagne it would be 2 to 3 times the price. Fantastic qpr.
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10/10/2016 - zack.wygant Likes this wine: 87 Points
Solid bubbles, enough yeast but not over the top. Dark golden color, pear and a little granny apple.
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9/11/2016 - radiolysis wrote:
Gosh darn it, a solid bubbly that, while not overly complex, is easy to drink. Mildly yeasty with a good bit of bright fruit so it plays well with foods and is interesting enough on its own.
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7/4/2016 - Sonny&G wrote:
Decent. A little foamy on pour, probably wouldn't buy again.
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7/3/2016 - galaxie500 wrote: 85 Points
Appeared dark gold in glass, almost olive oil color.
Effervescent while pouring, but bubble activity seemed to wannes after a few minutes in glass.
Didn't seem particularly refreshing or crisp.
A guest brought with, so I guess it is possible the bottle had been purchased a couple of years ago.
Not likely, but possible.
in one word Plonk.
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6/6/2016 - wdlohr wrote: 87 Points
Solid value with some solid structure and crisp flavors
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6/4/2016 - oldwines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Served at my daughter's wedding. Perfectly acceptable for a large event and quite good. A little yeast, some light tropical fruit and a nice mineral finish. Great QPR.
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6/4/2016 - drdecanto wrote: 89 Points
Actually prefer the cheaper Kirkland Prosecco a tad more at half the cost
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5/20/2016 - bboard Likes this wine:
Solid bubbly, great QPR. Decent amount of depth & flavors, complex for its price range comparisons. There's enough bready/yeast that satisfying - definitely would buy again
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5/19/2016 - Ombibulous Does not like this wine:
The wine is bland and uninteresting. Between the two of us we barely drank half of the 375 ml bottle. A waste of $13. Wish I'd spent $10 more to get a half bottle of Moët.
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4/10/2016 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 87 Points
Very nice below $15 New Mexico Brut from a winery who has been turning out good, inexpensive sparkling wines for some time. Great QPR.
We prefer the Blancs de Blanc over the Brut, but the Brut is not bad either. As previously noted, some depth, enjoyable, believe this is sweeter than the Blancs de Blancs. Great choice for entertaining, larger groups on a budget, they will come away impressed.
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2/27/2016 - chablis28 wrote: 88 Points
Like this very much. Especially for $13.50. Not quite as exciting as a recent restaurant list Blanc di Noir pick from Gruet though. I need to find the BdN. I will buy this again though if the price remains sub $15. Great no frills bubbly with some depth and a big step up from basic cavas.
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2/26/2016 - joshwoodward wrote: 89 Points
Surprisingly good recorded on second night!
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12/30/2015 - mk42 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Solid, low priced bubbly. Always surprisingly nice.
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12/24/2015 - tward Likes this wine: 87 Points
Fine, fun, and affordable: What's not to like?
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11/26/2015 - PolarBear22 wrote: 87 Points
Very solid sparkler and great QPR. We enjoyed a pair of bottles tonight.
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9/11/2015 - partylikeakennedy wrote: 86 Points
It's okay....just....kinda boring.
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9/5/2015 - drdecanto Likes this wine: 90 Points
I've always been a fan of this wine. Haven't posted on it in some time. Had a couple of bottles over the last week with spicy Chinese dishes and then spicy Indian Curry. Really does well with those.
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8/29/2015 - galewskj wrote: 85 Points
Drank a bottle over the course of an evening. Ended up putting some liqueur in the last couple glasses, because the wine itself is not that interesting. It has a soft nose that vaguely resembles champagne. The palate is rough, with pear and fruit driven. This seems slightly less desirable than my past experiences with the wine.
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7/4/2015 - petitblanc wrote: 83 Points
This is nothing like the Gruets I used to enjoy. Profile of generic chardonnay, thin, coarse bubbles, chalky mouthfeel, lingering heat and chlorine notes. Barely useable for mixing cocktails. Sound bottle, could be the quality of the product just isn't what it used to be.
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5/29/2015 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
There is a very heavy brioche/yeast note on the initial attack which eventually subsides to tropical fruit and green apple. Does not linger very long, but quite good for the price.
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2/7/2015 - Drankard wrote: 92 Points
In 1984, Gilbert Gruet of the French Champagne house Gruet & Fils made a bold choice to plant Chardonnay and Pinot Noir near Albuquerque, New Mexico. High vineyards at 4,300 feet meant cool nights for his experiment and a long growing season. In 1987 he was able to achieve his first production using the traditional French "Methode Champenoise" and the rest is history. Focused and richly styled sparkling wine. On the palate, green apples and cream with a toasty finish with subtle hints of brioche/yeast flavors lurking in the background. A great buy by at $12
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2/1/2015 - texaswinelover wrote:
Not brut in rs. I suppose this was ok for $15 at whole foods but disappointed for what I was expecting. Gruet is supposedly known for sparkling wines but this was meh. Sparkling yes, sweet yes, funny after taste yes, green and red apple yes. Would not buy again.
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1/3/2015 - TashNYC wrote: 87 Points
Tropical fruit, brioche, toast, lime. Perhaps not as good as past vintages but tasty with our pan-grilled swordfish and especially with the XX(squash, quinoa, spinach dish roasted) and to a lesser extent with the apples, sweet potato and celery dish. Good qpr for $12 / bottle
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12/31/2014 - valecnik Likes this wine: 90 Points
Finally trying Gruet and surprised to see the community score isn't higher. I was highly impressed by this wine. Lots of yeast/bread on the nose along with some tropical fruit. Palate is layered, ranging from hard candy to toast to more tropical fruit. There is a flirtatious peach-pit bitterness on the finish. For less than $20 this NV sparkler delivers delightful complexity while also being crisp and refreshing.
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12/27/2014 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
Just a couple of sips. Green apple, creamy texture. Nice attack, with some hollowness in the mid palate. Not bad at all.
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11/16/2014 - wdlohr wrote: 85 Points
Sweeter than what I remember. Not too much going on otherwise.
