Little point in adding one more note to the current total of 348, though it does help pad my statistics: served as a little appetizer for the main tasting event. No longer made from New Mexico grapes (assuming it once was), it is pale straw, very short effervescence, just slightly off-dry. Simple but pleasant.
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In-Store Tasting (Some really bad wines) (Bloomington, MN): Never understood the popularity of these wines. Mumm Prestige for a few more dollars is way better. Simple at best with lemon, spice and a hint of chalk. Lacks complexity and short finish.
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Far & away best Gruet I’ve had to date! Vacationing in NM where its Ubiquitous. Precise, crisp & yet well fruited w/ a good sense of depth. We’ll likely get this cuvée in our reg rotation. Paid $16 in supermarket. Drinks like $30+. 91+
Tasty though fairly simple. Crisp, with strawberries and bread dough flavors. This bottle had been in my cellar for a couple years, which I think helped round out some of the rougher edges that I remembered from prior bottles.
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Nice sparkling wine. Tasted in a virtual wine tasting. 100% pinot noir. Smells of white flowers. Lots of bubbles. Palate has lime, beeswax, and a bit of yeast.
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The Fourth Annual World’s Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine; 12/20/2021-12/23/2021: Retail $16. 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. I was not surprised when the reveal indicated that this was a Gruet, which has been one of my go-to domestic sparklers for some time. Loads of fruit on the nose with red delicious apple, ripe peach, and some red berry fruit. The palate is wonderfully balanced between that fruitiness, a near-searing tartness, and just a dab of sweetness. Fantastic.
Surprisingly wonderful! Small, numerous bubbles. Flint, orange peel and lime on the nose. Distant hint of pineapple (not true pineapple but rather the suggestion thereof). Lemony with wonderfully subtle mushroom on tongue. Long finish
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The Third Annual Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine: Retail $17. 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. Pale straw with several steady streams of beautiful bubbles. Not much fruit on the nose, but there is plenty of vanilla and rising dough aromas. On the palate, the sparkle is much less pronounced than anticipated. Good flavors and nice balance, this is another wine in this flight that certainly brings the goods. Very Nice. 89. thedrunkencyclist.com
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Not particularly expressive on the nose—a bit of bruised apple, maybe a hint of sweet baking spices, but also a touch of a chemical smell, unfortunately. Not sure exactly what it reminds me of, but not very pleasant. A little better on the palate as the chemical side doesn't really manifest, and the texture is pleasantly rich and effervescent, with the same apple fruit and sweet cinnamon spice from the nose, balanced by a good spine of acidity and a bit of a mineral crunch. The spice flavors dominate the finish, leaving behind an attractive, sweet aftertaste.
These Gruet sparklers are never spectacular, but they're also never bad, or anything other than good value. This is not one of the best bottles I've had due to the chemical note, but once that blows off a bit, it's a decent bubbly for a low price.
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The nose is chalk, with some apple and lemon. Very sophisticated for the price point. The palate is clean, with a dough-y element to it. But the carbonation is just too rough for me. It's almost like a soda stream.
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Medium gold color. On the nose, apple skins, bruised apple flesh, caramel, cinnamon, brown sugar, and some autolytic yeastiness. Not earth-shattering, but suggestive of a perfectly passable bubbly. And on the palate, it follows through on that promise. It's on the rich side—they weren't shy with the dosage—but it has a nice energetic mousse to lighten it up a bit, and all of the same notes from the nose come through without any off-putting flavors or structural issues. It's simple and straightforward, but very enjoyable, and a respectable traditional-method sparking wine, which makes it outstanding value for the price.
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Deep aromas of fermentation and aging. Pear skins. Confetti-like mouthfeel. Acidic. On the drier side. Sources grapes from NM, WA and Lodi, CA. Very good price-to-quality ratio.
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Red-hue to the deep gold appearance Medium+ aromas of ripe red apple, strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. Ripe fruits. Decent autolytic notes. Mouthfeel is neither overly austere nor overly fleshy; it is in balance. Good acidity. Medium to medium+ length. Lovely bubbles. Bone dry. I would describe this as a bit more of a fruit bomb when compared to a blanc de noirs from Champagne. Very very good.
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The Second Annual Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine: 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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Bought 24b for 11/b eight years ago from a local independent retailer; this is #18. Tight cork and plenty of effervescence. Gold; some bread dough, bit of white fruit, persistent bubbles, still tasty but no point in waiting. Impressed that it's still this good. Stored horizontally in a basement locker in a condo since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable+ when considering quality, age, and price.
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Resembles more of a chardonnay-based wine than noirs. Good acid, fine bubbles. Faint fruits: apple, strawberry, pear. Most of fruit gone second day. Not at all bad.
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A fresh bottle from the winery. Darker color than most bubbles but not surprising for it is Blanc de Noir. Lots of really tiny bubbles. Nose dominated by apple. Nice mouth feel. Round. Rich. Apple and a touch of red berry. A pleasanttartness. Good finish.
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Like BBoard, probably about 3 years in large wine refrigerator and its starting to show its age. Same comments too. Slightly bitter alone, but okay with some food (cheese and quiche). I think I need to try another bottle and drink it more timely.
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Excellent QPR, this bottle in cellar for 3.5 yrs. Still lots of acidity, however due to cellar time, its become a tad bitter drinking on its own (with food less of an issue). Great intensity. Would buy again
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Pours a pale golden yellow color with a fine mousse that quickly disappates. Bouncing back from an illness right now, so I can't pick up any aromas.
Nice effervescence. Some red fruit flavors with just a little smokiness and burnt caramel. A little chalky and yeasty on the finish. Relatively short length, but good acid cut.
More than acceptable quality for the $14 USD price paid. Sometimes you just want bubbles.
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Call me a plebeian but I like this stuff. A rather red-wine-ish BdN with lots of strawberry, raspberry along with pear and apple. Definitely on the fruity side but with enough acidity to keep it from tipping over to being cloying. Bubbles aren't exactly refined but a nice, slightly yeasty finish. Pretty solid overall for the price.
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Soft and fruit forward, with primary notes of apple and plum. Creamy and almost off-dry, with just enough acidity to keep it fresh. A crowd pleaser, and a killer QPR.
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Mild gold color with a hint of pink. Grapefruit aromas, good acid, very bright and light citrus flavors, persistent bubbles. Overall this is very good quality from the Land of Enchantment.
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Green apple, subtle chalk, strawberries and dough. Complex for its price point. This would make for a great starter wine for entertaining. Might be fun to put this blind against a Champagne 3 times the price.
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Light gold almost pink hue, abundance of subtle micro-bubbles, clean crisp nose, hint of yeast and green apples, bright acidity and apples on the palate medium finish. Really excellent QPR, this is a winner
Mr. & Ms. Hatsby very much enjoyed this moderately priced bubbly. They find it to be a safe, stand-alone drinker (although, delightful with some Chambord!), that even your "finer" guests would enjoy.
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platinum, gold with a pear nose. Off dry with medium fruit and body, tart ripe pear. Soft mouth feel with sufficient acid to balance the light sweetness of the fruit. Finishes with a little citrus twist.
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Fun & versatile bubbles that are capable of standing alone with a dry, crisp, clean, and mildly tart experience on the palate. Subtle nose of green apple. Low QPR & nothing too dominant in nose or palate makes it a great candidate for mimosas.
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Really solid for $12, per usual from this producer. Copper color. Toasty bread nose, apricot, bruised apple. Tangy acidity on the palate, crisp strawberry and white cherry fruit, some biscuits and chalky notes. Balanced, vibrant, delicious, not the most complex wine but so, so good for the money.
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75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. I have said this before, but it bears repeating: this might be the single best value in sparkling wine on the market today. I paid a total of $10.03 for this (including tax), and that makes this gangbusters in my book. I do have a problem with the wine, though: how can they call this a “Blanc de Noirs” when it has 25% Chardonnay (“Blanc de Noirs” means a white wine made from black grapes)? Nonetheless, this tastes like a wine twice the price: lemony, yeasty, with a vibrant bubble. We always have six of these in reserve for that mid-week bubble fix. I think I am going to need to up that to a dozen. Very Good. 87-89 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com
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I have said this before, but it bears repeating: this might be the single best value in sparkling wine. I paid a total of $10.03 for this (including tax), and that makes this gangbusters in my book. Heck, it is worth twice the price: lemony, yeasty, with a vibrant bubble. We always have six of these in reserve for that mid-week bubble fix. I am going to up that to a dozen. thedrunkencyclist.com
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Bachelor Party trip to Napa/Sonoma (Sonoma, Napa, SF): Hint of brioche autolysis on the nose. Coarse bubbles. Decent fruit, a bit sweeter than I'd like on the palate - shows it's dosage a bit. Finishes with the acid a bit lacking, and with a little bitterness.
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Slight pink in color. Good bubbles. Nice nose of berries. Slightly toasty with a hint of apples and strawberries on the palate. This has replaced the Gruet Brut as my go to party champagne. Great stuff and always a crowd pleaser.
Clear, medium (+) yellow in color. The nose is clean, with some nice apple, toast and hazelnut. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, and medium alcohol (12%). Medium flavor intensity and length. This is a tasty and well-balanced bubbly which, in a blind tasting, would probably rate as high as others costing twice as much.
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Interesting. Had a slight reddish hue color. I assumed it was a rose. Nose and palate were quite mild and light. Slight aroma of apple. Maybe some straw or hay or grassy note. Palate was very crisp, dry / acidic. Not off-putting, but bracing. Good structure.
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Smooth and creamy lemon undertones. While the bubbles carry the dryness through the finish citric honey and spice notes are most prominent. Excellent value.
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Brunch (Tim and Elliott's Place, San Francisco): Light golden; aromatics are minimal to medium, slight yeast; palate has a bit too large bubbles, slight bitterness which is odd, fruit is minimal; short finish. They recently changed the vineyard to grapes sourced from California for their NV and it is a drastic step down from what used to be a very decent wine. 80-82
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Tasted among a series of champagnes and sparking wines on New Years Eve (2016). This was the slightly more flavored than the Freixenet. It is consistently a great value and aside from being on the light side, it represented good value. The champagnes included (in the ascending order of scores) Freixenet (Black bottle) 85, Gruet Blanc Des Noirs NV -88, Perrier Jouet Brut NV - 90, Roederer Estate Brut (Anderson Valley - 91, and Krug Vintage 2003 -96
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Not sweet. Bubbly, had that certain New Mexican terroir (see my earlier note about a certain Virginia sparkling wine....) clean, crisp easy to drink while welcoming in the New Year on the slopes of Taos!
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From a half. Strawberry and raspberry fruit, sous-bois, mushroom, and minerals on the bouquet. Dry, mouth-watering delicious palate backed by a serious finish. Crazy QPR!
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Very effervescent. Slightly dark in color. Nose of mostly apple and some citrus. Clean and crisp on the palate. Decent for a sparkling wine, even more so coming from New Mexico.
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Still a good value if you can get it for $13-15. Lately, I've been buying and drinking a wide array of French champagnes for $25 each. They have nearly all been substantially better than this, which it should be for the price differential. But I remember Gruet being better than the somehow thick and muted flavors this bottle offers.
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First time trying this. Darker straw color, fast mid size bubbles, taste has good intensity, berries, acidity that's sooth unlike other sparkling's that very sharp / crisp / fresh (my own personal bias is good intensity over sharp acidity) - excellent QPR in my opinion for less than USD 14.
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Somewhat surprised about the quality of this wine, although it frequently receives quality reviews. Strawberries and cherries, good round mouthfeel, good bubbles and carbonation. Quite a nice champagne style wine for the price. Would certainly buy again.
This is our "go to"/house champagne, saving the special bubbly for special occasions. Consistently good, made mostly with Pinot Noir grapes (thus the "de Noir"). Agree, not as crisp and austere as other bubblies, but that makes it a tad more accessible. Touch of nutty and yeasty taste. For under $15, this is quite the bargain.
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Flatter and less crisp than other varietals of Gruet. Has a nice color and some red fruit qualities but not very interesting even if a value pick. I'd go with other Gruet varietals.
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Tasting with Maverick at FHE. Little more richness on the nose, toasty and nutty peach and cantaloupe. Clean and dry - more tropical notes. Baking spice. Moderate complex.
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Delicious! I love the caramel and brown sugar nose. Taste is not too sweet but not too dry either. Really good alternative to much higher-priced (actual) Champagne.
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Medium straw yellow with some pink shade, 12% abv. Persistent pearl strings of mm-size bubbles emanating. Medium(-) aromas of red berries, strawberries and some bread notes. Bone dry, high acidity, medium alcohol and body. Medium flavors of lemon zest, strawberries. Delicate mousse is rather frothy when entering the mouth. Good racy finish and lingering autolytic flavors. Excellent value for money ($15 per bottle). Will try out the Gruet range.
