A very pleasant surprise that shows what American sparkling wine can be, this bottle was purchased in 2018 for $15, and the label code shows it was disgorged in 2017. I had sort of forgotten about it as had planned to drink it at some point over some summer but that didn’t happen. So, we brought it when the opportunity presented to dine at a great BYOB place in Montclair NJ. Ie, if it was dead/sucked, then you just move on. However, to our surprise, this was drinking better than many NV champagnes I’ve had. It was light on its feet while also have decent weight to stand up to food. The acidity was perfect and the fruit was alive with some lemon and brioche, and the finish was quite long. The wine went great with everything from chicken liver mousse to seared Spanish octopus to fried chicken. Wish now I hadn’t consumed my other 5 bottles years ago…
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Sample tasting at work (Oinoscent): Citrus, grapefruit, yeast, high intensity, full on the nose, palate with citrus, full body, highly carbonated offering a nice creamy texture, medium finish. Very nice surprise
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Roughly 60 / 40 chard and pinot I am being told. And then full malo. And owned by Roederer. With some back vintage reserve vintage backbone. Cinnamon toast crunch on the nose.
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Cabs and Merlot or Blend from Anywhere (Heirloom, St.Paul, MN): Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 20 minutes. I hadn't had this in several years, and i thought this was one of the better examples I've had. This was very nicely yeasty, autolytic, lime, citrus. Good QPR.
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Nice , inexpensive , by the glass at a restaurant, nice way to start the meal, okay bubbles, ripe apple, lemon, and a clean finish. Not bad for the price.
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Pretty similar to what I remember in past years, seems a little flat overall, indistinct citrus palate, light. Simple. Certainly drinks beyond its 12.99 price point, although I'd pop a couple bucks for the Roederer or Gloria Ferrer. Some really loved this. I will say i have liked it more in other years.
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Medium straw color. Smallish bubbles and good acid. Redolent baked apple flavors. Earlier in the week had a Roederer L'Ermitage from Anderson Valley as well and they seem to be taking both houses in that direction. Could have stood some citrus, mineral, and yeast flavors. Actually hope this is not a direction that Roederer is heading in California. It's pleasant, but lacking in complexity.
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At $13, this bottle is a steal. Heck, even if I had to pay hi teens, it would still be a steal. Popped this at a 30th birthday party. I passed out short pours to late 20's/early 30 somethings. They were all in agreement... wonderful. This is a good house champagne. Time to buy more.
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Right now this is the "champagne" value of 2013 to date at $14. Love the intense minerality of this wine and purity of its citrus fruit! Think I'll grab some more before its back up at $17 where it would still be an excellent value!
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I can't believe I didn't purchase a case at the $13 sale price. More than pleasant. After tasting straight up, I mixed this with orange juice. Even better with mimosas on Mother's day.
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Drank this out of a Riedel Flute and James Suckling's Lalique Tasting Glass. For starters, I think this is probably the best US Sparkler under $20 on the market. It was great out of both glasses, but I preferred it out of the Lalique glass. Toasted almonds and nutmeg with a smooth finish.
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VG sparkling wine. A big flavor wine. Lots of bubbles. It improved as we drank the bottle. Almost Champagne like. Liked it alot. Different from many California sparklers. Will drink again.
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Minerally, dry, and dusty with brioche, yeast, stonefruit, green apple, quince, apricot, lemon citrus, lemon-lime pith, must, and white floral notes. Its crisp - more spritzy than bubbly - with good acidity and a decent finish.
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WSET Intermediate Course (San Francisco): clear medium lemon; clean, light intensity, green apple, peach, melon, tropical fruits; bubbles are moderately aggressive, medium sized, dry, medium acidity, medium body, citrus fruit, riper stone fruit, medium length finish; good.
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Drank at a bar on Franklin in Los Feliz. Very good, if you let it open up. Serious quality, fresh but nutty and toasty NV, and the Vintage versions might be seriously good. another reason not to drink champagne Stateside.
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I've had and enjoyed the 1998 Brut before, so I figured I'd give the non-vintage Brut a try. Unfortunately, by comparing the label with the image on the website, I think this bottle is not a recent release and had been on display in the store a bit too long. It smells toasty with notes of lemon and apples, but tastes slightly musty, bordering on chemically. The citrus and apple flavors are still there, but are leaning towards being almost cidery. The wine was not terrible, but I wouldn't recommend buying it. I am hopeful that I can find a newer release and give Scharffenberger another shot.
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A good wine with a shy nose. The flavors of apple and citrus dominate the palette. The crisp acid keeps the drink lively. The texture is a bit coarse, with large bubbles. Worth the price of admission.
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3+ years of age in the bottle. My highest score yet for this wine – which was already one of my favorite everyday domestic sparklers. Medium yellow color. Yeasty apple nose. Palate is dominated by apple with some supporting citrus and toast notes. Long finish. My only complaint would be the somewhat overwhelming apple – a bit more citrus and minerality would add to the complexity and serve this wine well. Nevertheless, this really drinks like a nice non-vintage Champagne for a fraction of the price. You can’t ask for more in a sub-$20 sparkling wine. Fantastic!