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10/16/2014 - Vinophiliac559 wrote: 77 Points
Average at a decent price
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10/3/2014 - fingers Likes this wine: 89 Points
Just remarkably solid for the price. Vibrant, rich, and voluptuous beyond it's class. Crowd pleaser, for sure. 4+11+16+8 = 89
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9/8/2014 - beezer6 wrote: 87 Points
Tasting with Maverick at FHE.
Dry apples, green pear. Touch lime stone, touch yeast, but very subtle. Crisp and refreshing. Not bad. Enough complexity.
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7/5/2014 - mwneil Does not like this wine: 82 Points
Sweet finish, not much going on. I always wonder how to keep track of NV sparklers, when is there a new batch. Have had this wine before and this bottle was not very good.
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5/15/2014 - fingers wrote:
Last of 6 bottles purchased in 2012 and it was imho, the best. There is something to be said for laying down even simple, NV sparklers for a couple years.
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2/19/2014 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Its yeasty, it works it out on the nose and palate, fairly sweet but hey, hits $16 nicely.
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1/18/2014 - MWiking wrote: 82 Points
OK on the nose, probably works if it pop and poured but don´t let it rest in the glass for a while as it dies fast!
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1/16/2014 - Patrik H wrote: 78 Points
On the nose, Gun powder, sulfur
On the palate, Gun powder, peach
Might have been little to old
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1/12/2014 - PanosKakaviatos Does not like this wine:
Bubbly surprises (Private home in Arlington, Virginia): It was as all of us concluded rather boring. Some complained that it had a slightly bitter finish. Another participant thought that the bottle was off because she has had Gruet before and that this bottle was not truly reflective of the wine. I found no evident fault, but it lacked excitement. NO VOTES
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1/1/2014 - RobertDwyer wrote: 89 Points
Straightforward with appealing lemon-lime aromatics and flavors. Fine bubbles. Creamy mouthfeel. Very nice value.
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12/27/2013 - kmejkwe Likes this wine: 88 Points
Dale Robertson - Houston Chronicle - 12/25/2013
"New Mexico's finest sparkling wine - OK, New Mexico's only sparkling wine anyone's ever heard of - is another consistent over-achiever. The high desert fruit delivers flavors of green apple, lime and grapefruit with slightly burned toast on the finish, thanks to the 24 months it spent on tirage. Honestly, I'm always shocked at how good this wine is." I agree!! Was a perfect addition to our present opening on Christmas morning!.
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12/15/2013 - Sourdough Likes this wine: 87 Points
Drank at a Christmas party. Good solid bubbly at a good price. Light yeast over a nicely balanced base. Not as crisp as I prefer and thus not as sophisticated and bubble size is on the large side but totally enjoyable. A good value.
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12/13/2013 - cristian_m wrote: 74 Points
Fruity and flavorful but the flavors are not all good. Strong yeast and decay flavors. Mousse was gone within seconds.
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12/12/2013 - BlancdeBlanc Does not like this wine: 75 Points
I took one sip and threw away the rest. It tasted like water with something like whey added to it. It didn't taste horrible, but something about it was very off for me. I don't think that it was defective as I've had it before and it tasted similar only more bitter.
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12/1/2013 - drdecanto wrote: 90 Points
Excellent showing. Great mousse. Lovely apple/pear flavors. Crisp acidity.
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11/22/2013 - PimpDaddy2Kool Likes this wine: 88 Points
This is my go-to sparkler for large parties. Always a crowd pleaser and great price ~ $13.
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9/28/2013 - oldwines Likes this wine: 90 Points
Tasted at our wine bash with the NV Extra Dry, and while surprisingly good in my view the Extra Dry was more complex though the Brut was crisp and had nice tropical notes I enjoyed. Due to the party nature of the evening no more detailed notes available.
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9/21/2013 - soyhead wrote: 88 Points
Limited notes but light and crisp. Better than anticipated
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6/29/2013 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 86 Points
Drank at a friend's 30th birthday party. Such a solid sparkler for the price. Melon and lemon themes mix with crisp acid, a bit of creaminess and some nutty notes. Crisp and citrus-driven finish. At a party, a bottle of this never lasts long.
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6/24/2013 - kakpoo wrote:
After trying as many domestic sparklers as I could get my hands on in the $7-20 range (above that I can get great french sparkling wine) Gruet Brut, seemed the only one that had balance, some complexity, and where all the elements combined in tasty harmony. This wine is way more subdued than champagne, but if you can tune-in to it's muted characteristics, it offers a pleasurable experience for around $12.
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6/2/2013 - BadOyster wrote: 89 Points
Still a great party bubbly.
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4/27/2013 - fingers Likes this wine: 86 Points
Tremendous fizz, extremely light straw color. Very light nose of clean Chardonnay, steel, and a note of nut. Not very dry or packing much potency on the palate but there is some distinction of place.. as in, someplace besides France ;). I fully enjoy, but certainly am not enthralled. Would like to be more thorough in reporting but quite often, sparkling wine disappears from my glass before true contemplation is possible. Worth the try and even a repurchase. Would like to try an older bottling so maybe I'll lay a few down for awhile 4+9+16+7 = 86
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4/26/2013 - RedLoverJim Likes this wine: 88 Points
Purchased in split five years ago, this has held up well. Good acid, crisp green apples and a little citrus.
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4/7/2013 - Wineio Likes this wine: 85 Points
Toasty nose, flavors of yeasty, toasty. No or very little fruit. Had with very spicy Mexican food.