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Great concentration. Rich, mineral, yeastiness (which also smells like wet concrete), excellent mouthfeel. Friendly and approachable in style. Does not seem as dry as other bruts. Gruet does not make anything bad. 88-89.
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Sight: Clear, Bright. Pearlescent, very very light pinkish/orangeish hue. Nice viscosity, fine bubbles. Nose: Summer fruit and melon, pear. A bit of yeasty toastyness. Pallet: Dry, raspberry, perceived as sweet.
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Another Gruet that goes down easy and disappears quickly. Touch of gold color, light and vibrant mousse. Not very aromatic but enough heft on the palate to make it interesting. A little brioche and sourdough. Fantastic with food. Tonight it was grilled shrimp and Indonesian daal, lamb curry, spicy chix and veggies.
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Very light. Lots of bubbles - noted as interesting as right after opening a totally flat bottle... Extremely light and not must interest or flavor. Not sure what to do with my remaining 8 bottles, who can I serve them to????
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Very short cork and no pop- totally flat. Wine tasted ok - maybe better than other bottles (!?) but poured it down the drain as not sure if OK to drink (but looking back, probably was,,,)
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Surprisingly good, considering the source; more fruit forward than most champagne style wines I've had; very enjoyable and I think a good choice if you are entertaining non-Champagne drinkers
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What a solid sparkler for the price. Notes of green apple on the palate, with ripe apple and orange peel on the palate, with a touch of breadiness. Almost off-dry, and while not necessarily elegant, at $13 this is a heck of a value.
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Popped and poured. Apricot nectar aroma. Sweetish flavors of pear and lichee. Sweet orange finish. If you like off-dry sparklers (I do) this is pretty good.
The sweetness does come on a little strong in the finish, but if you're eating All-American foods like hot dogs or barbecue, this All-American sparkler works well.
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Less mousse in this bottle or it may have been a function of the stemware. Had this with fig halves topped with a dollop of goat cheese, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and then wrapped with pancetta and broiled. Yummy and a good match!
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beautiful yellow/green color, very fine bubbles, apple and vanilla on the nose, bright acidity, mild yeast, apple pie, baked pear and mild cinnamon spice with a pleasant medium finish, can't beat this for the price and I can see why WS ranked in top 100 and a smart buy
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This is consistently one of the best values around in U.S. sparkling wine. It is clean, dry and fresh, with a generous palate of apples and toasty vanilla. Tried it blind with other sparkling wines and this was consistently a crowd-pleaser.
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I am a fan of this family - I have to say that after trying other "Big House" Champagne at the $75 and $100 price ranges, I still vastly prefer this wine. That is my personal preference, obviously.
This has great acidity and the nose pops with almost a cidery beer quality, not like the cider you get from a farm. Big macintosh flavors and green apples with white grapes aromas and tastes. I love the mouse this wine has to offer and the spritely freshness of the wine. A wonderful value.
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Medium gold in color with lively bubbles. The nose is clean, with some croissant and pear. The nose is medium in intensity. The palate is clean and dry, with pear, green apple, lemon and a hint of toasted hazelnut on the finish. This a very crisp and balanced French-style bubbly. Drink now, not intended for ageaing. Good by itself or with food. A very good value for the money, this is consistently very good.
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Very good sparkler at this price point. Balanced with enough complexity to keep my interest. Is becoming my "go-to" sparkler for parties. Has been a consistent crowd pleaser.
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A bit over half the price of the Roederer Estate Anderson Valley NV Brut and the Gruet NV Blanc de Noirs and NV Brut never fail to please, although they are not quite as elegant. Still, both of the Gruets are very pleasing.
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Full gold color with hints of amber. Fine steady bead in the glass. Aromas of winter wheat, chalk, stone fruit and strawberry. Racy palate with citrus and stone fruit flavors along with mild chalk and yeast. Well balanced and nicely complex for its price point. Crisp finish. Always consistently good QPR. Perfect with my take-out sushi!
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Nice dark golden color with the slightest hint of pink. Tastes of green apple and pear. Slight toastiness. Very crisp dry finish. Very enjoyable and great with any food. Good QPR.
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Normally, I am a fan of this simple sparkler. This bottle had lost much of its bubbly and tasted so much like apples, our entire group thought it tasted more like mild hard cider. Pleasant enough if one enjoys that, but not when expecting a blanc de noirs. Bottle flaw?
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This is a very nice blend of blanc de noirs. It opens with a golden toast color with a slight cherry nose. It offers a rich blend of slightly toasted body with crisp bubbles. Good value.
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A simple but pleasant sparkler, with aromas of bread, yeast, green apple and a hint of citrus. The flavors match with biscuit, yeast and green apple. Nice mouthfeel. Nothing extraordinary but very solid for the price.
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Lots of fizz but a little flat on fruit. Not much on the nose, and the mousse died quickly. Nonetheless, everyone was amazed that this wine came from New Mexico. This was a bottle that I've had for over a year - maybe that's why it lost its mojo?
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Initial taste a bit disappointing but this really came around after about 30 minutes after opening. Soft smoky apple nose with cinnamon. Tart berry body with an elemental chalk flavor. Alcohol not well integrated.
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The first bottle I tried was corked. Biscuity, nutty, toasty aromas. Mango, apple, and dried apricots on the palate. There's a mild but noticeable bitter, tannin-like element in the background; it isn't enough to be annoying, and adds some complexity. Good acidity. Unimpressive bubbles and mouthfeel.
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- Medium pearls - Nice crisp apple scent. Earthy, yeasty oak (a little funky at first to me). Clean, dry finish with hints of pineapple and apple briefly.
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Awful! Must be something wrong with this bottle. Harsh, bitter, tastes like eating wet wood chips.... Tastes like.... Cork! I'm guessing it's a corked bottle based on all the other reviews. Coarse bubbles, poor mouthfeel. Will have to try again.
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I liked this less than their regular Brut, which I found light and somewhat austere. This sparkler had more of a weighty, creamy texture that I usually like, but had a bit too much fruit and not enough balancing acidity. Still better than many at its price.
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Fine bubbles float up through this golden-hued sparkler. Aromas of apples and fresh dough. Apples and a hint of cinnamon on the palate. Crisp, refreshing and balanced. Lovely.
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Rated our favorite as the food sparkler of choice for a rehearsal dinner for 60+ people. Good complexity and acidity. Stood up to a spicy pork dish and a spicier shrimp dish. Wasn't overly tart like many of the sparklers we sampled, nor did it have any annoying aftertastes like many of them had or developed over the course of several hours of sampling. It was good upon opening, again not a trait shared by many of the sparklers in our sample, and didn't need any airing. It had a very pleasant nose with a hint of yeast and red fruit. It opened up nicely over the course of several hours and as it warmed towards room temperature...interesting and tasty the entire time. It was decent two days later when we finished off part of the bottle, though it was slim on the effervescence scale. Great bang for the buck and you will stump people on the country of origin...forget them guessing the state it's from!
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Very appley - even moreso than before. Still enjoyable, but not as complex as I remember. Wouldn't be bad if it was still found for $12 or less, but nowadays it's running >$13 because of WS.
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Saturday Night Wine Tasting (Throyd's - Lansdowne): refreshing sparkling wine and continues to deliver as a strong value. apple and strawberry flavors dominate. not much yeastiness on this. well liked by the group.
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Recently appeared on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2011, this wine was by far the driest of the bunch. This had some cream as well but not as pronounced as the Duval Leroy. It also had some flavors of ginger and cinnamon.
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Lots of bubbles that start to fade within 30 minutes after opening. Medium straw with a tinge of salmon color. Yeasty and citrusy with undertones of oak and faint vanilla. Creamy mouthfeel that finishes with a flop. Nothing very noteworthy or special about this; once again Wine Spectator missed the mark by naming this in its Annual Top 100. Good inexpensive quaffer for $13.
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Drank this while wrapping Christmas presents. Very enjoyable and easy-drinking.
This is a very good stand alone Sparkler but, I imagine, is also a fairly good mixer for mimosas and other cocktails. For a non-California New World Sparkler, this is a good buy.
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Never had this or any other Gruet before (I brought it), so I was curious to try it. I thought it was fine, though there was something sharp on the back end that distracted and not in a good way. For around the same price, I can get a good Limoux or a Cremant de Loire/Bourgogne that will be better.
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75% Pinot, 25% Chard. Berry and floral aromas, juicy raspberry and citrus fruit flavors on the palate with a creamy, rich texture and nicely balanced acidity.
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Salmon color with an abundance of dispersed tiny bubbles with brioche and apple aromas. On the palate approaching medium bodied with a moderately aggressive mousse, balanced with pear, sweet baking spice, vanilla, and nuanced citrus flavors. Short finish . Very good QPR @$14. Will buy more!
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Certainly performs well for the tariff. Pleasant, not really particularly interesting. Nice vigor, but sort of seems like the CO2 is trying to make up for low acidity. Good quaffing bubbly, but not one that inspires deep attention.
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nose: not well defined...kind of a faded apple, but there isn't much there. palate:all the fruit seems to be upfront, then it fades quickly. Watery pear and apple mostly, then the finish seem to surge back with some lemon and a touch of rind, but it's not that forceful. Altogether, it's a nice domestic sparkler, though it seems to lack not only intensity but also presence. Just a tad bitter, it's definitely on the dry side of sparkling. Body isn't very 'noir'-like. A good choice for when a prosecco would be too sweet - I would buy it again for under $13
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The nose comes across as rather opulent, showing tones sweet apple, pineapple, and fresh baked cinnamon buns. The palate opens with an equal level of sweet caramelized apples and a pie crust component. The wine quickly progresses through weak mid-palate flavors of lemon meringue to the short finish of sugared lemon peel and apple. The relatively weak structure and progression on the palate highlight the lack of balancing acidity. The flavors are enjoyable (albeit one dimensional), but perhaps are a bit too sweet. R&M 80
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Simple, with round fairly larged sized bubbles. Pleasant red fruit flavors but comes off slightly off-dry. Uninspiring. Had the brut Rose the night before and that showed more personality. I would probably purchase the brut over this every time
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Pretty pungent wine. It has a lot of yeast on the nose with caramel apples and cake. Palate is quite flat, but not really offensive or anything. A bit of earthy vegetal flavors, but not a ton.
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Very decent. Straw yellow with pear on the nose. Nice mousse. Tasty with refreshing acidity. Some Pear and apple with toast and hint of lemon. Very good qpr.
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For about $14 you can't go wrong with this wine. Shows considerably more class and complexity than most bubblies at this price and is a solid go-to for large parties.
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Pale with yeasty mousse that falls quickly, crisp and a little toasty, whatever that means, with an almost medium body and a citrusy finish. A case among 40 people vanished in minutes.
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This wine has a very nice aroma of pear and just the right amount of effervescence in the carbonation. It was great as a palate cleanser but also jut fun to drink alone.
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There is a decidedly green streak running through the aroma of this wine, with grass and green apples, and nearly a hint of green chilies running through it initially. A spin in the glass opens a more buttery, creamy profile, with mixed spices, vanilla, and a soft yeasty tone. This is a very intriguing nose, and it’s entertainingly complex (I think I may have sat and sniffed for five minutes before I even took a sip.)
The palate has a nice initial entry. It’s subtle and smooth, with a foamy, somewhat frothy mousse. Vanilla cream dolloped on golden and green apples is the initial impression, moving on to a soft yeastiness, edging on bread dough. There is a vanilla quality to this wine that gives it a friendliness, but a clear pumice-like minerality and a lemon pith tone toward the finish keep it serious. There is a good balance between contrasts in this wine, and it has a somewhat reserved, subtle flavor profile that encourages you to keep looking, as hints of a variety of flavors make an appearance throughout the drinking experience.
Had this at Palena with Aunt Peggy, Uncle B, Selma, and Ian. Always a solid effort from Gruet. Lively with yeast and green apple finishing with a touch of sweetness. Just an awesome apertif. And a killer pairing with the crudo that evening.
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Pale gold with an effusive mousse, the nose was bread, pear, and lemon with a palate of the same. Excellent BdN and outstanding QPR, always reminding me why this is my go-to inexpensive sparkler.
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A Wine Berserkers thread (http://www.wineberserkers.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24839&p=332976#p332976) trashing NV Veuve Clicquot inspired me to do a blind comparison of NV Gruet Blanc de Noirs and NV Veuve Clicquot last night. Both are locally available. The Gruet gets a fair amount of love for a $16 cheapie, and I was curious to see how it would stand up the Veuve, which is twice the price and has been getting trashed here.