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This has a nice touch of yeast in the nose, bit of white fruit, nice med. bubbles, nothing special, but a good classic bubbly with balance, sufficient acidity, and some character. Tasted for a wine class and many really liked it.
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Decent sparkler for the price. The bubbles were too big and the nose could have been a bit less yeasty. However, not much you can get from France at that price. Clean flavors and nice finish. Would purchase again.
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I purchased this two years ago and it's still holding up very nicely. This just smells deelish, with a nice creamy texture and good bead. Solid sparkling wine and nice pairing with red curry.
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A bunch of Champagne & Sparkling Wines (Random): A pleasant surprise and a solid Sparkling wine at $14.99. Compared side by side with the Roederer Brut from Anderson's Valley this was a little better and a few more bucks less. Mineral, lemon and dough are the main components and this wine is really dry. Crisp acidity and a nice example of a Brut style US Sparkling wine.
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A nice daily sparkler. Foamy, with surprisingly big bubbles. Bouquet of yeast, toast, and citrus. Flavors of granny smith and yellow delicious apple along with citrus, toast, and minerals. Complexity rather low but aided by a little age I suspect. Very good depth of fruit carrying on through the dry finish. Very good value at 16.
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Remains one of my favorite value domestic sparkling wines. All the usuals: yeasty nose, apple/citrus flavors mainly with some light toastiness. Long dry finish. Very nice balance and weight for the price. Good value. Two years of bottle age certainly hasn’t hurt.
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Cheapish NV CA sparkler. Worth the money. Balanced unlike some of the cheaper sparklers we have had of late that show too much alcohol. Hard to pick out anything on the nose. Citrus/lemon taste on the tongue - like a splash of REALemon. Not much else to say here. For the money it does the trick. Compares favorably to other NV Brut i have had and would make this a go to as of now in that category under $25. The Feuillatte doesn't have anything to worry about here though. 85pts JDM.
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This was a high quality sparkler that was quite enjoyable. A great bead with a floral nose. A pleasant hit on the palate with a creamy, slightly tart finish.
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A little yeast and a little apple--maybe green apple jolly rancher?--bubbles that were a bit bigger than expected. overall, not as good as i thought it'd be, and nothing special.
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Scharffenberger Brut continues to amaze me. The quality and consistency for this price point is exceptional. Yeasty nose. Apple and citrus flavors with some light toastiness. Long dry finish. While the palate remains on the simple side, the nose and finish really add the value here. This remains one of my favorite everyday sparkling wines.
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Color: green tinge Bouquet: green apple dominates, light yeastiness and mineral Flavor: tart green apple, lime that carries through to the finish plus yeast and mineral (very much like the nose). Comment: Refreshing. Good value. ¥3200. Not subtle, but good tart fruit.
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Nose of yeast and green apples. In the mouth, apples all day long. Tart green and sweeter red apples. With a trist of lemon. Crisp and refreshing but unremarkable.
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Opened for dinner with seafood/chinese...nose of honeyed apricots...in the mouth, apple seems to dominate. A nice sparkler for the price. More lively than other domestics I've tasted.
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My last bottle, but just as great as the first! This wine has consistently shown itself to be an excellent California sparkling wine. Very dry and yeasty. Palate predominantly of apple alongside hints of almonds and toast. Long, though simple, finish. Nonetheless, this wine offers an impressive weight for the price.
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Very dry with yeast and biscuit dough along with hints of green apple and citrus. This is a good deal for the price, and would work especially well with food.
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This bottle was a bit disappointing compared to the previous ones. A much thinner mid-palate of tart green apple and yeast, but with less depth, and a long but unidimensional finish. Still a good wine, but other bottles showed greater yeasty complexity.
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Community price at $14 is considerably lower than what our hosts were asking. I probably wouldn't buy even then. Dark straw, strong bead, decent weight to this wine with some toastiness, but ultimately lacking that thing you want in a champagne (style).
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Quick Sparkler Sips, Day 1: Wasn't really that impressed with this, either. I think part of the problem was drinking American sparklers after champagne, as they all seemed sweet. Mid 80's.
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Poured at a retailer tasting. 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Chardonnay, with melon notes and decent acidity. An odd note on the nose that I can't quite place is a bit distracting.
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Deep golden in colour with almost a tinge of pink. Aromas of citrus, apples, and a touch or pineapple. Flavours of apricots, figs, golden candied pears are balanced with excellent acidity. Wonderfully long finish that goes on and on.
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Nice value. Lots of yeast, some apple and pear on the nose. Medium-bodied with more of the same flavors and some sweetness on the medium length finish.
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The week down the Cape; 7/7/2007-7/13/2007 (Brewster, MA): Medium gold. Citrus, vanilla, yeast, candied fruit aromas and flavours. Good acidity, medium brut sweetness (seems like ~ 8 g/L RS or thereabouts), moderate alcohol (12%). Well-balanced with nice complexity and medium length. Seemed high in SO2. I would buy again.
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Consistent with last bottle, this is a great value $15 sparkler. Well balance with nice aromas of white fruit, bread dough and spice, with a touch of apple and citrus. Creamy mouthfeel and soft finish.