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3/26/2013 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 86 Points
Retail ~$14. This is the sole wine on the list from outside of California, this sparkler is produced in New Mexico. Like three others on the list, Gruet has its roots in Champagne–the New Mexico winery was started by Gilbert Gruet, the owner of the Gruet Champagne house in Béthon, France. Therefore they should know better than to continue to put “Méthode Champenoise” on the bottles, since the people of Champagne get their culottes in a bunch whenever the term is used. The wine has fine bubbles and a vibrant mousse, great apple and citrus on both the nose and the palate, a bit of nuttiness on the finish. Great with shellfish, roasted turkey, or anything with a pesto sauce. Very Good. 85-87 Points.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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3/22/2013 - yofog wrote: 87 Points
Nicely aromatic with distinct pear notes which follow through on the fairly dry palate. Decidedly less champagne-like than the last bottle but not california sparkling either. Maybe it's NM-like? Either way it's very good and better than the asking price.
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3/13/2013 - MrGoldenSun Likes this wine: 84 Points
Fine. Not amazed, but I like it.
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3/6/2013 - drdecanto wrote: 90 Points
Consistently excellent for my taste. Mousse was a little too frothy. Hard to pour because of that. Taste is excellent. See prior notes.
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2/23/2013 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 89 Points
Giant Wine Sale & Tasting Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC 2/23/2013 (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): I may not be tasting the same wine as everyone else, but I thought this was awesome. There is a depth, structure and character reminiscent of real Champagne. The color is rich golden. Across the palate are rich earthy flavors of peach skin and apricot with some slate type minerality. Superb little active bubbles. Smooth. Refreshing. Crisp. Surprising long finish. Great job.
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1/5/2013 - CASEBIER KENNETH wrote: 91 Points
Lovely flavors of toasted brioche and fresh cut hay. Excellent with food, particularly shrimp. Finishes with lite citrus notes, very clean.
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1/5/2013 - NineteenEightyTwo Likes this wine: 83 Points
First time in several years I am having this. Pale gold color. Nose is mostly flowers and fruit, with the faintest toasty note, but very clean and fairly sedate overall. Good effervescence with fine bubbles. Palate is very round- pear, apricot and honey- with muted acidity. A little minerality on the back of the palate as well. This is very drinkable and compares well with similarly priced Prosecco and Cava. Solid stuff.
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1/3/2013 - ziavino Likes this wine: 87 Points
Simple flavors of Granny Smith and Jonathan apple abound. Not long on complexity, but a nice mouthfeel and enough acidity to keep it honest. Good QPR for $13.
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1/1/2013 - Tim Heaton wrote:
consistent with bottle of a few months ago. Slightly better than the previous bottle, this has average complexity and avg(-) length and focus. At $15 it's an OK value, at best; $11-$12 would be more like it.
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1/1/2013 - Zoomin Z wrote: 84 Points
Smooth, green flavors, large bubbles. From a half bottle.
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12/26/2012 - drdecanto Likes this wine: 91 Points
I like this a smidge more than the Blanc de Noirs. Toasty. Citrus. Apples. Pears. Great Mousse. Great price and it's from right here in NM. My go to bubbly.
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12/25/2012 - michaelandmichaelson wrote: 87 Points
Great value.
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12/23/2012 - sjr4 wrote: 90 Points
Good value.
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12/23/2012 - lb426 Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent Value
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12/8/2012 - Javachip wrote: 88 Points
San Diego WineSpectator.com Offline, 12/8/2012 (Carlsbad, California): Tasted blind along with seven other sparkling wines ranging from $10-35. Straightforward but pleasant notes of bread dough, apple, pear, lemon, white grapefruit. My #3; group's SECOND PLACE (tie).
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10/2/2012 - iByron wrote: 83 Points
Golden tan color with full mousse. And persistent, fine bubbles. Toasty apple on the nose, echoedonthe palate with a good lengthy finish. Not spectacular, but a good value for $15 or less. Very good with food, especially for "classing up" lower-cost cuisine. Favor the Blanc de Noir for a more interesting drink. Solid.
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8/16/2012 - Tim Heaton wrote:
consistent tn's. I'll remember to buy the BdB or rosé next time. 12,0% abv (no mention of disgorge date)
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8/3/2012 - Tim Heaton Does not like this wine:
A solid go-to sparkler, but nothing memorable. For $14 or less you get fine composure, lots of tiny bubbles, a nose of fresh baked bread that actually lingers (the highlight of the wine) and a short-ish finish. Seemed to work best with savory appetizers. I prefer some of their other (BdB, Vintage, etc), but this works for a weeknight bubbly. 12,0% abv.
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7/7/2012 - JumpAroundOnGrapes wrote: 90 Points
Best value out there. Apple, citrus, some toast, good acidity. Pretty versatile with food.
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6/10/2012 - BadOyster wrote: 90 Points
standard quaffable sparking wine.
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6/4/2012 - joshwoodward wrote: 89 Points
Delicious as always. Good acidity, some yeast, simple but tasty.
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5/13/2012 - vinole wrote: 87 Points
Came across with more fruit and less acidity than my last bottle, but still very nice at its price.
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3/5/2012 - txtiebreaker wrote: 87 Points
Very fruity and nice.
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12/25/2011 - vinole wrote: 88 Points
Light bodied and light color, and more austere than most CA sparklers. Plenty of carbonation and a very small bead. Also has crisp acidity that, combined with the reserved fruit, was more Champagne like than most CA bubblies.
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12/25/2011 - GKYoung wrote:
Not worth the hype. Not balanced; too sweet.
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12/23/2011 - df1962 wrote: 88 Points
Frothy mousse with persistent bead. Nice balance of the mineral and fruit elements. Huge value.
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12/15/2011 - jsums wrote: 87 Points
Full straw color with fine, aggressive bubbles forming a frothy mousse on top. Nose: green apple, pear, and lime fruit with accents of biscuit/brioche, honeysuckle, chalk, and some toasted marshmallow. Medium body with rich, soft bubbles on the palate: red apple, green pear, and lime framed by honey-roasted almond, toasted marshmallow, tea leaf, and a little brioche. Medium acidity. Lingering tea leaf, almond, marshmallow, and red apple skin on the moderate finish. Relatively well balanced...though the almond and toasted marshmallow notes sit a little too much in the foreground. Easy and pleasant. Very good everyday bubbly.
