The Second Annual Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine

Tasted Saturday, December 21, 2019 by The Drunken Cyclist with 269 views

Flight 1 (32 Notes)

  • 2015 Argyle Vintage Brut 92 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Retail $28. 70% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Meunier. Relatively clear, nice tart nose, pineapple. Tart and fresh on the palate, completely dry with green apple a go-go. Nice. Excellent. 91-93 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Domaine Carneros Brut Rosé 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Retail $42. 59% Pinot Noir, 41% Chardonnay. Slightly pink with a decided orange tint. Red berries and a bit of yeast on the nose. Tart and rather austere, lacking some fruit, but really nice secondary flavors and quite tart. Nice. Very Good to Excellent. 89-91 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Chateau St. Jean Brut Rosé 88 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Retail $25. Chardonnay and Barbera. Gorgeous pink with a hint of orange. Candied nose almost caramel. Fruity and a bit sweet on the palate. Good, but not my favorite. Very Good. 87-89 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • 2016 Korbel Rouge 87 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Retail $16. 100% Pinot Noir. Really dark, it is hard to hide when you’re this color. Fruity with some chocolate. Oxidized taste, a bit chalky. Fun, but not exactly what I think of when I think Sparkling wine, but quite festive. Good to Very Good. 86-88 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Roederer Estate Brut Anderson Valley 92 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

    Retail $28. 60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir. Light straw in the glass with citrus and yeast. Yum. Tart apple and pear. The palate is quite delicious and the finish is lengthy and tart. Yum. Excellent. 91-93 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut 88 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

    Retail $13. Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Meunier. More of a candied nose with peach and even red berry fruit. More of the same on the nose with some sweetness. Very Good. 87-89 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • 2016 Korbel Blanc de Noirs - Methode Champenoise 89 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Retail $13. 75% Pinot Noir with Gamay, Zinfandel, Sangiovese. Light rosé color with a bit of orange. Nutty and a bit toasty. A bit wonky on the palate. I wonder what the varieties are here. Still, yum. Very Good to Excellent. 88-90 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Gloria Ferrer Blanc de Blancs 90 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Retail $22. 100% Chardonnay. Golden straw. A bit sweet on the nose with peach and pear. A bit lacking sparkle but good flavors and finish. Very Good to Excellent. 89-91 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Gruet Winery Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs Sauvage 88 Points

    USA, New Mexico

    Retail $20. 100% Chardonnay. Bright yellow, really bright but austere on the palate, nice tartness, but really rather lacking in fruit. Very Good. 87-89 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Roederer Estate Brut Rosé Anderson Valley 93 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley

    Retail $35. 56% Pinot Noir, 44% Chardonnay. Slightly orange, rosé. Nutty, almost almond on the nose. Fruity on the nose, though with great balance and a lengthy finish. This is particularly nice. Excellent to Outstanding. 92-94 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Gruet Winery Brut Rosé 91 Points

    USA, New Mexico

    100% Pinot Noir. Vibrant pink but quite closed on the nose, the fruit eventually shows up on the palate with a hint of sweetness. Still, delicious. Excellent. 90-92 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Gruet Winery Brut 87 Points

    USA, New Mexico

    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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  • 2015 Sokol Blosser Pinot Noir Sparkling Rosé Blossom Ridge 91 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Eola - Amity Hills

    Retail $45. 100% Pinot Noir. Pink with a slight orange tint. Red fruit and yeast. Tart and a bit funky on the palate, but I like the funk. Good acid, lengthy finish, nice. Excellent. 90-92 Points.

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  • 2017 Sokol Blosser Bluebird Cuveé 88 Points

    USA, Oregon

    Retail $28. A proprietary assemblage of multiple white varietals. Really light in color, quite candied on the nose. A bit sweet, but I would be perfectly happy with this at my wife’s niece’s wedding. Very Good. 87-89 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Gruet Winery Blanc de Blancs 88 Points

    USA, New Mexico

    Retail $17. 100% Chardonnay. Golden color citrus, even pineapple, and a bit nutty. Lacking fruit on the palate with considerable nuttiness. Very Good. 87-89 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Montinore Estate Vivace Montinore Vineyard 86 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Retail $24. Gewürztraminer, Müller-Thurgau, Pinot Gris, Riesling. Light straw with oodles of grapefruit. Sweet. Really sweet. I would hazard to say this is a demi-sec. Lacking a bit of tartness. Good to Very Good. 85-87 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Bricoleur Vineyards Flying By The Seat Of Our Pants 90 Points

    USA, California, North Coast

    Retail $45. 63% Chardonnay, 34% Pinot Noir, 2% Reserve Wines, 1% Pinot Meunier. Light in color, perhaps the yeastiest thus far. A bit of citrus. Really fruity, tart, well-balanced. Not a world-beater, but perfectly delicious. Very Good to Excellent. 89-91 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Cast Wines Blanc de Noirs 94 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County