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Excellent! A great sparking wine with very respectable weight for its price. Opens with a nice mousse and significant citrus flavor. Apple undertones prevail throughout. Hints of almond and toast. Overall, a bit too tart but still incredibly pleasant. A perfect anytime bubbly.
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Tried at a tasting. Light color, excellent bubbles. Nose of citrus, a tiny amount of yeast. Clean citrus and light floral flavors. Crisp, light, with a mild finish. My favorite of the night.
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I believe this used to be called Pacific Echo, but I could be mistaken. In any event, I thought it was a good sparkler. For the $15, I'd much prefer the Glora Ferrer Sonoma NV, Roederer Estate NV, Domaine Chandon NV, Domaine Carneros 2002 and a host of similarly priced bubbly. The best part about the wine is the finish, but I found it too tart and "apply' to merit more praise.
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Tried this at 750ml sparkling wine tasting. Rich, Tart, touch of bitternes. went well with the smoke salmon appetizers. not sure i'd actually buy this. i'd rather have the Roeder Estate.
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Enjoyed by guests before heading out. Very consistent with previous notes except that the mousse held much better than before. Same great citrus and yeast components along with the crisp acidity.
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Has an energetic mousse that fades quickly but a very good persistence of small to medium bubbles. Opens with moderate aromas of citrus fruit and with aeration turns to a yeasty baked bread with notes of nut underneath. Light bodied with the bread element dominating the fruit in the mouth. Very dry and finishes with a cleansing acidity and a doughy flavor of good length. The persistence of bead and the well defined yeasty/bread flavor (for a domestic at this price) make this worth seeking out. Excellent QPR. 88-90.
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Brought a bottle to Peggy Burke's New Year's Party, where I met Aleksey. Good thing, since it was one of the few bottles of champagne there. It served us well at midnight. Perfect wine after all that Lewis Cab that someone brought!
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$14 at BevMo. Quite tart, but accompanied by rich, yeasty flavors and great structure. Med-fine bead. I would like to put a few bottles away and see what time does to them. My wife doesn't care for it, but I'm a big fan. Very Good.
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1/15/2024 - tjtrot Likes this wine: 89 Points
refreshing clean and crisp and medium bodied with some oomph (yeasty) on the palate; clean long finish
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1/5/2024 - Sperls Likes this wine: 92 Points
A very pleasant surprise that shows what American sparkling wine can be, this bottle was purchased in 2018 for $15, and the label code shows it was disgorged in 2017. I had sort of forgotten about it as had planned to drink it at some point over some summer but that didn’t happen. So, we brought it when the opportunity presented to dine at a great BYOB place in Montclair NJ. Ie, if it was dead/sucked, then you just move on. However, to our surprise, this was drinking better than many NV champagnes I’ve had. It was light on its feet while also have decent weight to stand up to food. The acidity was perfect and the fruit was alive with some lemon and brioche, and the finish was quite long. The wine went great with everything from chicken liver mousse to seared Spanish octopus to fried chicken. Wish now I hadn’t consumed my other 5 bottles years ago…
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6/9/2023 - kostaslonis Likes this wine:
Sample tasting at work (Oinoscent): Citrus, grapefruit, yeast, high intensity, full on the nose, palate with citrus, full body, highly carbonated offering a nice creamy texture, medium finish. Very nice surprise
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2/12/2023 - cobbpa wrote: 87 Points
Green apple & pear, just a bit of leesy-toast, really refreshing
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1/25/2023 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Roughly 60 / 40 chard and pinot I am being told. And then full malo. And owned by Roederer. With some back vintage reserve vintage backbone. Cinnamon toast crunch on the nose.
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12/11/2022 - BougieWino wrote: 86 Points
Green apple nose; yeast bright, more apple flavors. Light bodied, easy to drink.
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8/27/2022 - davesmith1957 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Fine bubbles, just the right dryness for a brut. Hint of fruit
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4/17/2022 - Muledog71 Likes this wine: 89 Points
very interesting California offering. Oxidized style reminiscent of champagne. A must try at 25$
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1/13/2022 - jeginmt Likes this wine: 90 Points
A very nice drinkable bubbly. Apple and toasted yeast flavors, good acidity. Can’t go wrong with this bargain wine.
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12/15/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
60/40 Chard/Pinot. Tasty as it goes. And hey, at $16 or so it works it out.
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5/18/2021 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Quitely owned by Roderer with the same winemaking team. With a bit of funky stink of the cork pull.
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9/20/2018 - Eatmypixels Likes this wine: 88 Points
Good value. Heavy side. Buy again
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1/28/2018 - gfwetzel wrote: 88 Points
Yeast and toast aromas. Citrus and mineral taste. Light yellow color. Medium acidity. Nice as an aperitif and with scallops. Good value.
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1/18/2018 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Bought 600 acres in 1982? Rich fruit, full malo and that kinda shows. 60% Pinot and 40% Chardonnay.
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7/16/2017 - rocknroller wrote: 89 Points
Cabs and Merlot or Blend from Anywhere (Heirloom, St.Paul, MN): Light gold color. Drank 1 glass over 20 minutes. I hadn't had this in several years, and i thought this was one of the better examples I've had. This was very nicely yeasty, autolytic, lime, citrus. Good QPR.