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12/14/2011 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 86 Points
I drank this with my colleagues at our work holiday party. They enjoyed it a lot. It shows medium body and acid, solid yeast, showing fresh yellow apple flavor, nougat. Quite crowd-pleasing.
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11/24/2011 - rjdoan wrote: 84 Points
Solid sparkling which mixed well for mimosas. Nice color and structure. Crisp and champagne like.
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11/21/2011 - arose13 wrote: 84 Points
c- light yellow. a- toast, flowers, marble. f- light honey, toast, some mineral, not much else. short finish, lighter bodied.
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9/5/2011 - psizzo Likes this wine: 85 Points
Yeasty, croissant on the nose like an actual Champagne. Pale yellow color. Green apples on the nose. Crisp and lively with moderate structure, and a bit of tin or aluminum foil at the end. Decent enough for a pre-brunch starter on Labor Day.
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8/5/2011 - chefpete wrote: 91 Points
wife enjoyed
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7/14/2011 - AZ Cat wrote: flawed
Corked.
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7/1/2011 - curtispomeroy wrote: 85 Points
A very pleasant sparkler. Drinks slightly off-dry. Paired nicely with breaded walleye.
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5/26/2011 - joshwoodward wrote: 89 Points
Popped and poured. Awesome QPR as always. Crisp, bready, dry. Just the slight hint of foxiness. Awesome acid, a little too effervescent (swirling fixes that). Holds its own with Champagne, and a steal for $14.
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5/25/2011 - kdubler wrote:
I was very excited because I have heard how wonderful this sparkler is, but I have to say I was not impressed. Did not have anywhere near enough acid for a sparkler and tasted very fat. On top of that it was just a boring wine.... too bad, I will continue my search for a low priced sparkler
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5/6/2011 - DrT999 wrote: 83 Points
V light citrus nose. Nice pinpoint bubbles,lots of mousse, but not a lot of flavor across the board. Hints of citrus, and what little there is has some length, there just isn't much there. 12%
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4/24/2011 - Jesse's Place wrote: 90 Points
Great summer afternoon in the sun bottle, esp for the price
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2/20/2011 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 85 Points
Very light yellow, almost clear with plenty of pinpoint bubbles. Nose offers bread dough, with faint citrus and green apple notes. On the palate, mousse had somewhat creamy mouth feel. It was tart with green apple, citrus flavors, very acidic with a somewhat bitter grapefruit taste on the back palate for me. Enjoyable, but one-dimensional. Good QPR (Quality-Price ratio).
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2/15/2011 - jsimmons wrote: 85 Points
WSET Intermediate Course, Session 4 Tastings (Washington Wine Academy, Arlington, VA): Appearance: clear, pale-medium intensity, lemon. Nose: clean, light-medium intensity, green apple, yeasty (almost overripe), biscuit. Palate: dry, medium acidity, light body, green apple, lime, cloves, toast, biscuit, yeast, medium length/finish. Conclusion: acceptable-good (a basic, inoffensive, methode champenoise dry sparkling wine).
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2/15/2011 - wino_tim wrote: 86 Points
Light and crisp with lemon, spring flower, and multigrain flavors that are bright and well-proportioned.
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2/3/2011 - ecola wrote: 84 Points
A little apple, some baked bread, and a grain taste. Does get a little bitter on the finish. ($16)
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1/29/2011 - dave_from_MD wrote: 75 Points
My wife bought this for making cheese fondue...yes, that's true...but we drank the remaining while eating. The fondue was great. The wine was not.
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1/14/2011 - Champagneinhand wrote: 88 Points
very yeasty with a nice apple aroma.bone dry. better to spend a bit more for good champagne
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1/8/2011 - CharlesDarwin wrote: 89 Points
Not having had the higher level Champagnes, it's hard for me to really comment on how this compares to those. I will say that for $17 here in Rhode Island, this seems like a stunning value. Soft, airy, light and fluffy, followed by a rich, texture of sweetness and grip that deliver meyer lemon, gooseberry, and tangerine. Balanced, elegant, and well done in my opinion.
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12/31/2010 - kenito799 wrote: 84 Points
Dry, decent champagne style, yeasty, nothing too special.
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12/31/2010 - wineaux2 wrote: 83 Points
Toasty sparkler with apple and pear notes; faint bead of bubbles. Toast is more dominant than I would have liked and the finish seemed a bit bitter. Decent for the price ($13).
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12/29/2010 - ews3 wrote: 88 Points
a nice light sparkler that has more character than most in this price range. fairly simple green apple and toast flavors. hint of strawberry. light on palate.
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12/25/2010 - JasonG wrote: 84 Points
A bit bready and flat, with some of the citrus others talk about but none of the levity that you'd expect in a sparkling. Brighter fruit needed.
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12/25/2010 - Senor_Underhill wrote: 86 Points
Pear and apple with yeast on the nose. Had read a lot of hype about this in terms of value, and happy to say I concur. For 14 bucks, I'll take two of these over one $30 bottle of champagne for New Year's.
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12/11/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 84 Points
A bunch of Champagne & Sparkling Wines (Random): Mineral, apple and pear are the key descriptors on a otherwise simple Sparkling wine. For $12.49 on sale it fits the quality level.
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12/1/2010 - rjhilgers@gmail.com Likes this wine: 88 Points
Oh, this one makes me proud having grown up in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Who would have thought that a good sparkling wine would come out of the Southwest, let alones Albuquerque, but there's more winemaking and grape growing in the area than you might think. This particular Brut, under $20 (even in the Marin, CA store where I bought it) is a great QPR bubbly. Very rich but also mellow and not too overbearing, with tons of great citrus and acidic notes. This is one of the best sub-$20 bubblies I've tasted.
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11/18/2010 - rrdoucet wrote:
New Mexico? Sparkling wine?? Yes. And it's quite good too. Better than most sparklers twice its price.