Wine 1 – very pale yellow, copious fine mousse, citrus, slight artificial peach nose, creamy mouthfeel, light-medium body, a bit flabby, sweet artificial flavor notes on palate, short finish, average. Guessing this is the Gruet, which I’ve never had before. (75 pts)
Wine 2 – pale yellow, a shade darker than wine 1, bread and toast plus citrus on nose, light-medium body, fruit and minerals and nice balancing acidity, bit of earth, medium finish, very good. (84 pts)
I was pretty sure which wine was which, based on past experience with the Veuve, even though I had never had the Gruet before. So perhaps there was some unavoidable bias. But there was a clear difference between the wines, and I think I described what I tasted.
Wine 1 – NV Gruet Blanc de Noirs. My wife, who also tasted these blind, didn’t find anything to like about this wine. I wouldn’t buy more, and uses the rest of the bottle for Mimosas today.
Wine 2 – NV Veuve Clicquot. Not a killer Champagne, and yes there are more interesting things around in the same price range, but they have come back from a very lackluster bunch of years. Not worthy of the bashing it’s been getting in this thread. IMHO, of course.
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Pale, almost clear as water. Some mineral on the nose. Decent palate. Some strawberry, citrus with mineral and bread. Nice acidity. When you want an inexpensive sparkler you could do far worse. Went well with a variety of goat cheese based appetizers.
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Very creamy, silky mousse. Moderate depth of fruit, with some interesting grassy flavors that build to a medium finish. Quite quaffable. At $15, this is a good, crowd-pleasing value sparkler.
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sparkling (Waterford Wine Co., Milwaukee): nose: brioch and strawberry fruit. 'starting bread dough.' palate of rich strawberry fruit and more pronounced acid than the szigeti or the adami. shows some RS perception, when put in this field. it has the a very pale pink color.
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Straightforward but bubbly - apple and pear with minerals and earthiness, . . . and bubbles. I enjoyed it, found it well worth the small price. If we think about sparkling wine to celebrate life without need for a big occasion, this certainly satisfies.
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Phil's wine. Light and refreshing, with pear and heavy mineral flavors. This was much tastier than the Moet & Chandon White Star champagne I brought, without the heavy yeast/toast aspect.
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Sabered with one of Annie's new throwing knives. Unfortunately the bottle was a bit warm and half the contents spewed out. What remained was quite nice though. Medium bodied, crisp. flavors of citrus and apple. Short to medium length finish. Good value.
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Nice yet simple. Lots of apple and pear flavors, mild acidity. Rough bubbles in the mouth. Still very enjoyable, worked just right with the pizza we ordered. On it's own though it was a bit boring.
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Got this bottle for $13 on sale at BevMo and drank before dinner. The bottle went from the fridge to the freezer, where it chilled-out for about 15 minutes. This is the second sparkler we've tried from this New Mexican winery and we're becoming fans of theirs. Their sparklers are very earthy/yeasty and not overly sweet, with a squeaky-clean finish. You can really taste the dirt in Gruet's bottles; we tried their demi sec (drank at a Michelin-rated restaurant and didn't rate on cellartracker since my memory is the WORST) and had to try another one of their bottles (this one) to see if the incredible food clouded our memories/judgement. No, the great food did not sway our judgement of Gruet; their sparklers are delicious, earthy, and incredible bargains. If you really love dirt/terrior, try one of Gruet's sparklers. They're great for the price!
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Almond yellow with slight salmon notes. Berries and toast on the nose. Creamy texture with lovely fruit flavors. Notes of raspberry and cherry. Great Sunday brunch pick! Crisp, dry finish.
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Had an nice pink tinge. Really yeasty nose with a hint of strawberry shortcake. Crazy acidity. Some nice yeasty flavors. Get some savory strawberry and a bit of salinity. Definitely has the fuller body and coarseness that I associate with the Pinot. Nice sparkler. Great with appetizers.
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Nose of chalk, green apple, acid, cider. Medium bodied with tangy sweet white apple fruit. Touch of biscuit. Initially I found this very tangy, but it seemed to get more open and "sweeter" with time or as my palate adjusted. Pretty good value for $13.
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If you hide the fact that it's from NM, you will always rate it higher, and the comments on this forum attest to that fact. Notice the comments that start with the fact it is made somewhere other than France or California. For the price, this a lot better than many of the budget sparklers on the market. It doesn't have the same strawberry notes some of the noirs from France will have, but it's still enjoyable. If you want to be blown away, you will need to spend 4 times what this bottle goes for. Gruet is a great value.
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A party guest brought this but it was not opened. I was disappointed when noticed it was from NM and simply put it aside for the next party. I finally opened it up and discovered a nice surprise - it was actually tasty and enjoyable!
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Light golden color. Nose of yeast and a hint of ginger. Tart green apple flavors. Remains crisp and enjoyable. I gave this an 86 last time. It had a bit more to it this time.
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Always good, affordable, and easy drinking domestic brut. Nothing too fancy but perfect for a warm-up to a big meal like Thanksgiving. Crisp, refreshing and tangy on the entry with a slightly sweet finish.
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For a bubbly from New Mexico, I can't complain. It probably exceeded expectations in that respect. But as a bubbly in general, it seemed sloppy and unelegant. Every time I refilled my glass, the first whiff I got was dense toast, sulfur, and plastic. Very off-putting. Luckily, this would go away relatively quickly, and it softened into a more traditional yeasty smell. Taste is just as disjointed, showing the yeasty, toasty flavors up front, but then moving toward more sweet gala apple and pear flavors. There is just no finesse, or elegance in this wine. It's kind of just out there for you to taste, trying really hard to stand out among the crowd. For me, that isn't what a sparkler should be. It should be easy drinking, mellow and subtle. Besides that initial nose, there was nothing here that I necessarily disliked, but its complete lack of style and grace killed it for me. Good, but I'll go to an inexpensive Cava or Prosecco before coming back here.
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Golden color, lacking effervescence--seems to be pretty old. Despite the lack of sparkle, still a good mouthfeel with some biscuity notes. Overall, pleasant.
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A solid domestic Blanc de Noirs. Golden color. Nice nose with aromas of toast and berries. Tons of mousse. Medium-bodied, simple tart palate with fruity flavors of raspberries. Brut, with a just a bit of sweetness. Fairly large bubbles, but with a nice level of effervescence. Pleasant medium-length finish. Decent enough value and very food friendly. This was my first experience with Gruet’s sparklers, and I certainly look forward to trying their other offerings as well as this one again.
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Nice nose, yeasty brioche, crisp, nice acidity, delicate balance and excellent mouthfeel with the fine bubbles. A steal at 12, comparable to champagnes 3 to 4 times the price.
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This New Mexico sparkler is a surprise and quite a treat. Medium-fine mousse with delicate bubbles floating to the surface through the duration of my glass. Aroma is typical yeasty citrus and apple with a boost of subtle strawberry, melon, and a bit of mushroomy funk. Full silky body with sharp acidity. Definitely not bone dry --just a little bit of sweetness through the mid-palate and finish. Very nice and an great value!
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Some bottles have been a little dull, but this one was good enough to grab my attention. Nicely done, much better than we have any right to expect for ~$15.
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Excellent QPR. I didn't take a detailed note but I enjoyed it very much. Crisp and clean with good body. Not a really long finish but what's there is really nice.
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Half bottle cost $11. Very bubbly and crisp. Not sweet to my palate, but not bone dry either. Mid-good (82.5).
Per label: This wine has been "en tirage" for at least 24 months. Delicate pale salmon colour, richness, aromas that emanate from the predominant Pinot Noir. Abv 12%.
Per www.gruetwinery.com: The rich and toasty character of our Blanc de Noirs is balanced. Aged for two-year minimum, the palate is developed and has complex flavour. The berry aromas and creamy texture play create a great finesse. Aggressive mousse and a lovely fruity wine with plenty of charm and toasty aromas. There is also a flavor of raspberry.
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Light pale straw colour; fresh citrusy aromas on the nose. Crisp with nice acidity and well balanced. Flavours of honeysuckle, grapefruit, and just a tiny hint of white chocolate perhaps. Nice long finish.
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Nice cheap bubbly. Apples, crispness. I found the mousse to be a good feel for a Banc de Noirs in this price range. Paired wonderfully with a fritatta.
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Quaffable. Performs well with a hard chill, gets sweeter as it warms. Has a little attractive dustiness in the finish, some balanced fruit and acid. No complexity.
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No formal note. Good QPR sparkler to keep around the house. there was a lot of froth when poured, and the bubbles were a bit bigger than I like, contributing to a "cheap" mouthfeel -- but the flavor profile was quite good.
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Pale copper color. Small bead but lots of froth. Nutty and apple aromas, more hazelnuts, apple, and a touch of berry on the palate. Nice brut wine, not harsh, with more complexity than many at this price point.
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Light straw with a hint of peach in color. Soft nose that showed a little more nuance of fruit...or a little more sweetness than the Brut. A light entry that firmed up at the mid palate with a fresh palate of fruit that had a bracing framework around it. Again not bad for the price...
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Nice crown, nice color. Not years, good acids. Simple - sort of like an inexpensive cava. Worth another shot, but it is hard to beat the Spanish in this price range.
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I have let my champagne expert dictate the tasting note on this one, and she says that if she had to buy a case for New Year's eve, she might consider this one, but we agree that this doesn't present anything interesting. "A step above inoffensive," is the bottom line. Not much depth, tart, yet still tasty. Nothing special, but decent enough for about $15,
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This sparkler doesn't shine. It does sport an attractive deep-walnut color, and it is generically fruity, but it doesn't show much else -- no yeast, no toast, and no minerals. A forgettable quaff.
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12/30/2023 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 89 Points
Similar to the last experience earlier this year with sour apple, dough, pear, lemon and minerals. Much better than I remember from Gruet.
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12/30/2023 - melzar wrote: 91 Points
Ditto previous notes. Tastes like Champagne for a fraction of the cost!
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12/9/2023 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 93 Points
The Sixth Annual World's Largest Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine (Houston, Texas): Retail $17. 100%(?) Pinot Noir. Lovely nose from this wine of medium color, a lovely nose of marzipan and that oaky component. The palate is fantastic and balanced. Quite nice. Outstanding. 93 Points.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/2/2023 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 90 Points
The best Gruet I have tasted. 7/7/2022. Apples, pie crust, pear, lemon and minerals. Very complex overall for less than $13.
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11/30/2023 - Dulcie and Aylwin wrote:
Little point in adding one more note to the current total of 348, though it does help pad my statistics: served as a little appetizer for the main tasting event. No longer made from New Mexico grapes (assuming it once was), it is pale straw, very short effervescence, just slightly off-dry. Simple but pleasant.
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11/23/2023 - Appname wrote: 100 Points
So smooth
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9/17/2023 - JohnRachelWine Likes this wine: 87 Points
Drank as part of mimosas at the 9/17 tailgate.
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8/13/2023 - melzar wrote: 91 Points
Ditto previous notes.
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7/7/2023 - Dancelzard Likes this wine: 90 Points
Terrific with charcuterie board, fruit, cold steamed veggies with aioli.
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6/14/2023 - melzar wrote: 91 Points
Ditto previous notes.
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5/25/2023 - buymoreredsdrinkmorewhites wrote:
Bitter red fruits with a metallic quinine finish, under cooked shortbread, better options out there to be had in price range.
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3/30/2023 - mazik wrote:
Meh!
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12/30/2022 - PMJak11 Does not like this wine: 86 Points
Nice acidity but not really my style. Deep flavor but too musty and bitter.
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12/3/2022 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 83 Points
About the same as the last time tasted in the fall. They used to be better.
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10/3/2022 - Greybush79 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Good value
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10/1/2022 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 82 Points
In-Store Tasting (Some really bad wines) (Bloomington, MN): Never understood the popularity of these wines. Mumm Prestige for a few more dollars is way better. Simple at best with lemon, spice and a hint of chalk. Lacks complexity and short finish.
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7/16/2022 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Ditto previous notes. Our house bubbly.
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5/6/2022 - chablis28 wrote: 91 Points
Far & away best Gruet I’ve had to date! Vacationing in NM where its Ubiquitous. Precise, crisp & yet well fruited w/ a good sense of depth. We’ll likely get this cuvée in our reg rotation. Paid $16 in supermarket. Drinks like $30+. 91+
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4/27/2022 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Ditto previous notes. Our house bubbly.
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4/23/2022 - autumn_child wrote: 89 Points
Citrus on the nose .Palate of red berries and pear just like the back label says. Easy drinking and very enjoyable.
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3/10/2022 - @yourfavoritewino Likes this wine:
Tasty and perfect with spicy chicken wings!
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2/25/2022 - NateR Likes this wine: 89 Points
Tasty though fairly simple. Crisp, with strawberries and bread dough flavors. This bottle had been in my cellar for a couple years, which I think helped round out some of the rougher edges that I remembered from prior bottles.
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2/17/2022 - winecoffee wrote: 89 Points
Nice sparkling wine. Tasted in a virtual wine tasting. 100% pinot noir. Smells of white flowers. Lots of bubbles. Palate has lime, beeswax, and a bit of yeast.