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12/4/2016 - rustyRudy Likes this wine: 89 Points
Nice , inexpensive , by the glass at a restaurant, nice way to start the meal, okay bubbles, ripe apple, lemon, and a clean finish. Not bad for the price.
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12/13/2015 - domco wrote:
Nothing special but for $13 I won't complain too much drinking it.
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1/23/2015 - cuffthis wrote: flawed
Local steak house had this by the glass. They opened a new bottle for me and it was corked. Last bottle they had behind bar.
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12/3/2014 - rocknroller wrote: 87 Points
Pretty similar to what I remember in past years, seems a little flat overall, indistinct citrus palate, light. Simple. Certainly drinks beyond its 12.99 price point, although I'd pop a couple bucks for the Roederer or Gloria Ferrer. Some really loved this. I will say i have liked it more in other years.
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11/10/2014 - lquam Likes this wine: 85 Points
Medium straw color. Smallish bubbles and good acid. Redolent baked apple flavors. Earlier in the week had a Roederer L'Ermitage from Anderson Valley as well and they seem to be taking both houses in that direction. Could have stood some citrus, mineral, and yeast flavors. Actually hope this is not a direction that Roederer is heading in California. It's pleasant, but lacking in complexity.
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7/26/2014 - mydi Likes this wine: 80 Points
Last bottle from from Daughter's wedding 5years ago. Good but too dry for me.
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7/19/2014 - JayAAllen Does not like this wine: 83 Points
Not much going on here. Very yeasty, not much else.
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1/1/2014 - Karsko Likes this wine: 87 Points
Nice acidity. Lots of bubbles for a nice presentation. Paired well with a wide variety of appetizers. Medium finish. Great bargain when it is on sale.
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12/31/2013 - WineCenturyAZ wrote: 87 Points
Medium oat straw color in the glass, nice acidity, flinty notes with a hint of chalk, nice round mouthfeel with citrus and apple
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12/6/2013 - Armando B wrote: 86 Points
Good acid. Light body with apple and citrus notes. Better with food. Nice QPR.
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12/5/2013 - rocknroller wrote: 88 Points
Surdyk's Holiday Champagne Tasting (Surdyk's, Mpls, MN): Tasting pour. No details, a nice dough note, a very solid sparkler year after year that drinks well beyond its price point.
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11/6/2013 - maderay wrote: 90 Points
VG
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10/11/2013 - chablis28 wrote: 89 Points
best buy in "champagne"
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9/26/2013 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
Guiltless pleasure at $13. Love this "champagne"!
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8/23/2013 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
Paid $13 drinks like $30 plus. Terrific value and pleasure here.
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7/28/2013 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
Another nice btl that's awefully easy to open for the $13 price tag.
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7/26/2013 - chablis28 wrote: 90 Points
Love it for the $13-$14 I,m buying it at locally. Drinks easily like $20 top domestic - $45 French all day long.
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7/14/2013 - dhammer53 wrote: 89 Points
At $13, this bottle is a steal. Heck, even if I had to pay hi teens, it would still be a steal. Popped this at a 30th birthday party. I passed out short pours to late 20's/early 30 somethings. They were all in agreement... wonderful. This is a good house champagne. Time to buy more.
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6/6/2013 - Nojomoschwa Likes this wine: 89 Points
Always a good bubbly buy.
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5/30/2013 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Right now this is the "champagne" value of 2013 to date at $14. Love the intense minerality of this wine and purity of its citrus fruit! Think I'll grab some more before its back up at $17 where it would still be an excellent value!
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5/13/2013 - dhammer53 wrote:
I can't believe I didn't purchase a case at the $13 sale price. More than pleasant. After tasting straight up, I mixed this with orange juice. Even better with mimosas on Mother's day.
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5/12/2013 - Wino Joe wrote: 90 Points
Great tiny bubbles. Crisp and bright, pear and apple. Great finish
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2/24/2013 - VinoServant wrote: 90 Points
Drank this out of a Riedel Flute and James Suckling's Lalique Tasting Glass. For starters, I think this is probably the best US Sparkler under $20 on the market. It was great out of both glasses, but I preferred it out of the Lalique glass. Toasted almonds and nutmeg with a smooth finish.
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2/2/2013 - mwneil Likes this wine: 89 Points
VG sparkling wine. A big flavor wine. Lots of bubbles. It improved as we drank the bottle. Almost Champagne like. Liked it alot. Different from many California sparklers. Will drink again.
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1/17/2013 - strawbo Likes this wine: 88 Points
Open and fresh nose with bread and apricots. Same components on the palate along with green apples.
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1/12/2013 - jmull wrote:
Consistent with earlier bottles. (89)
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1/11/2013 - Lfilemyr wrote: 88 Points
Amber in color. A full body for a sparkling. Clean, crisp finish.
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1/2/2013 - jmull wrote: 89 Points
Phenomenal value. Versatile, easy drinking and impossible not too like. 89-90.
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12/31/2012 - Andrew H wrote: 84 Points
Disappointing vs first drinking. Limited fruit and crispness with slightly bitter finish.
(Am I feeling under the weather?)
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12/25/2012 - jmull Likes this wine: 90 Points
Delicious.