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8/15/2010 - toesonoz wrote: 80 Points
It was a bit watery. Not very sweet and not too dry. Tasted more like sparkling mineral water
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8/8/2010 - joshwoodward wrote: 89 Points
Wow, I'm impressed again. Popped and poured, coarse bubbles. On the nose, quite yeasty with a little bit of caramel apple. Refreshingly crisp on the palate, dry with very Champagnesque breadiness and fruit profile. This bottle tastes slightly past its peak, but that's the problem with dateless NV bottles. Nothing all that complex or life-changing, but a great performer for the price ($16) and an interesting find from a bizarre region.
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8/1/2010 - E wrote:
I've had this several times in the past year at restaurants and have come to appreciate this as Akin to a Spanish cava....bright and straightforward flavors... Friday nights bottle(along with an uninspiring merlot) at VOLT was a concession really, to an underwhelming overpriced list with decidedly mediocre wine service...multiple wines on the list were available only in different vintages. The food at volt ranks in the top cadre of US restaurants and is worth a special trip.
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7/31/2010 - rbrater wrote: 88 Points
Solid sparkler at a good price. A nice yeast and fruit balance with a smooth finish. Tasty with or without food.
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7/17/2010 - David_T wrote: 89 Points
Nose of latex glove and yeast. The predominate notes I get on the palate include lime and latex glove. Now while that might not sound great, this wine has everything going for it- great bubble mouthfeel, good acidity, dry, and creamy. It's rare that a sparkler is this good for $11.
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7/4/2010 - brianb8851 wrote: 85 Points
Med lemon color, med bubbles with fairly long persistence. Med intensity to the youthful nose of lemon, lime, ripe apple, mineral, slight notes of sugar cookie. Off-dry, med+ acidity, creamy mouse, med alcohol, med body, med intensity to the flavors of lemon, lime, mineral. Simple, slighty off-balance finish with med- length. A pretty good value as it a trad method sparkler with good flavor at under $15.
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6/6/2010 - ASW wrote: 85 Points
HAD with pizza. Worked surprisingly well.
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4/6/2010 - buddy22 wrote: 84 Points
Good but that is about all I can say about it.
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4/4/2010 - rjdoan wrote: 85 Points
Very nice. Worked well on its own or mixed into orange juice for mimosa's.
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3/26/2010 - ckinv368 wrote:
First Tasting on 3/26/10 was corkedSecond tasting on 4/2/10---good bubbles on front end but not overpowering, hint of fruit with short finish. Satisfying, but not remarkable. A good champagne value
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3/9/2010 - nytiger wrote: 89 Points
delicious
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3/2/2010 - cassel wrote: 85 Points
Much better than last. Yeast and little acidity worked well. Still concerned about consistency.
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2/18/2010 - joshwoodward wrote: 90 Points
Corks: Odd Varietals: Yest bomb on the nose. Crisp. Leesy! Medium bodied. Very light sweetness. Delicious, biscuity, and not unlike a decent Champagne. Impressive. $18
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2/6/2010 - wcgross wrote: 86 Points
Good Value. Acid and yeast.
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1/12/2010 - dannyk8232 wrote: 87 Points
Great bubbly for New Years...great price too
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1/10/2010 - wineshlub wrote: 89 Points
This is an excellent utility wine. Pleasant sweetness, good acidity, a touch of yeasy complexity, and it goes with almost anything. On top of all that, it's dirt cheap.
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1/3/2010 - oolah wrote: 88 Points
A very champagne-like sparkler at 1/4 the price. Not very complex, but brioche-y, bubbly and a hint of citrus. What's not to like?
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1/1/2010 - Macki wrote:
Nice yeasty, brioche notes, med acidity; paired very well with Brie. Great domestic sparkler.
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1/1/2010 - sunalsorises wrote: 85 Points
Not bad for the price. A bit sweet. Needs some more acidity.
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12/31/2009 - Canuck wrote: 88 Points
Solid
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12/29/2009 - closetcook wrote: 88 Points
Made a fine Bellini!
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12/25/2009 - petitblanc wrote: 88 Points
Better this time, continues to prove a fine value.
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12/24/2009 - hutch wrote: 87 Points
What a clean, easy drinking sparkler. I really can't think of anything negative to say about this.
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12/24/2009 - rjdoan wrote: 86 Points
Good solid sparkling wine. Mixed well in mimosa's.
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12/21/2009 - nytiger wrote: 89 Points
excellent yeasty nose and fine bubbles and flavors
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12/20/2009 - nytiger wrote: 89 Points
nice yeasty nose-delicious
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12/5/2009 - ScottGoodwin wrote: 88 Points
Nose had some yeast, ginger, citrus. Palate echoed these notes but added apples. Lots of tiny bubbles.
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12/2/2009 - vbvino wrote: 88 Points
I've had this in my rack for awhile. I definitely noted chalk, but I also smelled caramel and walnuts. Nicely balanced acidity and a clean finish. Very enjoyable. Now I need to restock it.
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11/27/2009 - dougsmith wrote: 86 Points
Light lemon color. Reticent nose of apple core, licorice. Clean on the palate, a touch of RS. Has a sort of bland elegance.
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11/27/2009 - Loren Sonkin wrote: 87 Points
Thanksgiving at the In-Laws: On Thanksgiving I try to open American bottles. This was out opener. It runs around $15 Ohio which is ok value, but I suspect those of you in the free world can find this cheaper. Golden in color with medium bubbles. The nose is doughy with some ginger. On the palaate, this is ok but not great. The ginger is interesting but it is not smooth. Still, a glass at the beginning was a nice start for all.
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11/10/2009 - Mark Larson wrote: 89 Points
This winery is a great source for good NV sparkling wine. I am never dissapointed.
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11/8/2009 - earitt wrote:
Home run every time
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10/26/2009 - greenwalter wrote: 88 Points
Light, soft, easy drinking. Nice color, golden, and pear on the nose.
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10/9/2009 - TonyH wrote: 89 Points
crisp and smooth. I think this is a remarkably good value.