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1/26/2022 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Ditto previous notes.A great value that never disappoints.
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1/4/2022 - melzar wrote: 91 Points
Ditto previous notes
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12/30/2021 - melzar wrote: 91 Points
Ditto previous notes.
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12/21/2021 - 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 $16. 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. I was not surprised when the reveal indicated that this was a Gruet, which has been one of my go-to domestic sparklers for some time. Loads of fruit on the nose with red delicious apple, ripe peach, and some red berry fruit. The palate is wonderfully balanced between that fruitiness, a near-searing tartness, and just a dab of sweetness. Fantastic.
www.thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/13/2021 - melzar wrote: 91 Points
Strikes the perfect compromise between old world style and new world fruit.Well balanced with tiny bubbles. Outstanding value.
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10/30/2021 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Ditto previous notes.
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7/6/2021 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Ditto previous notes
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6/25/2021 - gfb1 Likes this wine: 87 Points
Surprisingly wonderful! Small, numerous bubbles. Flint, orange peel and lime on the nose. Distant hint of pineapple (not true pineapple but rather the suggestion thereof). Lemony with wonderfully subtle mushroom on tongue. Long finish
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5/29/2021 - Graniwinkle wrote: 86 Points
Crisp, full body, pear, minerals.
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5/2/2021 - Buck naked wrote: 90 Points
Very tasty bubbles. Dry, smooth and a good finish.
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4/20/2021 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Ditto previous notes
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1/27/2021 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Ditto previous notes
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1/16/2021 - Vino Me wrote: 86 Points
75% Pinot Noir and 25% Chardonnay 25%. No formal notes. 86 points.
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12/19/2020 - brujazz wrote: 89 Points
Cant beat it at even a higher price. Citrusy and dry. Long finish that fades slowly. Amazing they can do this in New Mexico?
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12/14/2020 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 89 Points
The Third Annual Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine: Retail $17. 75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. Pale straw with several steady streams of beautiful bubbles. Not much fruit on the nose, but there is plenty of vanilla and rising dough aromas. On the palate, the sparkle is much less pronounced than anticipated. Good flavors and nice balance, this is another wine in this flight that certainly brings the goods. Very Nice. 89. thedrunkencyclist.com
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12/2/2020 - PimpDaddy2Kool Likes this wine: 89 Points
Best large party bubbles on the market
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10/28/2020 - By Design wrote:
Blend: Pinot Noir 75% & Chardonnay 25%
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10/1/2020 - JVG wrote:
Not particularly expressive on the nose—a bit of bruised apple, maybe a hint of sweet baking spices, but also a touch of a chemical smell, unfortunately. Not sure exactly what it reminds me of, but not very pleasant. A little better on the palate as the chemical side doesn't really manifest, and the texture is pleasantly rich and effervescent, with the same apple fruit and sweet cinnamon spice from the nose, balanced by a good spine of acidity and a bit of a mineral crunch. The spice flavors dominate the finish, leaving behind an attractive, sweet aftertaste.
These Gruet sparklers are never spectacular, but they're also never bad, or anything other than good value. This is not one of the best bottles I've had due to the chemical note, but once that blows off a bit, it's a decent bubbly for a low price.
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9/14/2020 - PimpDaddy2Kool Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great by the case party champagne
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9/11/2020 - mkribar wrote: 87 Points
The nose is chalk, with some apple and lemon. Very sophisticated for the price point. The palate is clean, with a dough-y element to it. But the carbonation is just too rough for me. It's almost like a soda stream.
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7/28/2020 - melzar wrote: 90 Points
Great bubbly from New Mexico. Vines grown on Hermann Wiemer's root stock from the Finger Lakes of NY. Well balanced with tiny bubbles. Good value.
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7/28/2020 - Dan & Krista Stockman Likes this wine: 92 Points
Ridiculously good for the price - easily stands up to sparklers twice its price. A nose of toast and yeast, persistent bubbles. Love it.
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6/28/2020 - JVG wrote:
Medium gold color. On the nose, apple skins, bruised apple flesh, caramel, cinnamon, brown sugar, and some autolytic yeastiness. Not earth-shattering, but suggestive of a perfectly passable bubbly. And on the palate, it follows through on that promise. It's on the rich side—they weren't shy with the dosage—but it has a nice energetic mousse to lighten it up a bit, and all of the same notes from the nose come through without any off-putting flavors or structural issues. It's simple and straightforward, but very enjoyable, and a respectable traditional-method sparking wine, which makes it outstanding value for the price.
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5/30/2020 - DangerMouse81 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Linear, but a solid wine. Orchard fruit and baking spices. Crisp and refreshing way to start the evening.
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4/25/2020 - Riccardo Vigoli Likes this wine: 79 Points
Deep aromas of fermentation and aging. Pear skins. Confetti-like mouthfeel. Acidic. On the drier side. Sources grapes from NM, WA and Lodi, CA. Very good price-to-quality ratio.
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3/25/2020 - OldHick95 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Golden delicious nose. Flavors of apple and lime with a light sweetness and subdued yeastiness. Ample fine bubbles. Good choice for any weeknight.
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12/27/2019 - tadams66 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Solid sparkling wine for a good price.
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12/25/2019 - Alykhan V Likes this wine: 90 Points
Red-hue to the deep gold appearance
Medium+ aromas of ripe red apple, strawberry, raspberry, and cherry. Ripe fruits. Decent autolytic notes.
Mouthfeel is neither overly austere nor overly fleshy; it is in balance.
Good acidity.
Medium to medium+ length.
Lovely bubbles.
Bone dry.
I would describe this as a bit more of a fruit bomb when compared to a blanc de noirs from Champagne.
Very very good.
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12/21/2019 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 93 Points
The Second Annual Blind Tasting of American Sparkling Wine: 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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12/17/2019 - Oenecnist wrote:
Bought 24b for 11/b eight years ago from a local independent retailer; this is #18. Tight cork and plenty of effervescence. Gold; some bread dough, bit of white fruit, persistent bubbles, still tasty but no point in waiting. Impressed that it's still this good. Stored horizontally in a basement locker in a condo since purchase. My evaluation: For me, scores on a "100-point scale" are misleading. I use a 4-category scale (perhaps with +/-)--not including flawed--which runs outstanding/notable/drinkable/poor. This is notable+ when considering quality, age, and price.
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12/2/2019 - affordableCollector wrote: 88 Points
light gold, in color. light stream of bubbles. raspberry, cherry, pear, toast, creamy, mineral. crisp finish.
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12/1/2019 - JNebs wrote: 85 Points
Resembles more of a chardonnay-based wine than noirs. Good acid, fine bubbles. Faint fruits: apple, strawberry, pear. Most of fruit gone second day. Not at all bad.
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11/24/2019 - Motz wrote: 89 Points
Delicious wine! Robust and fun! Persistent mousse, fine bubbles, lithe texture, very good acid, mouthwatering finish.
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11/22/2019 - Sourdough Likes this wine: 86 Points
A fresh bottle from the winery. Darker color than most bubbles but not surprising for it is Blanc de Noir. Lots of really tiny bubbles. Nose dominated by apple. Nice mouth feel. Round. Rich. Apple and a touch of red berry. A pleasanttartness. Good finish.
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11/12/2019 - Jcpwine Likes this wine: 85 Points
Like BBoard, probably about 3 years in large wine refrigerator and its starting to show its age. Same comments too. Slightly bitter alone, but okay with some food (cheese and quiche). I think I need to try another bottle and drink it more timely.
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10/15/2019 - bboard Likes this wine:
Excellent QPR, this bottle in cellar for 3.5 yrs. Still lots of acidity, however due to cellar time, its become a tad bitter drinking on its own (with food less of an issue). Great intensity. Would buy again
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8/9/2019 - RMapou Likes this wine: 88 Points
Always pleasing. Good QpV.
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7/13/2019 - tombiro Likes this wine: 87 Points
Lovely light gold color. Great effervescence. Really solid USA-made bubbles.
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7/6/2019 - td1836 wrote: 88 Points
Simple, but a nice value domestic sparkler.
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5/31/2019 - 2015 Likes this wine:
With Meyer Lemon buttermilk pound cake and strawberries, with D&M
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5/26/2019 - _Al_Gore_Rhythm_ wrote: 87 Points
Pours a pale golden yellow color with a fine mousse that quickly disappates. Bouncing back from an illness right now, so I can't pick up any aromas.
Nice effervescence. Some red fruit flavors with just a little smokiness and burnt caramel. A little chalky and yeasty on the finish. Relatively short length, but good acid cut.
More than acceptable quality for the $14 USD price paid. Sometimes you just want bubbles.
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4/15/2019 - Otaku Oenophile Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great for the price but it's hard to go to this from SWC Pol Roger.
Even though it's NV I'd let it hang in the cellar a bit to tone down the acidity and bring out the richness.
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3/8/2019 - ScottGoodwin Likes this wine: 88 Points
Call me a plebeian but I like this stuff. A rather red-wine-ish BdN with lots of strawberry, raspberry along with pear and apple. Definitely on the fruity side but with enough acidity to keep it from tipping over to being cloying. Bubbles aren't exactly refined but a nice, slightly yeasty finish. Pretty solid overall for the price.
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2/16/2019 - ziavino wrote: 89 Points
Soft and fruit forward, with primary notes of apple and plum. Creamy and almost off-dry, with just enough acidity to keep it fresh. A crowd pleaser, and a killer QPR.
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1/1/2019 - wineotim wrote: 90 Points
Mild gold color with a hint of pink. Grapefruit aromas, good acid, very bright and light citrus flavors, persistent bubbles. Overall this is very good quality from the Land of Enchantment.
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12/31/2018 - jml326 wrote:
Fruity, crisp, acidic, slightly sweet.
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12/30/2018 - eric lemieux Likes this wine: 90 Points
Excellent Q/P****$$
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12/23/2018 - 3daywinereview.com wrote: 89 Points
Green apple, subtle chalk, strawberries and dough. Complex for its price point. This would make for a great starter wine for entertaining. Might be fun to put this blind against a Champagne 3 times the price.
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11/24/2018 - BaylinBoy Likes this wine: 90 Points
Light gold almost pink hue, abundance of subtle micro-bubbles, clean crisp nose, hint of yeast and green apples, bright acidity and apples on the palate medium finish. Really excellent QPR, this is a winner
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11/9/2018 - The Great Hatsbys Likes this wine: 89 Points
Quite fine to drink with spicy pizza!
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11/2/2018 - JVG wrote:
No formal notes. Good for the money as usual.
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9/9/2018 - bajayngo wrote:
Tight bubbles, clean, precise with plenty of finesse. Always so consistent, delicious and a great QPR.
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7/27/2018 - InFrom/HF Likes this wine: 88 Points
Beautiful pale pink-gold. Delicious.
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5/26/2018 - Jake112380 Likes this wine:
Clean and crisp with some light pear and apple flavors and relatively tight bubbles. Definitely would buy again.
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5/26/2018 - PNWCollector wrote: 88 Points
Really Delicious! Great bubbles and balanced taste for a domestic! I would buy again.
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5/23/2018 - The Great Hatsbys Likes this wine: 89 Points
Mr. & Ms. Hatsby very much enjoyed this moderately priced bubbly. They find it to be a safe, stand-alone drinker (although, delightful with some Chambord!), that even your "finer" guests would enjoy.
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5/18/2018 - galewskj wrote: 88 Points
It's hard to beat this for $12. Not that sophisticated, but a great sipper in hot weather.
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5/13/2018 - dsgris Likes this wine: 89 Points
platinum, gold with a pear nose. Off dry with medium fruit and body, tart ripe pear. Soft mouth feel with sufficient acid to balance the light sweetness of the fruit. Finishes with a little citrus twist.
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2/19/2018 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 87 Points
Some of the best bubbles $13 can buy.
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1/16/2018 - adrenalin112 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Fun & versatile bubbles that are capable of standing alone with a dry, crisp, clean, and mildly tart experience on the palate. Subtle nose of green apple.
Low QPR & nothing too dominant in nose or palate makes it a great candidate for mimosas.
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12/31/2017 - Kmoose Likes this wine: 89 Points
Held up well for a year. Hit with NYE guests 2 yrs in a row.
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11/23/2017 - diggydan wrote: 90 Points
Nice with a little bit of round sweetness.
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11/17/2017 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 88 Points
nice and bright with good acidity - some citrus. nothing complicated without a lot of depth but great for the price.
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10/26/2017 - Winegirl1959 Likes this wine: 89 Points
Delicious. Not overly sweet, fine bubbles, slightly nutty aroma and taste.
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10/8/2017 - hitechnomad wrote: 90 Points
Interesting. New Mexico! Who knew?