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12/19/2012 - bigskymind wrote: 88 Points
Sourdough, croissant...quince...bright acid, quite leesy...
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12/15/2012 - snekse Likes this wine: 87 Points
Pairs well with chicken nuggets and tater tots.
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11/13/2012 - ecola Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice acidity with apple and melon flavors. Crisp dry finish.
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9/29/2012 - Baron Slick wrote: 87 Points
Minerally, dry, and dusty with brioche, yeast, stonefruit, green apple, quince, apricot, lemon citrus, lemon-lime pith, must, and white floral notes. Its crisp - more spritzy than bubbly - with good acidity and a decent finish.
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8/5/2012 - mdhalsey wrote: 82 Points
Smooth with almond and melon notes.
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5/26/2012 - @ethanfries wrote:
Nice quaffer, nothing outstanding
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4/22/2012 - aagrawal wrote: 86 Points
WSET Intermediate Course (San Francisco): clear medium lemon; clean, light intensity, green apple, peach, melon, tropical fruits; bubbles are moderately aggressive, medium sized, dry, medium acidity, medium body, citrus fruit, riper stone fruit, medium length finish; good.
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4/3/2012 - richardhod Likes this wine: 89 Points
Drank at a bar on Franklin in Los Feliz. Very good, if you let it open up. Serious quality, fresh but nutty and toasty NV, and the Vintage versions might be seriously good. another reason not to drink champagne Stateside.
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2/24/2012 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Golden color. Lots of tiny bubbles. Crisp, very dry. Serious and structured.
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2/24/2012 - shadow wrote: 84 Points
bone dry, lots of acid, wakes up your mouth big time, serve ice cold with shell fish
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12/25/2011 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Consistent pleaser. Light and flavorful.
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11/22/2011 - K is for Kate wrote:
This doesn't really stand out, but it's a solid and enjoyable sparkler and at $16 it would certainly serve well for mimosas.
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11/10/2011 - Kschlach Does not like this wine:
I've had and enjoyed the 1998 Brut before, so I figured I'd give the non-vintage Brut a try. Unfortunately, by comparing the label with the image on the website, I think this bottle is not a recent release and had been on display in the store a bit too long. It smells toasty with notes of lemon and apples, but tastes slightly musty, bordering on chemically. The citrus and apple flavors are still there, but are leaning towards being almost cidery. The wine was not terrible, but I wouldn't recommend buying it. I am hopeful that I can find a newer release and give Scharffenberger another shot.
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10/9/2011 - Gage wrote: 90 Points
Green Apple, dry
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10/5/2011 - CarpeVinoDiem wrote: 90 Points
Look: Lt. lemon.
Nose: Toasted bread, slight peach, orange.
Body: 1% milk.
Taste: Slight butterscotch, peach, citrus, lemon, mandarin orange.
Finish: Nice, crisp sharp finish (40 seconds?).
Summary: 90/91. Good value.
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7/9/2011 - mdefreitas wrote: 86 Points
A clean, acceptable, approachable, refreshing sparkling wine. Citric and simple. Not much to go crazy over here, but good for the price.
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2/12/2011 - alr6767 wrote: 84 Points
From MacAurthur's Champagne/Truffle tasting: a bit muted, nice and dry, an off-putting sharp metallic finish.
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2/9/2011 - BullseyeOregon wrote: 84 Points
A good wine with a shy nose. The flavors of apple and citrus dominate the palette. The crisp acid keeps the drink lively. The texture is a bit coarse, with large bubbles. Worth the price of admission.
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2/1/2011 - BrandrB wrote: 89 Points
3+ years of age in the bottle. My highest score yet for this wine – which was already one of my favorite everyday domestic sparklers. Medium yellow color. Yeasty apple nose. Palate is dominated by apple with some supporting citrus and toast notes. Long finish. My only complaint would be the somewhat overwhelming apple – a bit more citrus and minerality would add to the complexity and serve this wine well. Nevertheless, this really drinks like a nice non-vintage Champagne for a fraction of the price. You can’t ask for more in a sub-$20 sparkling wine. Fantastic!
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12/30/2010 - mjmiller1223 wrote: 79 Points
Very dry. tart
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12/25/2010 - peternelson wrote: 88 Points
This has a nice touch of yeast in the nose, bit of white fruit, nice med. bubbles, nothing special, but a good classic bubbly with balance, sufficient acidity, and some character. Tasted for a wine class and many really liked it.
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12/24/2010 - MagnumGourmet Likes this wine:
Decent sparkler for the price. The bubbles were too big and the nose could have been a bit less yeasty. However, not much you can get from France at that price. Clean flavors and nice finish. Would purchase again.
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12/24/2010 - Zuperdaave wrote: 90 Points
Delicious. Consistent favorite.
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12/16/2010 - khmark7 wrote: 89 Points
I purchased this two years ago and it's still holding up very nicely. This just smells deelish, with a nice creamy texture and good bead. Solid sparkling wine and nice pairing with red curry.
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12/11/2010 - AllRed wrote: 86 Points
Restrained with subtle apple and almond qualities. Stone & biscuit flavors on the palate.
