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1992
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| Drinking Windows and Values |
| Drinking window: Drink between 2004 and 2017 (based on 3 user opinions) |
| Community Tasting History |
| Community Tasting Notes (average 87.8 pts. and median of 89 pts. in 39 notes) - hiding notes with no text | | | Tasted by SeattlePaul on 3/12/2022: Meh, kind of one note. Good toast but could use more acid. (197 views) | | | Tasted by PortFanatic on 4/18/2016 & rated 91 points: This was a very strong bottle. Some oxidized notes, but very complex. Nice! (2540 views) | | | Tasted by tcarter on 3/5/2016 & rated 89 points: Very funky sparkling wine. A little cheesy and earthiness on the nose and palate. Worked well with French Onion Soup, but not sure I would like this with most foods, and certainly not on its own. (2476 views) | | | Tasted by johnbhamrick on 12/31/2015 & rated 90 points: A very decent champagne for the money/ Smooth drinking and pleasant taste. (2461 views) | | | Tasted by canan on 5/29/2015 & rated 88 points: Melville Clone Tasting AND pre-2000 California Cabernet: A little hollow in the mid-palate but otherwise a nice wine. (3232 views) | | | Tasted by johnbhamrick on 1/1/2015 & rated 80 points: This stuff is just absolutely awful. (2662 views) | | | Tasted by johnbhamrick on 8/31/2014 & rated 88 points: Maybe a little over the hill, but still pleasant to drink. (1464 views) | | | Tasted by canan on 7/5/2014 & rated 88 points: Lovely bottle that had some clear oxidized notes. Not as bad as many in here think but overall a nice wine. (1663 views) | | | Tasted by Javachip on 5/1/2014 & rated 88 points: Clear golden yellow color with vigorous fine bead. Interesting, complex bouquet of apple cider, alfalfa, vanilla bourbon, sherry, mushrooms, butterscotch, and hospital antiseptic. Pleasantly tart and crisp on the palate. (1849 views) | | | Tasted by mmcdds on 3/1/2014 & rated 60 points: The oxidized notes were overpowering. It was too bad to use it for sauce. I poured it down the drain. (1711 views) | | | Tasted by SeattlePaul on 12/30/2013 flawed bottle: I'm in the same dilemma as other reviewers, I'm not sure if the bottle was off or if I was. My wife didn't like it straight away and detected classic wet cardboard. I didn't mind the first few sips, but then soured on it. Dumped the bottle. Definitely yeast nose as others say. Had good sparkle still, and some fruit, but the finish was odd. Well we have a couple more bottles, but I won't be risking New Years on this question mark that's for sure. (1601 views) | | | Tasted by fine137 on 12/2/2013 & rated 90 points: Taste like an aged Cali Chard with some bubbles. The bubbles disappear quickly, still enjoyable. (1460 views) | | | Tasted by KeithSurg on 11/29/2013 & rated 84 points: Deep gold color with few, tiny bubbles. Yeast and rust on the nose. Rich oxidized notes on the palate, as well as flavors of caramelized onion tart. I've had plenty of older Champagnes that taste fresher. (1258 views) | | | Tasted by John O' on 11/28/2013: won't rate, as I'm not well experienced with aged bubbles and what they should taste like.
I didn't care for it. (1106 views) | | | Tasted by RichardP on 11/18/2013 & rated 90 points: Sherried notes and green apple on the nose; apple cider, citrus, and yeasty notes on the palate. This is indistinguishable from an aged mid-priced champagne -- I am impressed; too bad this is a one-of-a-kind bottling with no more available. (1072 views) | | | Tasted by thelostverse on 11/13/2013 & rated 90 points: Opened at Anvil with Allred. Much better than the previous bottle. Certainly showing signs of age with some oxidation and sherry notes, but there was also some yeast and brioche in there. There is not much left in the way of primary fruit, but the tertiary notes were pleasant. (879 views) | | | Tasted by AllRed on 11/13/2013 & rated 92 points: Golden color, drunk out of a wide Cabernet/Bordeaux style stem- do not drink this out of a flute! Sherry, baked apple and cooked stone fruit aromas. Soft texture with flavors of baked pear, toast and apple. Has a nice nuttiness to it, and a pleasant sherry note in the finish. Certainly not a style everyone will enjoy, but this is rich and complex, and would pair nicely with rich dishes. Thanks for sharing tlv. (1056 views) | | | Tasted by mxpbuy on 11/8/2013 & rated 90 points: Clearly a mature sparkler. Given that it is California, the extra brut comes across more brut and not the bone dry extra brut of Champagne. The bead was still strong and full. Color more yellow than gold. On the palate pine nuts and hazel nuts come through most with some lemon zest and hints of green apple. Well done with an extra point for its longevity. (833 views) | | | Tasted by mtaczak on 10/21/2013 & rated 93 points: The first "champagne" that I feel like I actually "get." This stuff was fantastic, with creamy, biscuit-y tones and just the right balance of secondary/tertiary