Crisp, medium finish. Balanced
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9/26/2017 - Motz wrote: 88 Points
Great fruit, lively bubbles, bright lifting acids, tangy finish.
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8/12/2017 - isaacjamesbaker wrote: 88 Points
Really solid for $12, per usual from this producer. Copper color. Toasty bread nose, apricot, bruised apple. Tangy acidity on the palate, crisp strawberry and white cherry fruit, some biscuits and chalky notes. Balanced, vibrant, delicious, not the most complex wine but so, so good for the money.
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8/11/2017 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 88 Points
75% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay. I have said this before, but it bears repeating: this might be the single best value in sparkling wine on the market today. I paid a total of $10.03 for this (including tax), and that makes this gangbusters in my book. I do have a problem with the wine, though: how can they call this a “Blanc de Noirs” when it has 25% Chardonnay (“Blanc de Noirs” means a white wine made from black grapes)? Nonetheless, this tastes like a wine twice the price: lemony, yeasty, with a vibrant bubble. We always have six of these in reserve for that mid-week bubble fix. I think I am going to need to up that to a dozen. Very Good. 87-89 Points. thedrunkencyclist.com
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8/10/2017 - bajayngo wrote:
Crazy good QPR, tight bubbles, hint of sweet, chalky, juicy and great acids. Great pairing with Greek chicken and cucumber salad.
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7/21/2017 - The Drunken Cyclist Likes this wine: 88 Points
I have said this before, but it bears repeating: this might be the single best value in sparkling wine. I paid a total of $10.03 for this (including tax), and that makes this gangbusters in my book. Heck, it is worth twice the price: lemony, yeasty, with a vibrant bubble. We always have six of these in reserve for that mid-week bubble fix. I am going to up that to a dozen. thedrunkencyclist.com
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7/8/2017 - PimpDaddy2Kool Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great party champagne
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6/29/2017 - PimpDaddy2Kool Likes this wine: 89 Points
Great party champagne
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6/11/2017 - ToniTony wrote: 84 Points
Tasty but lacks depth; also lacks blush color expected of a blanc de noir.
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5/29/2017 - Susaninaustin Likes this wine: 92 Points
3
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5/15/2017 - bajayngo wrote:
Always a great value with tight bubbles, nice tart red fruits, citrus, a touch of chalk and mineral, a terrific sparkler.
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5/14/2017 - Susaninaustin Likes this wine:
3
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5/13/2017 - rjquillin Likes this wine:
Guilt free bubbly.
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4/8/2017 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 80 Points
Bachelor Party trip to Napa/Sonoma (Sonoma, Napa, SF): Hint of brioche autolysis on the nose.
Coarse bubbles. Decent fruit, a bit sweeter than I'd like on the palate - shows it's dosage a bit. Finishes with the acid a bit lacking, and with a little bitterness.
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4/8/2017 - aagrawal wrote: 88 Points
Bachelor party (Napa Valley, CA): Nice, clean, refreshing, some autolysis and yeast, slightly sweet with dosage. Lovely value, clean and fresh. 88
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12/31/2016 - tjross Likes this wine: 88 Points
Quite refreshing and easy to drink.
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12/25/2016 - ColoradoAg Likes this wine:
Our house champagne. A great go-to, always good - works well on it's own or in mimosas/cocktails.
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12/24/2016 - smoss Likes this wine: 88 Points
Refreshing and crisp wine. Somewhat dry, but not overly so. Paired very well with Christmas dinner. Would definitely drink again.
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11/20/2016 - wabi47 Likes this wine: 87 Points
BTG @ Revival; solid with enough yeast and mineral to add some complexity. Stood up to the swordfish
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9/17/2016 - mat600 wrote: 87 Points
Vin effervescent avec une haute acidité. De la pomme verte en bouche avec beaucoup de bulles. Rafraichissant. 87 sur 100.
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8/28/2016 - mseeber Likes this wine: 89 Points
Fresh, fine bubbles, off-dry finish leaning towards a crisp apple or pear. Good nose, almost honey color. Very enjoyable for $15
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8/11/2016 - PimpDaddy2Kool Likes this wine: 89 Points
Slight pink in color. Good bubbles. Nice nose of berries. Slightly toasty with a hint of apples and strawberries on the palate. This has replaced the Gruet Brut as my go to party champagne. Great stuff and always a crowd pleaser.
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7/3/2016 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 88 Points
Clear, medium (+) yellow in color. The nose is clean, with some nice apple, toast and hazelnut. The palate is dry, with medium (+) acidity, and medium alcohol (12%). Medium flavor intensity and length. This is a tasty and well-balanced bubbly which, in a blind tasting, would probably rate as high as others costing twice as much.
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7/2/2016 - lebo9968@gmail.com Likes this wine: 89 Points
Interesting. Had a slight reddish hue color. I assumed it was a rose. Nose and palate were quite mild and light. Slight aroma of apple. Maybe some straw or hay or grassy note. Palate was very crisp, dry / acidic. Not off-putting, but bracing. Good structure.
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6/17/2016 - Dionysusx Likes this wine: 92 Points
Smooth and creamy lemon undertones. While the bubbles carry the dryness through the finish citric honey and spice notes are most prominent. Excellent value.
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6/4/2016 - 2015 Likes this wine:
Wedding
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5/15/2016 - RajivAyyangar wrote: 80 Points
Brunch at Tim's (Tim's, SF): Smells dirty and a bit yeasty. Not compelling.
A bit bitter and lacking in acid.
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5/15/2016 - pakabear wrote: 86 Points
Average bubbly, not too complex but no hard edges either
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5/15/2016 - aagrawal wrote: 81 Points
Brunch (Tim and Elliott's Place, San Francisco): Light golden; aromatics are minimal to medium, slight yeast; palate has a bit too large bubbles, slight bitterness which is odd, fruit is minimal; short finish. They recently changed the vineyard to grapes sourced from California for their NV and it is a drastic step down from what used to be a very decent wine. 80-82
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3/12/2016 - chablis28 wrote: 88 Points
Didn't focus on this enough but I remember liking my recent Austin TX btl more. Need to try another btl soon.
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2/14/2016 - jeffal66 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Moderate toast, lemony zest, custard, apple. Good length, a pinch of spice. Mid weight. Quite nice.
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1/1/2016 - camben Likes this wine:
Great second bottle. Cherry berry toast. Always the best quality for cost in USA. I also enjoy the undulating subtle changes over the years.
Drink up
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1/1/2016 - tomoem wrote: 88 Points
Tasted among a series of champagnes and sparking wines on New Years Eve (2016). This was the slightly more flavored than the Freixenet. It is consistently a great value and aside from being on the light side, it represented good value. The champagnes included (in the ascending order of scores) Freixenet (Black bottle) 85, Gruet Blanc Des Noirs NV -88, Perrier Jouet Brut NV - 90, Roederer Estate Brut (Anderson Valley - 91, and Krug Vintage 2003 -96
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12/31/2015 - UpfromtheCellar wrote: 87 Points
Not sweet. Bubbly, had that certain New Mexican terroir (see my earlier note about a certain Virginia sparkling wine....) clean, crisp easy to drink while welcoming in the New Year on the slopes of Taos!
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12/31/2015 - partylikeakennedy wrote: 88 Points
Nice, soft, very easy drinking. Mild and not very complex - and slightly salty but not in a bad way.
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12/27/2015 - PimpDaddy2Kool Likes this wine: 87 Points
Not as good as it used to be. It may because they're sourcing outside grapes nowadays.
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10/9/2015 - Steve&Carolyn Likes this wine: 86 Points
Fragrant with notes of pineapple, apple, and a slight bit of biscuit. Medium mousse. Light and enjoyable.
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10/5/2015 - td1836 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Great value sparkling. Always enjoyable.
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8/26/2015 - drdecanto Likes this wine: 90 Points
Consistently good
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8/10/2015 - pierregulick wrote: 87 Points
Out of balance on the oxidative side
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8/1/2015 - Neras Likes this wine: 86 Points
Drinking nicely
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7/6/2015 - PimpDaddy2Kool Likes this wine: 89 Points
My go to party sparkler. Probably the best QPR sparkling wine on the market. Try finding a better $12 sparkler. The secret of Gruet is out!
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7/4/2015 - Alpton wrote: 87 Points
Poached apple, lemon zest and white blossom on the nose. Velvety mouthfeel, with flavors of red cherry and lemon. Not overly complex, but quaffable.
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6/22/2015 - mreinitz wrote: 86 Points
Not one of Gruet's better bottlings. Drinks exactly like an inexpensive domestic sparkler. Lacks richness and depth of flavor. Would not buy it again.
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5/26/2015 - PimpDaddy2Kool Likes this wine: 89 Points
Excellent party champagne. Drinks like a $35-40. Apples and lemon/lime on the palate. Great mouthfeel. Highly recommended for large groups.
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5/26/2015 - George Lopez Likes this wine: 89 Points
Solid summer sipper!
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5/23/2015 - audeyoe Likes this wine: 88 Points
Not your average champagne. Carries a lot of the tannic and rich flavors of the red varietals, but without being too harsh.
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5/10/2015 - SAVUTAX Likes this wine: 88 Points
Very nice for the price. Raspberry hints. Enjoyed
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4/28/2015 - Motz wrote: 88 Points
From a half. Strawberry and raspberry fruit, sous-bois, mushroom, and minerals on the bouquet. Dry, mouth-watering delicious palate backed by a serious finish. Crazy QPR!
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4/4/2015 - Rich S wrote: 86 Points
Very effervescent. Slightly dark in color. Nose of mostly apple and some citrus. Clean and crisp on the palate. Decent for a sparkling wine, even more so coming from New Mexico.
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3/30/2015 - melzar wrote: 89 Points
Gruet is always a good value in sparkling wine. Nice nose, tiny bubbles and good mouthfeel. Not yeasty. Goes down real easy.
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2/12/2015 - tshepard wrote: 86 Points
A bit rough around the edges. A little too much apple flavor for me and color is too dark. Feels a bit heavy. Not as good as it was a few years ago.
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2/6/2015 - Motz wrote: 88 Points
Such a great wine. Tasted alongside a $50 Champagne, this was better.
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1/12/2015 - david james Likes this wine: 85 Points
Okay! Mumm is better
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1/11/2015 - F_&_M Likes this wine: 87 Points
Still a good value if you can get it for $13-15. Lately, I've been buying and drinking a wide array of French champagnes for $25 each. They have nearly all been substantially better than this, which it should be for the price differential. But I remember Gruet being better than the somehow thick and muted flavors this bottle offers.
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1/9/2015 - bboard Likes this wine:
First time trying this. Darker straw color, fast mid size bubbles, taste has good intensity, berries, acidity that's sooth unlike other sparkling's that very sharp / crisp / fresh (my own personal bias is good intensity over sharp acidity) - excellent QPR in my opinion for less than USD 14.
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1/1/2015 - JohnRachelWine Likes this wine: 88 Points
A real gem from New Mexico. Great sparkling for the price.
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12/21/2014 - Ken332 wrote: 88 Points
Somewhat surprised about the quality of this wine, although it frequently receives quality reviews. Strawberries and cherries, good round mouthfeel, good bubbles and carbonation. Quite a nice champagne style wine for the price. Would certainly buy again.
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12/21/2014 - Z1nnfull Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is our "go to"/house champagne, saving the special bubbly for special occasions. Consistently good, made mostly with Pinot Noir grapes (thus the "de Noir"). Agree, not as crisp and austere as other bubblies, but that makes it a tad more accessible. Touch of nutty and yeasty taste. For under $15, this is quite the bargain.
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12/12/2014 - jsherdc wrote: 87 Points
Simple. Not that crisp but friendly.
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11/28/2014 - Merky_Waters Likes this wine: 87 Points
simple but on point.
fullish body, soapy bubbles and just a hint of tart peach, strawberry and almond. present yeast but kept in balance.
worth trying for under $20 bl.d.n.
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10/29/2014 - DBunk wrote: 85 Points
Flatter and less crisp than other varietals of Gruet. Has a nice color and some red fruit qualities but not very interesting even if a value pick. I'd go with other Gruet varietals.
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9/8/2014 - beezer6 wrote: 88 Points
Tasting with Maverick at FHE.
Little more richness on the nose, toasty and nutty peach and cantaloupe. Clean and dry - more tropical notes. Baking spice. Moderate complex.
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9/5/2014 - mks83 Likes this wine: 88 Points
88-89. Nice pinot thick-round mouthfeel. Impeccable for the price.
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7/1/2014 - td1836 wrote: 90 Points
Lots of bubbles, very vibrant and crisp. Apples, pears and cinimmon toast. Great QPR.
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6/27/2014 - joet626 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Ok but nothing special. Very golden in color. Nice sparkler
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5/23/2014 - Motz wrote: 88 Points
A great bubbly for the price, under $15. Yeast, mineral, fruit, bracing, and rounded.