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12/11/2010 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
A bunch of Champagne & Sparkling Wines (Random): A pleasant surprise and a solid Sparkling wine at $14.99. Compared side by side with the Roederer Brut from Anderson's Valley this was a little better and a few more bucks less. Mineral, lemon and dough are the main components and this wine is really dry. Crisp acidity and a nice example of a Brut style US Sparkling wine.
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11/12/2010 - jcsf420 wrote: 88 Points
apples and citrus on the nose along with river rocks, dry and smooth on the finish, good domestic sparkling
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8/21/2010 - STGivens wrote: 87 Points
Apple, fennel, bright, crisp, perfect for a summer afternoon!
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8/3/2010 - Vinacull wrote: 88 Points
A nice daily sparkler. Foamy, with surprisingly big bubbles. Bouquet of yeast, toast, and citrus. Flavors of granny smith and yellow delicious apple along with citrus, toast, and minerals. Complexity rather low but aided by a little age I suspect. Very good depth of fruit carrying on through the dry finish. Very good value at 16.
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3/11/2010 - BrandrB wrote: 88 Points
Remains one of my favorite value domestic sparkling wines. All the usuals: yeasty nose, apple/citrus flavors mainly with some light toastiness. Long dry finish. Very nice balance and weight for the price. Good value. Two years of bottle age certainly hasn’t hurt.
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1/2/2010 - cassel wrote: 88 Points
Med. body, creamy, tart finish. Fine bubbles. Good value
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12/30/2009 - vanpe003 wrote: 88 Points
Northwoods New Year 2010; 12/27/2009-1/3/2010 (Boulder Junction, Wisconsin): Medium bodied. Not super complex initially, but develops nicely in the glass. Very nice for the price.
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12/27/2009 - Claretjugornot wrote: 85 Points
Cheapish NV CA sparkler. Worth the money. Balanced unlike some of the cheaper sparklers we have had of late that show too much alcohol. Hard to pick out anything on the nose. Citrus/lemon taste on the tongue - like a splash of REALemon. Not much else to say here. For the money it does the trick. Compares favorably to other NV Brut i have had and would make this a go to as of now in that category under $25. The Feuillatte doesn't have anything to worry about here though. 85pts JDM.
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12/4/2009 - hutch wrote: 88 Points
Meidum body. Ripe, but with great acidity. Very nice. The $20 NV California Sparkler is a nice place to go right now.
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11/5/2009 - mdefreitas wrote: 87 Points
Very fine for the price, although a bit simple. Very monochromatic in flavor, focused on sour granny smith apple, but very clean, dry and refreshing.
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9/18/2009 - rbrater wrote: 88 Points
This was a high quality sparkler that was quite enjoyable. A great bead with a floral nose. A pleasant hit on the palate with a creamy, slightly tart finish.
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8/3/2009 - CruConnexion wrote: 88 Points
Yeasty, lemony nose; citrus again on the palate along with apple, pear; good acidity; dry; excellent value for the $$.
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7/7/2009 - jbrater wrote: 84 Points
A little yeast and a little apple--maybe green apple jolly rancher?--bubbles that were a bit bigger than expected. overall, not as good as i thought it'd be, and nothing special.
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5/15/2009 - BrandrB wrote: 87 Points
Scharffenberger Brut continues to amaze me. The quality and consistency for this price point is exceptional. Yeasty nose. Apple and citrus flavors with some light toastiness. Long dry finish. While the palate remains on the simple side, the nose and finish really add the value here. This remains one of my favorite everyday sparkling wines.
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4/26/2009 - jeffal66 wrote: 89 Points
Loved it. Warm night in Philly, outdoor dining with friends at Gayle. Toasty, good acidity, easy drinking. Very good value.
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2/14/2009 - bubbachumps wrote: 88 Points
Very pleasing crisp and creamy green apple. Great bargain.
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1/31/2009 - mdefreitas wrote: 85 Points
Generic and uneventful. Enjoyable, but nothing to really get excited about. The bead was a bit "chunky". Not much complexity here.
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1/11/2009 - stormygirl wrote: 89 Points
This is a wonderful sparkler with a great QPR!
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12/25/2008 - nwbackpacker wrote: 85 Points
Very enjoyable, very decent. Very nice!
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12/20/2008 - wombat wrote: 88 Points
Color: green tinge
Bouquet: green apple dominates, light yeastiness and mineral
Flavor: tart green apple, lime that carries through to the finish plus yeast and mineral (very much like the nose).
Comment: Refreshing. Good value. ¥3200. Not subtle, but good tart fruit.
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11/8/2008 - vinole wrote: 85 Points
Crown Fall 08 Upscale Tasting (Boca Raton, FL): Simple light sparkler with a hint of sweetness.
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10/11/2008 - PolarBear22 wrote: 87 Points
Crispand nice. A little acidic on its own, but not unpleasant. This would go well with some food. This remains one of our favorite sparklers.
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9/7/2008 - Matt T wrote: 85 Points
A bit too acidic and lacking some of the creamy and toasty flavors I look for, but otherwise a decent sparkling wine.
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8/29/2008 - ScottGoodwin wrote:
Nose of yeast and green apples. In the mouth, apples all day long. Tart green and sweeter red apples. With a trist of lemon. Crisp and refreshing but unremarkable.
