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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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First of three that I've been sitting on. I hope this bottle is not indicative of the remaining two. This had a funky sherry reduction note that I've seen in other aged sparklers. No score until I open another bottle to compare.
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Different. Nice golden color, a whiff of funk on the nose along with some pear and green apple notes. Teeny tiny bubbles and not many of them. Interesting wine. Drink up though because it's no going to get any better.
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Pleasing clear honey gold color. Fine, persistent bead. Mature bouquet of yeast, pear, apple, fresh-cut hay, alfalfa puree, and ginger. Similar on the palate, with juicy acidity. This wine showed best after breathing in the glass for an hour, by which time it was nearly room temperature and the bubbles nearly gone. 100% pinot meunier aged on lees for 17 years.
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Rich, creamy texture with a voluptuous mouthfeel. The 1992 En Tirage Extra Brut has a deep golden colour combined with nicely integrated fruit, a lot of red baked apples and a vivid mousse. The only drawback is I do not understand how this rather "sweet" effort is extra dry, but I guess I have to take the producer's words for true. Overall impression is for sure positive. (score is 88-89)
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3/12/2022 - SeattlePaul wrote:
Meh, kind of one note. Good toast but could use more acid.
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4/18/2016 - PortFanatic wrote: 91 Points
This was a very strong bottle. Some oxidized notes, but very complex. Nice!
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3/5/2016 - tcarter wrote: 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.
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12/31/2015 - johnbhamrick wrote: 90 Points
A very decent champagne for the money/ Smooth drinking and pleasant taste.
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5/29/2015 - canan wrote: 88 Points
Melville Clone Tasting AND pre-2000 California Cabernet: A little hollow in the mid-palate but otherwise a nice wine.
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1/1/2015 - johnbhamrick wrote: 80 Points
This stuff is just absolutely awful.
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8/31/2014 - johnbhamrick wrote: 88 Points
Maybe a little over the hill, but still pleasant to drink.
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7/5/2014 - canan wrote: 88 Points
Lovely bottle that had some clear oxidized notes. Not as bad as many in here think but overall a nice wine.
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5/1/2014 - Javachip wrote: 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.
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3/1/2014 - mmcdds Does not like this wine: 60 Points
The oxidized notes were overpowering. It was too bad to use it for sauce. I poured it down the drain.
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12/30/2013 - SeattlePaul wrote: flawed
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.
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12/2/2013 - fine137 wrote: 90 Points
Taste like an aged Cali Chard with some bubbles. The bubbles disappear quickly, still enjoyable.
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11/29/2013 - KeithSurg wrote: 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.
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11/28/2013 - John O' Does not like this wine:
won't rate, as I'm not well experienced with aged bubbles and what they should taste like.
I didn't care for it.
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11/18/2013 - RichardP wrote: 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.
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11/13/2013 - AllRed wrote: 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.
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11/13/2013 - thelostverse wrote: 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.
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11/8/2013 - mxpbuy Likes this wine: 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.
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10/21/2013 - mtaczak wrote: 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.
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10/13/2013 - MusignyBlanc wrote:
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.
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10/11/2013 - Bakerbd wrote: 87 Points
Third bottle did not live up to first two - much more oxidized / almost no fruit
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10/1/2013 - Javachip wrote: 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.
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8/18/2013 - River Rat wrote:
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.
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7/27/2013 - mmcdds wrote:
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.
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7/17/2013 - cmaldoon wrote: 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.
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7/12/2013 - thelostverse wrote: flawed
First of three that I've been sitting on. I hope this bottle is not indicative of the remaining two. This had a funky sherry reduction note that I've seen in other aged sparklers. No score until I open another bottle to compare.
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6/25/2013 - River Rat wrote:
Different. Nice golden color, a whiff of funk on the nose along with some pear and green apple notes. Teeny tiny bubbles and not many of them. Interesting wine. Drink up though because it's no going to get any better.
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6/22/2013 - Javachip wrote: 88 Points
Pleasing clear honey gold color. Fine, persistent bead. Mature bouquet of yeast, pear, apple, fresh-cut hay, alfalfa puree, and ginger. Similar on the palate, with juicy acidity. This wine showed best after breathing in the glass for an hour, by which time it was nearly room temperature and the bubbles nearly gone. 100% pinot meunier aged on lees for 17 years.
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11/18/2012 - BlindontheVine01 wrote: 91 Points
Aged Well!!
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10/10/2012 - Mmark wrote: 83 Points
Colour: bright and clear, very few bobbles
Nose: Cow and mould but also notes from apples and pears
Mouth: Soft friendly open green fruits. Not much.
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5/20/2012 - Christoffer78 wrote: 88 Points
Rich, creamy texture with a voluptuous mouthfeel. The 1992 En Tirage Extra Brut has a deep golden colour combined with nicely integrated fruit, a lot of red baked apples and a vivid mousse. The only drawback is I do not understand how this rather "sweet" effort is extra dry, but I guess I have to take the producer's words for true. Overall impression is for sure positive. (score is 88-89)
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