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4/28/2014 - Chrism422 wrote: 90 Points
Good, tight bubbles. Lots of green apple tartness. I love the champagne from this winery. New Mexico of all places!
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3/26/2014 - joelbkaplan Likes this wine: 88 Points
awesome bubbly for the price. a superior value.
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3/22/2014 - mattym19 Likes this wine: 92 Points
Delicious! I love the caramel and brown sugar nose. Taste is not too sweet but not too dry either. Really good alternative to much higher-priced (actual) Champagne.
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3/8/2014 - Barolo Raymond wrote: 87 Points
Medium straw yellow with some pink shade, 12% abv. Persistent pearl strings of mm-size bubbles emanating. Medium(-) aromas of red berries, strawberries and some bread notes. Bone dry, high acidity, medium alcohol and body. Medium flavors of lemon zest, strawberries. Delicate mousse is rather frothy when entering the mouth. Good racy finish and lingering autolytic flavors. Excellent value for money ($15 per bottle). Will try out the Gruet range.
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12/30/2013 - Motz wrote: 88 Points
Great concentration. Rich, mineral, yeastiness (which also smells like wet concrete), excellent mouthfeel. Friendly and approachable in style. Does not seem as dry as other bruts. Gruet does not make anything bad. 88-89.
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10/30/2013 - john.e.balmer wrote: 90 Points
Sight: Clear, Bright. Pearlescent, very very light pinkish/orangeish hue. Nice viscosity, fine bubbles.
Nose: Summer fruit and melon, pear. A bit of yeasty toastyness.
Pallet: Dry, raspberry, perceived as sweet.
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10/13/2013 - fingers Likes this wine: 88 Points
Another Gruet that goes down easy and disappears quickly. Touch of gold color, light and vibrant mousse. Not very aromatic but enough heft on the palate to make it interesting. A little brioche and sourdough. Fantastic with food. Tonight it was grilled shrimp and Indonesian daal, lamb curry, spicy chix and veggies.
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10/10/2013 - Motz wrote: 87 Points
Excellent wine, particularly for the price. Crisp, lively, not overpowering in the slightest. Nice bubbles. Chalky finish. Lots of fun.
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9/15/2013 - Two Winos wrote: 88 Points
Very nice domestically produced sparkling wine. Love the small bubbles. Plenty of fruit. Brioche on the nose.
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9/6/2013 - jfarley3 wrote: 88 Points
Good QPR. Always reliable and consistent. Crisp with notes of vanilla, lemon zest, and toast. Simple, classic, and good for a great price.
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9/2/2013 - mwneil Likes this wine: 89 Points
Good sparkler; nice fruit and good acid but not overwhelming; nice color and good bubbles; enjoyed the bottle; I like blanc de noirs.
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8/24/2013 - chifred wrote: 84 Points
Very light. Lots of bubbles - noted as interesting as right after opening a totally flat bottle... Extremely light and not must interest or flavor. Not sure what to do with my remaining 8 bottles, who can I serve them to????
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8/24/2013 - chifred wrote: flawed
Very short cork and no pop- totally flat. Wine tasted ok - maybe better than other bottles (!?) but poured it down the drain as not sure if OK to drink (but looking back, probably was,,,)
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8/16/2013 - j.a.price.trucking wrote: 87 Points
Solid. Great with Thai. Nice acid.
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7/8/2013 - woody57 wrote: 86 Points
Surprisingly good, considering the source; more fruit forward than most champagne style wines I've had; very enjoyable and I think a good choice if you are entertaining non-Champagne drinkers
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7/4/2013 - studleytrey wrote: 86 Points
Always a good QPR. Green apple, pear, and bready notes. Good party quaffing sparkling, and a nice 4th of July option to start with.
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6/17/2013 - PimpDaddy2Kool wrote: 88 Points
A real crowd pleaser if you're doing a huge party and don't want to break the bank.
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6/14/2013 - td1836 wrote: 88 Points
Had with mimosas to celebrate signing the contract on our new house. Very nice.
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5/22/2013 - PimpDaddy2Kool wrote: 88 Points
Great QOR sparkling wine. Excellent choice for large parties - 88-89 points.
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5/19/2013 - Ron&nina Likes this wine: 90 Points
Nice refreshing flavors. Held up very well in the refrigerator for over 2 weeks. Very small and soft bubbles.
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5/8/2013 - ziavino wrote: 87 Points
What a solid sparkler for the price. Notes of green apple on the palate, with ripe apple and orange peel on the palate, with a touch of breadiness. Almost off-dry, and while not necessarily elegant, at $13 this is a heck of a value.
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5/6/2013 - wineshlub wrote: 86 Points
Popped and poured. Apricot nectar aroma. Sweetish flavors of pear and lichee. Sweet orange finish. If you like off-dry sparklers (I do) this is pretty good.
The sweetness does come on a little strong in the finish, but if you're eating All-American foods like hot dogs or barbecue, this All-American sparkler works well.
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4/17/2013 - nicefish wrote: 87 Points
Very good QPR. Pear flavors dominated this light, breezy bubbler.
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3/12/2013 - ecola Likes this wine: 86 Points
Simple and easy to drink. Mild light fruit.
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2/22/2013 - gwkozar Likes this wine: 86 Points
solid bargain.
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2/16/2013 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
Aromatic, nice body, fresh, went very well with oysters. This continues to be my favorite budget sparkler. Very enjoyable. $16 from Whole Foods, 90.
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1/21/2013 - Andrew H wrote: 84 Points
A nice mousse but the Pinot noir, and the tannins, comes through a bit sharply.
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1/3/2013 - phantphant wrote: 90 Points
Perfectly balanced bubbly.
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1/1/2013 - bk003h wrote:
Solid value sparkling wine. A little on the sweeter side, but pairs well with most food. Notes of apple and other fruit dominate.
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12/30/2012 - Kiltedtaz Does not like this wine: 53 Points
Hair raiser.
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12/25/2012 - drdecanto wrote: 90 Points
Less mousse in this bottle or it may have been a function of the stemware. Had this with fig halves topped with a dollop of goat cheese, a drizzle of balsamic vinegar and then wrapped with pancetta and broiled. Yummy and a good match!
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12/22/2012 - mazik Likes this wine: 89 Points
Golden, edging to salmon, slightly sweet, with unusual fruits (apricot, raspberry) on the palate, slightly off-dry but with a tart finish. Great QPR.
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12/17/2012 - StageOneRacing wrote: 83 Points
Beautiful color and while it was crisp/clean, it lacked the carbonation I prefer.
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12/9/2012 - Dierenarts Likes this wine: 90 Points
beautiful yellow/green color, very fine bubbles, apple and vanilla on the nose, bright acidity, mild yeast, apple pie, baked pear and mild cinnamon spice with a pleasant medium finish, can't beat this for the price and I can see why WS ranked in top 100 and a smart buy
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12/9/2012 - Rudderowb wrote: 90 Points
Pretty fantastic quality for the price. Crowd pleaser.
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12/8/2012 - TannicBeast Likes this wine: 89 Points
This is consistently one of the best values around in U.S. sparkling wine. It is clean, dry and fresh, with a generous palate of apples and toasty vanilla. Tried it blind with other sparkling wines and this was consistently a crowd-pleaser.
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12/1/2012 - Jack O'Brien wrote:
I am a fan of this family - I have to say that after trying other "Big House" Champagne at the $75 and $100 price ranges, I still vastly prefer this wine. That is my personal preference, obviously.
This has great acidity and the nose pops with almost a cidery beer quality, not like the cider you get from a farm. Big macintosh flavors and green apples with white grapes aromas and tastes. I love the mouse this wine has to offer and the spritely freshness of the wine. A wonderful value.
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11/25/2012 - ntrubee wrote: 87 Points
Good solid stuff
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11/24/2012 - TannicBeast wrote: 89 Points
Medium gold in color with lively bubbles. The nose is clean, with some croissant and pear. The nose is medium in intensity. The palate is clean and dry, with pear, green apple, lemon and a hint of toasted hazelnut on the finish. This a very crisp and balanced French-style bubbly. Drink now, not intended for ageaing. Good by itself or with food. A very good value for the money, this is consistently very good.
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11/24/2012 - costacasa wrote: 88 Points
Very good sparkler at this price point. Balanced with enough complexity to keep my interest. Is becoming my "go-to" sparkler for parties. Has been a consistent crowd pleaser.
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11/22/2012 - drdecanto wrote: 90 Points
A bit over half the price of the Roederer Estate Anderson Valley NV Brut and the Gruet NV Blanc de Noirs and NV Brut never fail to please, although they are not quite as elegant. Still, both of the Gruets are very pleasing.
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11/20/2012 - cdmoky wrote: 86 Points
Clean flavors with crisp small bubbles. Not very complex though.
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10/27/2012 - MattMauldin wrote: 89 Points
Full gold color with hints of amber. Fine steady bead in the glass. Aromas of winter wheat, chalk, stone fruit and strawberry. Racy palate with citrus and stone fruit flavors along with mild chalk and yeast. Well balanced and nicely complex for its price point. Crisp finish. Always consistently good QPR. Perfect with my take-out sushi!
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9/30/2012 - Night Thief wrote: 88 Points
Nice dark golden color with the slightest hint of pink. Tastes of green apple and pear. Slight toastiness. Very crisp dry finish. Very enjoyable and great with any food. Good QPR.
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9/22/2012 - hawkeye47 wrote: flawed
Normally, I am a fan of this simple sparkler. This bottle had lost much of its bubbly and tasted so much like apples, our entire group thought it tasted more like mild hard cider. Pleasant enough if one enjoys that, but not when expecting a blanc de noirs. Bottle flaw?
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9/16/2012 - iByron wrote: 87 Points
Deep gold in color. Pungent yeasty toasty nose. Echoed on the palate. Bubbles could be a bit more persistent. A good American sparkling wine.
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9/7/2012 - wdlohr wrote: 90 Points
This is a very nice blend of blanc de noirs. It opens with a golden toast color with a slight cherry nose. It offers a rich blend of slightly toasted body with crisp bubbles. Good value.
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8/27/2012 - David_T wrote: 85 Points
A simple but pleasant sparkler, with aromas of bread, yeast, green apple and a hint of citrus. The flavors match with biscuit, yeast and green apple. Nice mouthfeel. Nothing extraordinary but very solid for the price.
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8/20/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 86 Points
Toast and green apple. Simple, buit decent. 86
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8/11/2012 - edarrincox wrote: 88 Points
always delicious
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8/4/2012 - jellisfeingold wrote: 84 Points
Lots of fizz but a little flat on fruit. Not much on the nose, and the mousse died quickly. Nonetheless, everyone was amazed that this wine came from New Mexico. This was a bottle that I've had for over a year - maybe that's why it lost its mojo?
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8/1/2012 - PimpDaddy2Kool wrote: 88 Points
Great party champagne.
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7/31/2012 - Racer117 wrote: 87 Points
Initial taste a bit disappointing but this really came around after about 30 minutes after opening. Soft smoky apple nose with cinnamon. Tart berry body with an elemental chalk flavor. Alcohol not well integrated.
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6/7/2012 - bajayngo wrote: 86 Points
good value sipper. Tight bubbles, chalk, green berries with a hint of sweet.
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6/5/2012 - Alpos wrote: 86 Points
The first bottle I tried was corked. Biscuity, nutty, toasty aromas. Mango, apple, and dried apricots on the palate. There's a mild but noticeable bitter, tannin-like element in the background; it isn't enough to be annoying, and adds some complexity. Good acidity. Unimpressive bubbles and mouthfeel.
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6/5/2012 - ivandwu wrote: 85 Points
- Medium pearls - Nice crisp apple scent. Earthy, yeasty oak (a little funky at first to me). Clean, dry finish with hints of pineapple and apple briefly.
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5/27/2012 - Alpos wrote:
Awful! Must be something wrong with this bottle. Harsh, bitter, tastes like eating wet wood chips.... Tastes like.... Cork! I'm guessing it's a corked bottle based on all the other reviews. Coarse bubbles, poor mouthfeel. Will have to try again.
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5/26/2012 - lvjohn wrote: 89 Points
Tasty with nice bubbles. A fine aperitif.
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5/26/2012 - Janstan wrote: 81 Points
Hmm. A lot less than I expected even though it was cheap.
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5/16/2012 - phillyboyP wrote: 87 Points
Can't touch Roederer for my house sparkler. Dark golden, fine bubbles, short finish. Would be great for mimosas. 87?
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5/7/2012 - Colima74 wrote: 85 Points
A bit harsh, with little fruit. VA?? We ended up mixing it with pomegranate juice for mimosas.
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4/27/2012 - bwk wrote:
Great QPR.