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8/17/2008 - jdkru wrote: 88 Points
We enjoyed this wine with fried chicken, which was a surprisingly good pairing, This was a simple sparkler that needs food to tame its acidity.
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8/4/2008 - Harley1199 wrote:
Visiting Napa & All Around; 8/2/2008-8/18/2008 (California - USA): Overacid! Half bottle drunk in the Revolution bar at Las Vegas. Worse than spanish cava indeed. A simple cup of Cliquot yellow label was brilliant if you comparing with this.
Más ácido que un cava malo español. Catado en el bar Revolution del hotel Mirage de Las Vegas. Afortunadamente una copa de Cliquot mejoró la noche.
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7/7/2008 - charandbrian wrote:
Too dry
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7/5/2008 - ewill wrote:
This wine had nice, small, tight bubbles and was dry. Went excellently with a triple cream cheese from France (Explorateur).
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6/7/2008 - GrandeSerataFuori wrote: 84 Points
Some caramel or butterscotch and dough. Not my style, but the table tonight prefered it over similarly priced bubblies.
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5/10/2008 - nubbin wrote: 88 Points
Dry. pitted fruit. mod. sized bubbles. Nice. (D 6; F 5.5; Pine)
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4/30/2008 - whits wrote: 88 Points
ice cold holds it's own as a sparkling wine, no flaws really, very good value, dry with crisp fruit, citrus, red apple, excellent with tuna casserole
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4/12/2008 - vinole wrote: 87 Points
Crown Spring Upscale Tasting (Boca Raton, FL): A little sour on the entry, initial light body with acidity that ends with a creamy finish.
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4/1/2008 - winenewb068 wrote: 87 Points
Opened for dinner with seafood/chinese...nose of honeyed apricots...in the mouth, apple seems to dominate. A nice sparkler for the price. More lively than other domestics I've tasted.
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3/9/2008 - Siggy wrote:
Tasting Group Dinner - Miscellaneous Whites (Ocenaire, Minneapolis): Sweet citrus and bubble gum flavors. The finish is dry and toasty. A bit one-dimensional, but pleasant and quaffable.
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2/24/2008 - BrandrB wrote: 88 Points
My last bottle, but just as great as the first! This wine has consistently shown itself to be an excellent California sparkling wine. Very dry and yeasty. Palate predominantly of apple alongside hints of almonds and toast. Long, though simple, finish. Nonetheless, this wine offers an impressive weight for the price.
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1/15/2008 - ChickadeeSharon wrote: 86 Points
fruity, peachy, very pleasant
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1/15/2008 - Reyman wrote: 85 Points
Very dry with yeast and biscuit dough along with hints of green apple and citrus. This is a good deal for the price, and would work especially well with food.
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1/14/2008 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 86 Points
This bottle was a bit disappointing compared to the previous ones. A much thinner mid-palate of tart green apple and yeast, but with less depth, and a long but unidimensional finish. Still a good wine, but other bottles showed greater yeasty complexity.
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1/1/2008 - LeechDogg wrote: flawed
Oxidized. No disgorgement date I can see.
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12/27/2007 - tthorn wrote: 88 Points
Slightly off-dry, with tropical fruit tastes.
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12/27/2007 - indiscriminate palate wrote: 88 Points
Notes of yeast and bread behind most prominent flavor of sour green apples. Crisp, delicious, but very tart.
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12/24/2007 - AlpharettaWine wrote: 88 Points
Good value sparkler. Nothing mind-blowing, but certainly enjoyable.
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12/11/2007 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
Community price at $14 is considerably lower than what our hosts were asking. I probably wouldn't buy even then. Dark straw, strong bead, decent weight to this wine with some toastiness, but ultimately lacking that thing you want in a champagne (style).
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12/6/2007 - hutch wrote:
Quick Sparkler Sips, Day 1: Wasn't really that impressed with this, either. I think part of the problem was drinking American sparklers after champagne, as they all seemed sweet. Mid 80's.
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12/2/2007 - AllRed wrote: 83 Points
Poured at a retailer tasting. 67% Pinot Noir and 33% Chardonnay, with melon notes and decent acidity. An odd note on the nose that I can't quite place is a bit distracting.
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10/7/2007 - brutusbuckeye wrote: 88 Points
Deep golden in colour with almost a tinge of pink. Aromas of citrus, apples, and a touch or pineapple. Flavours of apricots, figs, golden candied pears are balanced with excellent acidity. Wonderfully long finish that goes on and on.
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8/16/2007 - drdebs wrote: 86 Points
Anderson Valley Tastings; 8/15/2007-8/16/2007 (Anderson Valley, Mendocino County): Decent domestic sparkler, and worth the money if you want something simple and can get it for around $15. Aromas are more attractive than the palate, with red fruit and citrus. Vanilla cream notes enter on palate. Short finish.
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8/10/2007 - BrandrB wrote: 88 Points
Consistent with my previous tasting note. A great California sparking wine. Dry and yeasty with a nice body of fruit. An excellent value.
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8/7/2007 - SacredCow wrote: 87 Points
Nice value. Lots of yeast, some apple and pear on the nose. Medium-bodied with more of the same flavors and some sweetness on the medium length finish.