notes, crispness, and bubbles. I'd back up the truck at the original ~$35 price point, but sadly all that's left is >$50. Great value and a great way to try an "older" sparkler - if I remember correctly, this spent 17 years on the lees prior to bottling. (962 views) | | | Tasted by MusignyBlanc on 10/13/2013: I prefer my sparklers with a little oxidation. While this was more than a little, it was quite enjoyable. I'm also a card-carrying AFWE, so I don't need that much fruit. Relatively dry with a medium-bodied mid-palate. After some time in the glass, it opened up a bit. I will drink the remaining bottles over the next six months, however. (997 views) | | | Tasted by Bakerbd on 10/11/2013 & rated 87 points: Third bottle did not live up to first two - much more oxidized / almost no fruit (940 views) | | | Tasted by Javachip on 10/1/2013 & rated 87 points: Clear light honey-gold color with tiny bubbles. Complex bouquet of alfalfa, mushrooms, chamomile flowers and tea, mincemeat, mulling spices. Not much in the way of primary fruit, other than some quince paste in the background. Bouquet improved after 30 minutes, at which time some pleasant notes of light, delicate cognac began to emerge. An interesting old sparkling wine. (1149 views) | | | Tasted by River Rat on 8/18/2013: Yeasty funk nose, tiny bubbles, muted fruit. Mixed with fresh OJ for Mimosas during breakfast celebrating a wedding engagement in the family. End of this experiment for me. Meh. (1355 views) | | | Tasted by mmcdds on 7/27/2013: Not having much experience with older champagne(sparkling wine in this case) and after having read the other cellar tracker reviews, I'm left wondering if I have an off bottle here. The nose is completely dominated by oxidative notes. The palate has some nice underlying fruit, toast and yeast notes that are interesting, but, like the nose, seems to be dominated by oxidative characteristics. I have one other bottle left in the cellar, so I'll reserve judgment until I've tasted it. But for now, I'd have to say, not so good. (1130 views) | | | Tasted by cmaldoon on 7/17/2013 & rated 92 points: 1992 En Tirage recently disgorged California champagne
First let me say that I am not a big champagne drinker. And have never found a truly compelling dry champagne... Until now
This wine was in bottle sur lie for over 17 years.
The color is that of a standard Chardonnay. A light golden. The visible bubbles do not seem especially large or small.
Nose:
There is a definite yeasty character to this wine (duh!) Pear, clarified butter, white grape.
Palate: enters very slightly sweet with the pear character then progresses to a popcorn note. The middle is filled with a caramelized sugar note that gives way to a somewhat bitter yeasty note. The finish is very long (minute plus) and tastes of golden raisin and sherry.
This is a damned good wine. One to sip and ponder and share and talk about. This is not a wine to casually down while other things are going on. (1767 views) | | | Only displaying the 25 most recent notes - click to see all notes for this wine... |
| By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (10/15/2012)
(En Tirage Extra Brut Russian River Valley) Light straw yellow color with few, small bubbles; mature, yeasty, ripe cherry, baked peach nose; mature, yeasty, creme brulee, baked peach, mineral palate; medium-plus finish 90+ points (in bottle 20 years; 100% Pinot Meunier) 90 points | By Richard Jennings
RJonWine.com (2/9/2011)
(En Tirage Extra Brut Russian River Valley) Light medium golden color; mature, mushroom, baked apple, oxidized nose; tart, oxidized, poached pear, mineral apple sauce, butter palate; medium finish (recently disgorged) 82 points |
NOTE: Scores and reviews are the property of RJonWine.com. (manage subscription channels) |
| Pinot Meunier Pinot meunier (Wikipedia)
Varietal character (Appellation America)USAAmerican wine has been produced since the 1500s, with the first widespread production beginning in New Mexico in 1628. Today, wine production is undertaken in all fifty states, with California producing 84% of all U.S. wine. The continent of North America is home to several native species of grape, including Vitis labrusca, Vitis riparia, Vitis rotundifolia, and Vitis vulpina, but the wine-making industry is based almost entirely on the cultivation of the European Vitis vinifera, which was introduced by European settlers. With more than 1,100,000 acres (4,500 km2) under vine, the United States is the fourth-largest wine producing country in the world, after Italy, Spain, and France.California2021 vintage: "Unlike almost all other areas of the state, the Russian River Valley had higher than normal crops in 2021, which has made for a wine of greater generosity and fruit forwardness than some of its stablemates." - Morgan Twain-Peterson Sonoma CountyMendocino CountyRussian River Valley Russian River Valley Winegrowers Association | Wikipedia |
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