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4/21/2012 - edarrincox wrote: 90 Points
We always love this wine
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4/21/2012 - PeteNJ75 wrote: 88 Points
Very crisp, dry, and refreshing. Fantastic value.
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4/1/2012 - Vinsant wrote:
A nice little sparkler to chase down some lamb curry stew. Lots of apple, pear, almond, and vanilla. Not too shabby for $13.
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3/24/2012 - BklynNeophyte wrote: 87 Points
Great QPR. Other reviews hit it. Comparable: Eric Byrne.
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3/18/2012 - vinole wrote: 86 Points
I liked this less than their regular Brut, which I found light and somewhat austere. This sparkler had more of a weighty, creamy texture that I usually like, but had a bit too much fruit and not enough balancing acidity. Still better than many at its price.
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3/12/2012 - swade wrote: 89 Points
Fine bubbles float up through this golden-hued sparkler. Aromas of apples and fresh dough. Apples and a hint of cinnamon on the palate. Crisp, refreshing and balanced. Lovely.
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3/11/2012 - pizzler wrote: 87 Points
Rated our favorite as the food sparkler of choice for a rehearsal dinner for 60+ people. Good complexity and acidity. Stood up to a spicy pork dish and a spicier shrimp dish. Wasn't overly tart like many of the sparklers we sampled, nor did it have any annoying aftertastes like many of them had or developed over the course of several hours of sampling. It was good upon opening, again not a trait shared by many of the sparklers in our sample, and didn't need any airing. It had a very pleasant nose with a hint of yeast and red fruit. It opened up nicely over the course of several hours and as it warmed towards room temperature...interesting and tasty the entire time. It was decent two days later when we finished off part of the bottle, though it was slim on the effervescence scale. Great bang for the buck and you will stump people on the country of origin...forget them guessing the state it's from!
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2/26/2012 - BadOyster wrote: 89 Points
Very appley - even moreso than before. Still enjoyable, but not as complex as I remember. Wouldn't be bad if it was still found for $12 or less, but nowadays it's running >$13 because of WS.
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2/13/2012 - df1962 wrote: 89 Points
Consistent with previous note.
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2/11/2012 - ews3 wrote: 88 Points
Saturday Night Wine Tasting (Throyd's - Lansdowne): refreshing sparkling wine and continues to deliver as a strong value. apple and strawberry flavors dominate. not much yeastiness on this. well liked by the group.
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1/31/2012 - wineduggery wrote: 87 Points
Big-time disappointment. More like Prosecco than American sparkling wine or Champagne.
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1/29/2012 - EMTAME wrote: 87 Points
Creamier than I expected. Decent for large parties or a cheap mid-week sparkler.
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1/15/2012 - TheFoodieTraveler wrote: 91 Points
fantastic value, and it really does taste and feel french (tiny bubbles)
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1/11/2012 - sully13 wrote: 89 Points
Easy drinker sparkler that you can enjoy without over thinking.
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1/1/2012 - slywka7 Likes this wine: 88 Points
Recently appeared on Wine Spectator's Top 100 Wines of 2011, this wine was by far the driest of the bunch. This had some cream as well but not as pronounced as the Duval Leroy. It also had some flavors of ginger and cinnamon.
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12/31/2011 - larsf Likes this wine: 86 Points
Light and sweet, lots of bubbles.
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12/31/2011 - edarrincox wrote: 89 Points
Always delicious. Served for a birthday celebration.
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12/26/2011 - astruminger wrote: 87 Points
A bit too dry, but probably a good sparkling wine for food pairing.
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12/26/2011 - df1962 wrote: 89 Points
Nice persistent mousse. Lovely orangey gold color. Ripe red fruit with a touch of yeasty bread and minerally on the finish.
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12/25/2011 - wmccone54 wrote: 86 Points
Lots of bubbles that start to fade within 30 minutes after opening. Medium straw with a tinge of salmon color. Yeasty and citrusy with undertones of oak and faint vanilla. Creamy mouthfeel that finishes with a flop. Nothing very noteworthy or special about this; once again Wine Spectator missed the mark by naming this in its Annual Top 100. Good inexpensive quaffer for $13.
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12/22/2011 - saki846 wrote:
Drank this while wrapping Christmas presents.
Very enjoyable and easy-drinking.
This is a very good stand alone Sparkler but, I imagine, is also a fairly good mixer for mimosas and other cocktails.
For a non-California New World Sparkler, this is a good buy.
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12/20/2011 - Vinotas wrote:
Never had this or any other Gruet before (I brought it), so I was curious to try it. I thought it was fine, though there was something sharp on the back end that distracted and not in a good way. For around the same price, I can get a good Limoux or a Cremant de Loire/Bourgogne that will be better.
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12/10/2011 - td1836 wrote: 90 Points
75% Pinot, 25% Chard. Berry and floral aromas, juicy raspberry and citrus fruit flavors on the palate with a creamy, rich texture and nicely balanced acidity.
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12/7/2011 - joshwoodward wrote: 89 Points
Pnp, 375ml. Tasty, effervescent. Simple but solid. Great acid, dry. Beery. A little toasty.
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12/4/2011 - indiscriminate palate wrote:
WSET III, part 2; 12/3/2011-12/4/2011 (Portland, ME): Medium gold color. Medium-plus intensity nose. Dry. Medium acid. Delicate flavors on the palate. Flabby. CO2 poorly integrated.
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12/3/2011 - Mike Kopanski wrote: 86 Points
Giant Wine Sale & Tasting 12/3/2011 (Cellar on Greene, Columbia, SC): Very refreshing. Has aggressive, cute little salmon colored bubbles. Kind of creamy on the nose with toasty vanilla and yeast. Super flavor of raspberry and strawberry. Balanced. Rich. Charming.
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12/2/2011 - Martin Redmond Likes this wine: 87 Points
Salmon color with an abundance of dispersed tiny bubbles with brioche and apple aromas. On the palate approaching medium bodied with a moderately aggressive mousse, balanced with pear, sweet baking spice, vanilla, and nuanced citrus flavors. Short finish . Very good QPR @$14. Will buy more!
http://enofylz.wordpress.com/
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11/28/2011 - Nojomoschwa wrote: 87 Points
Quite nice - apple and brioche flavors but found it had a slightly bitter (and thin) finish. Good for the price though.
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11/24/2011 - Wineonthevine wrote: 86 Points
Good color, nice flavors, a bit on the fruity side. This bottle is NV, but received it around 2008.
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11/24/2011 - MindMuse wrote: 84 Points
Certainly performs well for the tariff. Pleasant, not really particularly interesting. Nice vigor, but sort of seems like the CO2 is trying to make up for low acidity. Good quaffing bubbly, but not one that inspires deep attention.
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11/9/2011 - tarheel17 wrote: 85 Points
nose: not well defined...kind of a faded apple, but there isn't much there.
palate:all the fruit seems to be upfront, then it fades quickly. Watery pear and apple mostly, then the finish seem to surge back with some lemon and a touch of rind, but it's not that forceful. Altogether, it's a nice domestic sparkler, though it seems to lack not only intensity but also presence. Just a tad bitter, it's definitely on the dry side of sparkling. Body isn't very 'noir'-like. A good choice for when a prosecco would be too sweet - I would buy it again for under $13
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11/2/2011 - Rob and Meg wrote: 80 Points
The nose comes across as rather opulent, showing tones sweet apple, pineapple, and fresh baked cinnamon buns. The palate opens with an equal level of sweet caramelized apples and a pie crust component. The wine quickly progresses through weak mid-palate flavors of lemon meringue to the short finish of sugared lemon peel and apple. The relatively weak structure and progression on the palate highlight the lack of balancing acidity. The flavors are enjoyable (albeit one dimensional), but perhaps are a bit too sweet. R&M 80
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10/28/2011 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
My favorite budget sparkler. Excellent. Good citrus, clean, flavorful.
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9/7/2011 - Jack O'Brien wrote: 89 Points
One of the best, affordable domestic sparkling wines out there. Consistently good. Always a great starter.
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8/19/2011 - mbeutel wrote: 86 Points
Simple, with round fairly larged sized bubbles. Pleasant red fruit flavors but comes off slightly off-dry. Uninspiring. Had the brut Rose the night before and that showed more personality. I would probably purchase the brut over this every time
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8/14/2011 - msr wrote: 85 Points
A very good champagne-style sparkling wine from New Mexico
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7/14/2011 - AZ Cat wrote:
(1/5) Nice yeast and not a bad QPR but a little sweeter than I like my sparklers. Simple and without much depth.
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6/17/2011 - mattdev wrote: 81 Points
Pretty pungent wine. It has a lot of yeast on the nose with caramel apples and cake. Palate is quite flat, but not really offensive or anything. A bit of earthy vegetal flavors, but not a ton.
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5/28/2011 - jfarley3 wrote: 88 Points
Golden yellow color. Crisp but balanced nicely with good fruit of pear, lemon and a bit of toast. Nice long finish. Good QPR.
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5/14/2011 - cos82 wrote: 87 Points
Very decent. Straw yellow with pear on the nose. Nice mousse. Tasty with refreshing acidity. Some Pear and apple with toast and hint of lemon. Very good qpr.
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4/25/2011 - IlonaN wrote: 89 Points
For about $14 you can't go wrong with this wine. Shows considerably more class and complexity than most bubblies at this price and is a solid go-to for large parties.
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4/3/2011 - jellisfeingold wrote: 88 Points
Pale with yeasty mousse that falls quickly, crisp and a little toasty, whatever that means, with an almost medium body and a citrusy finish. A case among 40 people vanished in minutes.
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12/29/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
Again, similar to last night, meaning much better than I remember it being. So maybe a dip in quality the last few years but now a return to form.
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12/28/2010 - Ben Christiansen wrote:
One of my better bottles of Gruet actually, and showing alot of Pinot Noir fruit of the front.
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11/27/2010 - mountaintj5 Likes this wine: 86 Points
This wine has a very nice aroma of pear and just the right amount of effervescence in the carbonation. It was great as a palate cleanser but also jut fun to drink alone.
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11/16/2010 - Tyler_at_WWD wrote: 88 Points
There is a decidedly green streak running through the aroma of this wine, with grass and green apples, and nearly a hint of green chilies running through it initially. A spin in the glass opens a more buttery, creamy profile, with mixed spices, vanilla, and a soft yeasty tone. This is a very intriguing nose, and it’s entertainingly complex (I think I may have sat and sniffed for five minutes before I even took a sip.)
The palate has a nice initial entry. It’s subtle and smooth, with a foamy, somewhat frothy mousse. Vanilla cream dolloped on golden and green apples is the initial impression, moving on to a soft yeastiness, edging on bread dough. There is a vanilla quality to this wine that gives it a friendliness, but a clear pumice-like minerality and a lemon pith tone toward the finish keep it serious. There is a good balance between contrasts in this wine, and it has a somewhat reserved, subtle flavor profile that encourages you to keep looking, as hints of a variety of flavors make an appearance throughout the drinking experience.
Source: What's Worth Drinking: Post #87: Sparkling Week Pt.1: Domestic Bubbly ( http://whatsworthdrinking.com/2010/11/16/post-87-sparkling-week-pt-1-domestic-bubbly/ )
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11/7/2010 - mgriffith wrote: 87 Points
Dry, mild fruit on the pallet. Neither impressive nor unpalatable.
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10/16/2010 - aagrawal wrote: 90 Points
Half Bottle Wine Night (San Francisco, CA): Nice, fresh, nice nose of pear. Good tang. Less yeasty than other champagnes. Actually really good.
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10/7/2010 - peternelson wrote: 88 Points
reserved nose, but very nice tart raspberry flavors, vibrant acidity in a medium body--slightly more weight than the regular brut.
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10/2/2010 - jahlove wrote: 86 Points
Had this at Palena with Aunt Peggy, Uncle B, Selma, and Ian. Always a solid effort from Gruet. Lively with yeast and green apple finishing with a touch of sweetness. Just an awesome apertif. And a killer pairing with the crudo that evening.
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9/5/2010 - Winger wrote:
Nice picnic QPR sparkler.
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9/3/2010 - chayward wrote: 85 Points
Sparkling wine blind tasting: Tasted blind. OK, but nothing impressive. Least favorite of the tasting.
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8/7/2010 - chapinde wrote: 87 Points
Pale gold with an effusive mousse, the nose was bread, pear, and lemon with a palate of the same. Excellent BdN and outstanding QPR, always reminding me why this is my go-to inexpensive sparkler.
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7/24/2010 - RPerro wrote: 88 Points
40th Birthday - 1970 Vintage Tasting (Casa del Woodruff): Overly bubbly at first but settled down a bit. Perfect bubbles for a 93 degree day. Slightly sweet, and nice minerality too. Pear fruit, and very refreshing.