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7/7/2007 - Barbara B wrote: 87 Points
The week down the Cape; 7/7/2007-7/13/2007 (Brewster, MA): Medium gold. Citrus, vanilla, yeast, candied fruit aromas and flavours. Good acidity, medium brut sweetness (seems like ~ 8 g/L RS or thereabouts), moderate alcohol (12%). Well-balanced with nice complexity and medium length. Seemed high in SO2. I would buy again.
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5/17/2007 - dougsmith wrote: 88 Points
No detailed TN taken, but good aromas of tart apple and yeastiness. Almost cheesy. Medium bodied on the palate. Fine everyday sparkler.
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5/5/2007 - GolferChris wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with last bottle, this is a great value $15 sparkler. Well balance with nice aromas of white fruit, bread dough and spice, with a touch of apple and citrus. Creamy mouthfeel and soft finish.
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4/9/2007 - BrandrB wrote: 88 Points
Excellent! A great sparking wine with very respectable weight for its price. Opens with a nice mousse and significant citrus flavor. Apple undertones prevail throughout. Hints of almond and toast. Overall, a bit too tart but still incredibly pleasant. A perfect anytime bubbly.
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4/9/2007 - DancingDavidE wrote: 87 Points
brought to Easter brunch
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3/7/2007 - Mrbuzz wrote: 90 Points
Very nice! Like the NV Roederer...more yeast, less explosive, effervescent bubbles. Nice toast, pear fruit.
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12/28/2006 - JSHinson wrote: 91 Points
Tried at a tasting. Light color, excellent bubbles. Nose of citrus, a tiny amount of yeast. Clean citrus and light floral flavors. Crisp, light, with a mild finish. My favorite of the night.
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12/16/2006 - spacewrangler wrote: 84 Points
I believe this used to be called Pacific Echo, but I could be mistaken. In any event, I thought it was a good sparkler. For the $15, I'd much prefer the Glora Ferrer Sonoma NV, Roederer Estate NV, Domaine Chandon NV, Domaine Carneros 2002 and a host of similarly priced bubbly. The best part about the wine is the finish, but I found it too tart and "apply' to merit more praise.
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12/10/2006 - Glenino wrote:
Tried this at 750ml sparkling wine tasting. Rich, Tart, touch of bitternes. went well with the smoke salmon appetizers. not sure i'd actually buy this. i'd rather have the Roeder Estate.
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12/8/2006 - AllRed wrote: 86 Points
Poured at a retailer tasting. Pale color. Nice weight and texture to this wine, with some citrus and almond flavors. Overall a bit simple.
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12/2/2006 - AllRed wrote: 87 Points
Poured at a retailer asting. Yellow color, with notes of apple blossom and Wonderbread. Nice texture, with slightly sweet fruit.
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11/18/2006 - GolferChris wrote: 89 Points
November Wine Tasting - Cardinal Crystal Lake (Cardinal Liquors, NW Suburbs Chicago): Nicely balanced sparkling wine. Great value at $15. Aromas of white fruit, baked bread and spice. Apple, citrus and creamy in the mouth. Smooth finish.
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11/11/2006 - Bin242 wrote:
Enjoyed by guests before heading out. Very consistent with previous notes except that the mousse held much better than before. Same great citrus and yeast components along with the crisp acidity.
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7/21/2006 - Bin242 wrote: 89 Points
Has an energetic mousse that fades quickly but a very good persistence of small to medium bubbles. Opens with moderate aromas of citrus fruit and with aeration turns to a yeasty baked bread with notes of nut underneath. Light bodied with the bread element dominating the fruit in the mouth. Very dry and finishes with a cleansing acidity and a doughy flavor of good length. The persistence of bead and the well defined yeasty/bread flavor (for a domestic at this price) make this worth seeking out. Excellent QPR. 88-90.
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7/15/2006 - akottas wrote: 87 Points
Great sparking wine, not too sweet.
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6/9/2006 - MagnumGourmet wrote:
Alaska Cruise; 6/3/2006-6/9/2006 (Holland America Line - Oosterdam): Consistent Notes. Two bottles.
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6/3/2006 - MagnumGourmet wrote:
Alaska Cruise; 6/3/2006-6/9/2006 (Holland America Line - Oosterdam): Very dry. Pleasant to drink. Wife likes Gloria Ferrer better. Would purchase again. Two bottles.
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4/7/2006 - IlonaN wrote:
We used 60 bottles of this for Tristan's wedding. A big hit with the guests, and much better than the usual wedding bubblies most people serve.
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1/6/2006 - elfez wrote: 83 Points
Reasonably balanced and pleasant, but fizzy to the point of coarseness.
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1/3/2006 - buttercup wrote:
Brought a bottle to Peggy Burke's New Year's Party, where I met Aleksey. Good thing, since it was one of the few bottles of champagne there. It served us well at midnight. Perfect wine after all that Lewis Cab that someone brought!
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12/31/2005 - WNissen wrote:
$14 at BevMo. Quite tart, but accompanied by rich, yeasty flavors and great structure. Med-fine bead. I would like to put a few bottles away and see what time does to them. My wife doesn't care for it, but I'm a big fan. Very Good.
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