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9/25/2009 - Lulu2 wrote: 85 Points
Sweeter than I remembered:)
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9/18/2009 - cassel wrote: 75 Points
Fine bubbles but inconsistent not as good as last bottle. Considerable bite and bitter aftertaste.
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9/14/2009 - hutch wrote: 87 Points
Walker Trade Show (Providence): This is a solid bottle of bubbles. Bright and clean. Dry. I can dig it.
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8/5/2009 - Mark Larson wrote: 89 Points
One of the best new world sparklers and a great QPR wine. Very similiar to a competent NV champagne. Highly recommended for parties and picnics.
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7/23/2009 - biggwater wrote: 90 Points
stellar sparkler for $15
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7/4/2009 - Joshiemac wrote: 83 Points
This was pretty good. Brought it to a 4th of July picnic to serve with chicken apple sausages & white bean salad. The faint citrus and apple on the pallet played well with the lemon juice in the beans and apple in the sausage. I'd drink this again.
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6/9/2009 - wineshlub wrote:
Nice grapefruit aroma, smallish bubbles. Grapefruit and yeast, some sweetness, and some apples in the finish. This won't be mistaken for grower champagne, but it's a fine sparkler and a great value. The label says it's 75% chardonnay and 25% pinot noir, no indication of when it was bottled.
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4/18/2009 - petitblanc wrote: 86 Points
A bit more awkward and austere than the previous bottle. Unusual for this wine, but still okay.
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3/15/2009 - AZ Cat wrote:
(2+) Excellent QPR. Enjoyed more than the blanc de noirs as this was somewhat drier.
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2/16/2009 - Vino Me wrote: 85 Points
My wife and I ordered a split of this wine at a restaurant for $12. Not really a Brut in my opinion. Too sweet for that. Perhaps more of an extra dry style. Fruity and pleasant but lacking complexity. 85 points.
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2/16/2009 - joraesque wrote: 88 Points
Probably the best domestic sparkling that sells for less than $20. Has a little bit of sweetness, so it tastes more like an Extra Dry sparkling, not a Brut. It doesn't have any of that malolactic aftertaste you find in cheap domestic sparkling wines. 88+
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2/14/2009 - Tejano wrote:
Very light and pale color...still showing a nice, but lite nose revealing a little lime and stone fruit notes, and maybe a touch of minerals. Dry, crisp, and clean...again, not a wow factor, but easy to drink.
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1/23/2009 - petitblanc wrote: 90 Points
This time, almost a prosecco-like sweetness and easy drinkability, but also some complexity and weight. Great value, as usual.
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1/13/2009 - Champagneinhand wrote: 92 Points
The first 3 bottles of this champagne blend were all fabulous consistent green apples, bubbly with pie crust, Yet I went to a larger store in the metro that sells mostly french and purchased several out of their cooler. These bottles were consistently horrible, they were definetly oxided and subjected to heat. One was completely undrinkable piss, that smelled of yeasty old beer turning to vinegar. The other bottles were tolerable but not for giving to others, they had some citrus and apples but were dominated by an unpleasant yeastness. It just goes to show, never buy the inexpensive where they have vast quantities of top shelf champagnes. The cheap stuff will not be treated with proper care, which is to bad because before my awful bottle this was my favorite bubbler of the holidays. Over 36 days I averaged a bottle per night from domaine ste. michelle to taittinger, mumms to krug and cristal.
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1/13/2009 - jjmabaseb wrote: 84 Points
Would certainly drink again. Not fair to compare to top rate Champange or Cali. sparklers, but beats anything else I've tried in the price range (ie. Korbel)...
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1/10/2009 - Matt T wrote: flawed
Wet dog on the nose. This was very acidic and lacked body and fruit. Did not fare well compared to other sparkling wines in a tasting of cava, prosecco, champagne, and california sparkling wine.
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1/1/2009 - jvasko wrote: 84 Points
Quite dry. fine bubbles.
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12/29/2008 - Champagneinhand wrote: 92 Points
I drank a bottle of this unbelievable wine on Friday and another on Saturday night to make sure that I had consistently good bottles. I found this to be the best over-all domestic champagne blend of 2008. I was surprised that it is grown in New Mexico as well as how delightful the nose of apple and citrus coinicided with a perfect taste of pippin apples, a slight bit of citrus and a minerally backbone. This was so enjoyable with a perfect acid balance and just a hint of residual sugar to give this bubbly a wonderful sweet finish with no biterness what-so-ever. This is the perfect New Years eve staple as it price is well below any of the drinkable californians and oregon bubblies. I am returning to the store today to pick up a case of these because only one store in the metro carries them, otherwise the must by shipped cross country from K&L, whose write up gave me the courage to gamble on this champagnoise from the SouthWest. Both bottles were consistent at 92+
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12/25/2008 - Coleman wrote: 88 Points
I thought this was very good. Yeasty, minerals, a little pear.
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8/25/2008 - wino_tim wrote: 83 Points
A ripe, fruity style with pear, melon, citrus and light toast notes. Appealing for its effervence and effusive fruit flavors, this remains a bit flabby on the palate without the depth I look for in good sparklers, domestic or otherwise.
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8/17/2008 - RationalDenial wrote: 86 Points
Tasted blind in a mixed, slightly oddball field of international bubbles. Strongly effervescent. Cork took out a chunk of ceiling plaster. Fruity nose of white flower and melon. In the mouth, a little flabby and bland but not without a little energetic acid. Nice mineral finish. If I was having a 1000 people over to the house that I didn't know and wouldn't likely see again, I'd serve this.
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7/26/2008 - tf wrote:
Initially very yeasty and bubbly. The cork on this was in a hurry to come out and popped out before I got the cage off the bottle. This is all tart apple flavor with lots of nice bubbles. It's not too tart, and would make a nice pairing with some sweeter desserts. I'd love to try it with a strawberry shortcake or cheesecake. I will definitely buy this again.