    Retail $34. 45% Pinot Noir, 42% Chardonnay, 13% Pinot Meunier. Either this is a really light rosé or a bit dark brut. Flinty and a bit of red fruit. Really nice on the palate with delicate green apple and yeast. Whoa. Yum yum yum. Outstanding. 93-95 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Sokol Blosser Evolution Sparkling Wine 88 Points

    USA, Oregon

    Retail $20. Semillon, Muller-Thurgau, White Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewurztraminer, Muscat Canelli, Early Muscat, & Chardonnay. Really pale in the glass with red delicious apple and a bit of funk. Tart and grapefruity on the palate. Very Good. 87-89 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • 2013 Left Coast Estate Blanc de Noir Sparkling 89 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley

    Retail $55. 100% Pinot Noir. A bit oxidized on the nose, almost sherried. Sherried on the palate as well—has a real old champagne feel to it without the yeastiness. Very Good to Excellent. 88-90 Points.

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  • NV Cast Wines Chardonnay Blanc de Blancs 91 Points

    USA, California, North Coast, Napa / Sonoma

    Retail $40. 100% Chardonnay. Golden straw, yummy tree fruit on the nose. Fruity and a tad sweet on the palate, this is a bit sweet for me, but still particularly good. Excellent. 90-92 Points.

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  • NV Domaine Ste. Michelle Brut Rosé 89 Points

    USA, Washington, Columbia Valley

    Retail $13. Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Cotton candy pink. Red fruit and a bit yeasty, and some funk. A bit mineral, but also quite sweet. Not off-putting in any way, even quite good, but certainly sweet. Very Good to Excellent. 88-90 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Domaine Carneros Brut 91 Points

    USA, California, Napa / Sonoma, Carneros

    Retail $36. 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir. Pale yellow. Mineral and slight green apple. A bit lacking in fruit on the palate but good acidity and a bit of yeast. Yum. Excellent. 90-92 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Domaine Chandon Sparkling Rosé 91 Points

    USA, California

    Retail $26. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier. Bright pink. Cotton candy on the nose. But surprisingly dry, slight fruit, and solid wine on the palate. Excellent. 90-92 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Mumm Napa Brut Prestige 89 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Retail $24. 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Gris & Pinot Meunier. Yeasty and delightful nose from a pale yellow sparkler. A tad sweet, but perfectly fine. Nice, even. A bit lacking in intrigue, but would not be disappointed with this. Very Good to Excellent. 88-90 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Korbel Brut California Champagne 87 Points

    USA, California

    Retail $13. Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, French Colombard, Pinot Noir. Flinty and a bit of citrus on the nose. Quite pale. Fruity, though on the palate, on the sweet side. A bit flabby, could use a shot of acid. Good to Very Good. 86-88 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • 2014 Kokomo Chardonnay Blanc de Blanc Peters Vineyard 88 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Sonoma Coast

    Retail $58. 100% Chardonnay. Flinty and yeasty. Stinky a bit on the nose, but fruity and tasty on the palate. A bit disjointed on the finish. Still, this is a solid wine. Very Good. 87-89 Points.

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  • NV Mumm Napa Brut Rosé 88 Points

    USA, California, Napa Valley

    Retail $24. 80% Pinot Noir, 20% Chardonnay. Good pink color with a bit of orange. A bit closed on the nose, but fruity on the palate and a tad sweet. Very Good. 87-89 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • 2016 Korbel Natural Méthode Champenoise 92 Points

    USA, California, Sonoma County, Russian River Valley

    Retail $16. 65% Pinot Noir, 35% Chardonnay. Golden with caramel, apricot and yeastiness. Yum. Close to a whoa on the palate: good fruit, tartness, finish. Lovely. Excellent. 91-93 Points.

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  • NV Domaine Chandon Brut Classic 92 Points

    USA, California

    Retail $24. Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier. Pale straw. Mineral and citrus. Fruity and lovely as well here. Yowza. Very nice. Excellent. 91-93 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • NV Gruet Winery Brut Blanc de Noirs 93 Points

    USA, New Mexico

    Retail $17. 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. More golden here. With minerality and flint. Yum. Another winner. Close to a whoa. Tart and lovely. Excellent. 92-94 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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  • 2015 Stoller Pinot Noir Legacy LaRue's Brut Rose 93 Points

    USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Dundee Hills

    Retail $65. 70% Pinot Noir, 30% Chardonnay. A bit oxidized and golden. Caramel and oxidized on the palate. An older champagne style. Excellent. 92-94 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com

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