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5/3/2008 - Tejano wrote:
As before a pale straw color with maybe just a tad of a light green high light. On opening a brief note of yeast on the nose that blew off showing some nice light citrus and a soothing minerality. Smooth texture from entry to finish and a nice balance and grip...much better than before, and while not a tremendous wow factor...a very suave and easy sipper with a good QPR ratio.
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2/22/2008 - Rayburn wrote: 88 Points
Straw yellow in color. Fine mousse with vigerous bubbles. Lemon zest and mineral on the nose.
Palate is initally green apple with nice acidity. About 45 minutes later, mild bready notes emerged.
The finish has orange peel and grapefruit. QPR for sure!
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2/15/2008 - thirtyoneknots wrote:
Quite nice; better than some NV Brut Champagnes I've had. I would definitely buy again.
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2/9/2008 - topher18 wrote: 89 Points
Very nice wine and a good value. I'll buy more.
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1/1/2008 - Mrbuzz wrote: 90 Points
My first ever New Mexico wine...unfortunately, I have a cold...so not much of a note here. I find this very refreshing, with apple/pear, almonds, yeast, BIG spritzy effervescence. Lots of carbonation in this wine, yet still creamy. Great for the money....will definitely try another after this cold!
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12/31/2007 - Tejano wrote: 86 Points
Pale straw color...medium fruit nose and a lacking of telltale yeast or brioche, but nice. Firm and crisp entry with a rather monolithic fruit texture that yielded a rather firm mouth feel with a quick finish. For the money, not bad...
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12/31/2007 - jfp wrote: 88 Points
Traditional method. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. Aggressive foam on the pour, the nose on this wine has significant yeast and an almost tropical apple character (almost pineapple). On the palate, it opens up in a big way with chalky minerality and lemon custard. Mouthfeel is much creamier than sparklers at this price point and the acidity is fresh and bracing. Excellent. I bought this for under $10 USD and at that QPR, it's rating tilts to 90+.
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12/25/2007 - tthorn wrote: 86 Points
Simple, but not 'cheap.' Clean, w/ citrus. Great for mimosas I'd imagine.
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12/15/2007 - cobystilp wrote: 88 Points
NM sparkler??? Yup, great QPR. This was an easy drinker. Alison decided she doesn't like sparkling wines. (I must remember). We paired with mesquite grilled swordfish. I loved it. Usually I like all sparkling wines. The true test whether this cheap wine is quality will be in the morning.
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12/15/2007 - Riezin wrote:
Usual, solid reliable sparkler with great QPR. Versatile with diverse food. Drank at 2007 Chanukah party.
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12/13/2007 - GalvezGuy wrote: 88 Points
Nice golden straw color with a small bead. Toast, bitter green apple, lemon peel on the nose. Creamy on the palate with green apple and lemon oil. Great everyday sparkler. Tremendous value.
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12/6/2007 - hutch wrote: 86 Points
Quick Sparkler Sips, Day 1: Simple, but still nice bubbles for the price. Clean, nice acidity, with a medium finish. Would work well as a palate cleanser and the price is right. 86-87
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12/2/2007 - AllRed wrote: 86 Points
Poured at a retailer tasting. Pale color with notes of apple and bread dough. Flavors of apple and cotton, but overall a bit simple.
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12/1/2007 - J_Hayden wrote: 86 Points
Very respectable dry sparkler, nice apples.
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11/3/2007 - SaysNuts wrote: 87 Points
A very nice and dry sparkling wine. Everyone at the party enjoyed it.
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9/29/2007 - jedly wrote: 87 Points
Great drinker and can't touch the price. No bitter yeast taste like other sparklers, just nice smooth with excellent bubbles. Will buy again.
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8/22/2007 - good old ludwig van wrote: 88 Points
A torrent of bubbles that would make a jacuzzi jealous made this fun from the start. No real notes, as I drank this awhile ago, but I remember it as enjoyable and better than expected. A fun surprise.
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8/21/2007 - poptart_nyc wrote: 82 Points
medium golden color. small bubbles, fizzy mousse. great nose with yeast and bright fruit. mouth feel a bit bland. flavors so-so citrus with some creaminess. short almost earthy finish with chalkiness. this is a great alternative to some of the lighter champagnes. not my style so much. maybe a party toast wine.
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7/7/2007 - Seventy wrote:
No rating since I only tried it in a Mimosa. But good, I guess!
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5/30/2007 - jcpetrson wrote:
The Girls drank it at Bunko
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5/14/2007 - js5280 wrote: 84 Points
Watch out, the cork shot out once I took off the muselet! Okay, fancy French word for the wire cage, I had to look it up because I knew there had to be a word for it. Another trivia thing I saw, most use 6 half-turns/3 whole turns. Next time you're buying some vintage Krug with your buddy, bet them you can guess the number and stick them with the whole cost. Luckily no major dent in the ceiling and the Ming vase collection was unscathed. Because people who drink N.V. sparkling from New Mexico are notorious for their Ming vase collections ;-)
On to the wine...Light lemon and yeast, a bit floral. Apricot, lemon, dough, and floral on the palate. Long, pleasant but singular finish. After chilling a bit longer, a little more bitter surprisingly. Going to let it warm up again. Paid $15. Generally good reviews (upper 80s), but don't think I'd buy again. Can find better at this price point. Cheers!
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4/19/2007 - skm95t wrote:
Julie opened with friends
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3/7/2007 - winekitchen wrote: 88 Points
A very respectable NV bubbly from New Mexico, of all places. Hard to beat for the price--a little more complexity than Chandon Brut and others in the sub-$15 category.
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2/4/2007 - mmurry wrote: 85 Points
There is lots of fruit of the nose. I got some apple and pear, plus a small amount of citrus, and a touch of earthiness. The palate is crisp, and had lots os citrus, mixed with a bit of apple and pear. It finishes with some earthiness, but falls off rather quickly.
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1/27/2007 - DancingDavidE wrote: 86 Points
Served at dinner club
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12/31/2006 - last chance wrote: 84 Points
New Year's Eve at Seaside, OR; 12/29/2006-1/1/2007: Little bit too sharp and acidic to be really enjoyable, but not too bad.
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12/31/2006 - DancingDavidE wrote: 85 Points
Enjoyable, but I couldn't see where the Wall Street Journal article was coming from, I've had better sparklers at similar price to this one. I'd buy it again, but I'm surprised that it was their #1 value wine. Anyone reading this, try L. Mawby or M. Lawrence (same producer, one name signifies Close Cuvee method, the other Method Champanois) which is a Michigan producer - their wines were excellent and even a bigger bargain than this one.
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12/23/2006 - win wrote: 87 Points
Nice crispness--acidity, but a bit of underlying bitterness was a little distracting.
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12/18/2006 - MeMyself&I wrote: 89 Points
One of the best things (along with Hatch Valley chilies) to come out of New Mexico. Great sparkling wine from a family with a long history of making champagne in France. An outstanding value in the market as well.
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12/16/2006 - 5laton wrote:
Pleasant, crisp, with nice citric notes and lots of medium size bubbles. This was a fine bottle, but it really paled in comparison to the Cameron Hughes Lot 25 served at the same time. Both wines were purchased for the same price.
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12/6/2006 - Vino Me wrote: 88 Points
About the same as past efforts. A melonlike nise and reminiscent of a prosecco. 87-88 points.
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12/4/2006 - Ombibulous wrote: 81 Points
Tart but with some flavour. I paid $11 for a half bottle. Good.
Per back label:
A classic blend "En Tirage" for at least 2 years of 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir give this wine aroma of green apples and hints of grapefruit.
Per www.gruetwinery.com:
A crisp and full-bodied sparkling wine; rich complexity and fine mousse. Toasty finish from twenty-four months on tirage, a complement to apple and citrus flavor. Fine bubbles and bouquet.
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12/2/2006 - AllRed wrote: 88 Points
Poured at a retailer tasting. Nice color, with floral toast and yeast notes. On the muscular side, with cashew, tart apple and nutty toast flavors.
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11/27/2006 - pbjosh wrote: 87 Points
Creamy and sweet with somewhat coarse bubbles compared to "benchmark" stuff like White Star or Laurent Perrier Brut but a notably elegant and more full bodied palate than White Star or LP can deliver. Finishes long. Went very well with a slightly sweet dijon and shallot vinagrette on some braised vegetables. Very good value.
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11/23/2006 - Colima74 wrote: 89 Points
With early Thanksgiving dinner after LC returned from buying some ocean front land in Mazatlan. Simple, but refreshing, not either too much yeast or too little. Nice fruit. Good when you want sparkling and not too complicated. 3.5++ LC thinks it tastes like a more expensive wine.
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10/27/2006 - cgrimes wrote: 86 Points
Dinner at the Givens Home (Newburyport, MA): Nose of pear. Very dry initially but fruit eventually came through for a pleasing overall experience. Tasted as aperitif with cheese plate.
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10/22/2006 - d'Yquembe Mutombo wrote: 85 Points
Floral and light fruit aromas. An avalanche of citric acid on the finish. Not too shabby
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8/6/2006 - win wrote: 88 Points
Pleasing wine with nice acidity.
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3/2/2006 - Bin242 wrote: 79 Points
Plain, boring and bitter. Plenty of other value sparklers that are better for regular drinking.
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12/24/2005 - socidelvino wrote:
Very nice sparkline wine.
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12/24/2005 - otisabdul wrote: 86 Points
Purchased for $14.99 at Premier Liquors in Buffalo. While it is not very complex, this is a serviceable sparkler that is on the lighter side. Green apple and citrus flavors. Fine bubbles build to a refreshing finish. Would compare more with prosecco than champagne.
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12/21/2005 - 47chinon wrote: 78 Points
It wasn't bad, I would say that if you served this sparkling wine, nobody will complain. That is why I scored it on the high side of average. Very plain.
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11/13/2005 - sol wrote: 85 Points
Easy drinking bubbly. Very good for the price.
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9/9/2005 - Erik R. wrote: 82 Points
A fruit driven wine, with a bitter finish.
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8/5/2005 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
($13) Mona Kidnaps James: This is aged for 2 years and has .8% residual sugar. Light, bright lemon fruit. Slightly sweet with perhaps some red fruit on the nose. Not a bad value. 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir.
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3/29/2005 - LoireFan wrote: 77 Points
Yeah, it's sparkling! But very, very boring. But neutral. So it is ideal to add framboise, strawberries, or whatever to give it flavor.
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2/14/2005 - RomanKJ wrote: 87 Points
Pale color. Bubbles seemed strange consistency, more soap bubbles than sparkling wine. Nice fruity flavor, finishing a bit sweet for my tastes. More cocktail party than food IMHO. Heard a lot about these guys and was fun to try.
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1/11/2005 - Not Levine wrote: 80 Points
I love Champagne. And this ain't it. Simple, too sweet, not enough acidity. Some apples and citrus, but just not appealing.
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8/17/2003 - whostler wrote:
I have seen some good words for this sparkler and figured it was worth a try. Starting from the nose and moving to the palate this is definitely in the fruit-driven mold rather than the yeasty/toasty mold. The bubbles are bigger than in the fine French sparklers and it doesn’t have quite the mouthfeel, but it doesn’t have the same price, either. The label mentions green apples and grapefruit. I don’t get the green apples part but there is a definite acidic and slightly puckery grapefruit flavor to it. With a cap it even lasted into the second night without suffering. Tasty enough for what it is and with the novelty value of this sparkler coming from New Mexico it wasn’t a disappointment. The premium for the vintage bottling is not that much, roughly five dollars and might be worth a try. But New Mexico – who’da thought?
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1/20/2003 - SirDodo wrote: 85 Points
Grapefruit & Green Apples, just like the bottle says. Not bad for a New Mexico wine. A bit hot.
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