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6/20/2010 - dbg wrote:
A Wine Berserkers thread (http://www.wineberserkers.com/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=24839&p=332976#p332976) trashing NV Veuve Clicquot inspired me to do a blind comparison of NV Gruet Blanc de Noirs and NV Veuve Clicquot last night. Both are locally available. The Gruet gets a fair amount of love for a $16 cheapie, and I was curious to see how it would stand up the Veuve, which is twice the price and has been getting trashed here.
Wine 1 – very pale yellow, copious fine mousse, citrus, slight artificial peach nose, creamy mouthfeel, light-medium body, a bit flabby, sweet artificial flavor notes on palate, short finish, average. Guessing this is the Gruet, which I’ve never had before. (75 pts)
Wine 2 – pale yellow, a shade darker than wine 1, bread and toast plus citrus on nose, light-medium body, fruit and minerals and nice balancing acidity, bit of earth, medium finish, very good. (84 pts)
I was pretty sure which wine was which, based on past experience with the Veuve, even though I had never had the Gruet before. So perhaps there was some unavoidable bias. But there was a clear difference between the wines, and I think I described what I tasted.
Wine 1 – NV Gruet Blanc de Noirs. My wife, who also tasted these blind, didn’t find anything to like about this wine. I wouldn’t buy more, and uses the rest of the bottle for Mimosas today.
Wine 2 – NV Veuve Clicquot. Not a killer Champagne, and yes there are more interesting things around in the same price range, but they have come back from a very lackluster bunch of years. Not worthy of the bashing it’s been getting in this thread. IMHO, of course.
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5/30/2010 - cos82 wrote: 86 Points
Pale, almost clear as water. Some mineral on the nose. Decent palate. Some strawberry, citrus with mineral and bread. Nice acidity. When you want an inexpensive sparkler you could do far worse. Went well with a variety of goat cheese based appetizers.
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5/29/2010 - Siggy wrote: 87 Points
Very creamy, silky mousse. Moderate depth of fruit, with some interesting grassy flavors that build to a medium finish. Quite quaffable. At $15, this is a good, crowd-pleasing value sparkler.
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2/23/2010 - nzinkgraf wrote:
sparkling (Waterford Wine Co., Milwaukee): nose: brioch and strawberry fruit. 'starting bread dough.' palate of rich strawberry fruit and more pronounced acid than the szigeti or the adami. shows some RS perception, when put in this field. it has the a very pale pink color.
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1/30/2010 - DollarMenunaire wrote: 85 Points
Pink-ish color. Fruity but not too fruity with black cherry/raspberry. Some mineral. Short finish.
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1/30/2010 - dbarco wrote: 84 Points
Straightforward but bubbly - apple and pear with minerals and earthiness, . . . and bubbles. I enjoyed it, found it well worth the small price. If we think about sparkling wine to celebrate life without need for a big occasion, this certainly satisfies.
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12/31/2009 - RPerro wrote: 86 Points
Phil's wine. Light and refreshing, with pear and heavy mineral flavors. This was much tastier than the Moet & Chandon White Star champagne I brought, without the heavy yeast/toast aspect.
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12/26/2009 - lebo9968@gmail.com wrote: 87 Points
Blah. Light in color and body. Nose was promising, but palate was short and thin. Kind of watery.
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12/25/2009 - kris.h wrote: 87 Points
Sabered with one of Annie's new throwing knives. Unfortunately the bottle was a bit warm and half the contents spewed out. What remained was quite nice though. Medium bodied, crisp. flavors of citrus and apple. Short to medium length finish. Good value.
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12/23/2009 - joraesque wrote: 86 Points
Simple and with rough bubbles in the mouth, but refreshing and an amazing value for the money.
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12/21/2009 - nytiger wrote: 88 Points
fine yeasty nose flavors not as complementary as the brut
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12/19/2009 - gripNsip wrote: 85 Points
Nice yet simple. Lots of apple and pear flavors, mild acidity. Rough bubbles in the mouth. Still very enjoyable, worked just right with the pizza we ordered. On it's own though it was a bit boring.
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12/17/2009 - nytiger wrote: 88 Points
fine yeasty nose, nice "champagne" color , somewhat light on the bubbles but good flavor
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10/21/2009 - behm0027 wrote: 88 Points
Nose of pear and crisp apple. Palate of apple and subtle lemon custard. Crisp, light, refreshing. Surprisingly good. Finish has notes of almond.
88/89
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10/10/2009 - ews3 wrote: 87 Points
City Line Church Wine Tasting 2009 (White Stone Gallery, Manayunk (Philadelphia, PA)): nice gold color with persistent mousse. fresh fruit flavors of strawberry, green apple, with a doughy component.
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10/4/2009 - DaveZack wrote: 86 Points
Got this bottle for $13 on sale at BevMo and drank before dinner. The bottle went from the fridge to the freezer, where it chilled-out for about 15 minutes. This is the second sparkler we've tried from this New Mexican winery and we're becoming fans of theirs. Their sparklers are very earthy/yeasty and not overly sweet, with a squeaky-clean finish. You can really taste the dirt in Gruet's bottles; we tried their demi sec (drank at a Michelin-rated restaurant and didn't rate on cellartracker since my memory is the WORST) and had to try another one of their bottles (this one) to see if the incredible food clouded our memories/judgement. No, the great food did not sway our judgement of Gruet; their sparklers are delicious, earthy, and incredible bargains. If you really love dirt/terrior, try one of Gruet's sparklers. They're great for the price!
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9/8/2009 - Apollo_Creed wrote: 83 Points
Raspberry, mineral. Lotta fizz.
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8/8/2009 - dannyk8232 wrote: 86 Points
a nice, easy drink
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8/2/2009 - air guitar & pinot noir wrote: 89 Points
Almond yellow with slight salmon notes. Berries and toast on the nose. Creamy texture with lovely fruit flavors. Notes of raspberry and cherry. Great Sunday brunch pick! Crisp, dry finish.
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8/1/2009 - Beavis77 wrote:
Had an nice pink tinge.
Really yeasty nose with a hint of strawberry shortcake.
Crazy acidity. Some nice yeasty flavors. Get some savory strawberry and a bit of salinity. Definitely has the fuller body and coarseness that I associate with the Pinot.
Nice sparkler. Great with appetizers.
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7/21/2009 - OneLastSyrah wrote: 87 Points
Nose of chalk, green apple, acid, cider. Medium bodied with tangy sweet white apple fruit. Touch of biscuit. Initially I found this very tangy, but it seemed to get more open and "sweeter" with time or as my palate adjusted. Pretty good value for $13.
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7/3/2009 - leloupedevin wrote: 87 Points
If you hide the fact that it's from NM, you will always rate it higher, and the comments on this forum attest to that fact. Notice the comments that start with the fact it is made somewhere other than France or California. For the price, this a lot better than many of the budget sparklers on the market. It doesn't have the same strawberry notes some of the noirs from France will have, but it's still enjoyable. If you want to be blown away, you will need to spend 4 times what this bottle goes for. Gruet is a great value.
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6/27/2009 - ews3 wrote: 88 Points
Profugo's Wine Taste 2009 - Organic and Biodynamic Wine Tasting (Pentimenti Gallery, Philadelphia PA): a nice value sparkler. strawberry, red apple. mousse is aggressive. nice fruity profile.
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5/19/2009 - ewisor wrote: 80 Points
A party guest brought this but it was not opened. I was disappointed when noticed it was from NM and simply put it aside for the next party. I finally opened it up and discovered a nice surprise - it was actually tasty and enjoyable!
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4/19/2009 - gmbdds wrote: 87 Points
Light golden color. Nose of yeast and a hint of ginger. Tart green apple flavors. Remains crisp and enjoyable. I gave this an 86 last time. It had a bit more to it this time.
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4/18/2009 - Biskuit wrote: 80 Points
Went fine with some St Germain, but a bit harsh on its own.
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4/12/2009 - Johnnichols wrote: 87 Points
Always great!
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3/15/2009 - AZ Cat wrote:
(2) Good QPR, somewhat sweet for a Brut. Drank at cabin with Dennis, Bob & Liz.
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12/31/2008 - clwagner wrote: 79 Points
I was quite disappointed in this as I've had it before. Perhaps I waited too long to drink it.
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12/31/2008 - topher18 wrote: 88 Points
Always delicious and fun.
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12/28/2008 - bmarshall wrote: 86 Points
Decent everyday bubbly for sure. Darker, golden color. Very yeasty and earthy with some nutts. Decent finish. Good QPR.
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11/28/2008 - shakedown wrote: 86 Points
Always good, affordable, and easy drinking domestic brut. Nothing too fancy but perfect for a warm-up to a big meal like Thanksgiving. Crisp, refreshing and tangy on the entry with a slightly sweet finish.
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11/17/2008 - ksmith wrote:
Passable. N.R.
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11/14/2008 - Hershey in CA wrote: 88 Points
Delicious and creamy with subtle fruits with lower but balanced acid.
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10/31/2008 - BuffaloBandit wrote: 73 Points
Not very impressive... although it is the best wine I've ever had from New Mexico.
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10/13/2008 - loriannkru wrote: 85 Points
very toasty and nutty nose. Medium unattractive bubbles. Very dry - some fruit, pretty decent.
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10/12/2008 - rc@ughey wrote: 86 Points
Nice BdN, but I'd prefer the Ferrer for a couple dollars more. Still, a buy at this level for sure.
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8/30/2008 - brownman6 wrote:
opwn 10 minutes prior to drinking, good full bodied, nutty 90
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8/26/2008 - jhannah27 wrote: 82 Points
For a bubbly from New Mexico, I can't complain. It probably exceeded expectations in that respect. But as a bubbly in general, it seemed sloppy and unelegant. Every time I refilled my glass, the first whiff I got was dense toast, sulfur, and plastic. Very off-putting. Luckily, this would go away relatively quickly, and it softened into a more traditional yeasty smell. Taste is just as disjointed, showing the yeasty, toasty flavors up front, but then moving toward more sweet gala apple and pear flavors. There is just no finesse, or elegance in this wine. It's kind of just out there for you to taste, trying really hard to stand out among the crowd. For me, that isn't what a sparkler should be. It should be easy drinking, mellow and subtle. Besides that initial nose, there was nothing here that I necessarily disliked, but its complete lack of style and grace killed it for me. Good, but I'll go to an inexpensive Cava or Prosecco before coming back here.
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7/13/2008 - tommyvernieri wrote:
Tasting Group July 2008 Meeting - Sparkling wines (Charleston, SC): Lemon and plastic on the nose; if I stretch, even a bit of the chemicals from a match. Lemon on the palate with smooth acidity. Nice and crisp. (Original score: A-)
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6/27/2008 - wino_tim wrote: 83 Points
Flat, quite dry and a bit tart, but still appealing for its pinot-esque aromas of red cherries that integrate nicely into the yeasty background.
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5/20/2008 - Mrbuzz wrote: 90 Points
Good with calamari!!!!
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5/9/2008 - The Drunken Cyclist wrote: 86 Points
Golden color, lacking effervescence--seems to be pretty old. Despite the lack of sparkle, still a good mouthfeel with some biscuity notes. Overall, pleasant.
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4/5/2008 - mocamro wrote: 84 Points
from 375mL
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3/29/2008 - pickhardt wrote: 86 Points
OK, but nothing special. Gayle liked it more than I did.
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3/28/2008 - BrandrB wrote: 85 Points
A solid domestic Blanc de Noirs. Golden color. Nice nose with aromas of toast and berries. Tons of mousse. Medium-bodied, simple tart palate with fruity flavors of raspberries. Brut, with a just a bit of sweetness. Fairly large bubbles, but with a nice level of effervescence. Pleasant medium-length finish. Decent enough value and very food friendly. This was my first experience with Gruet’s sparklers, and I certainly look forward to trying their other offerings as well as this one again.
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3/23/2008 - gmbdds wrote: 86 Points
For Easter dinner. Crisp and refreshing. Enjoyable. I wasn't able to draw specific aromas or tastes from this. No particular complexity either.
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3/5/2008 - peternelson wrote: 87 Points
CSCA: Nice “bubble gum” nose, wheat chaffs, bread; simple but clean, refreshing mth. See above exactly. $14 now.
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2/18/2008 - cassel wrote: 87 Points
Great nose some yeast good value.
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2/7/2008 - ChickadeeSharon wrote: 87 Points
dry, crisp, toasty
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1/31/2008 - dlambert wrote:
Excellent for the money, Dry
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1/12/2008 - ashegedyn wrote: 88 Points
Nice nose, yeasty brioche, crisp, nice acidity, delicate balance and excellent mouthfeel with the fine bubbles. A steal at 12, comparable to champagnes 3 to 4 times the price.
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1/4/2008 - jfp wrote: 89 Points
This New Mexico sparkler is a surprise and quite a treat. Medium-fine mousse with delicate bubbles floating to the surface through the duration of my glass. Aroma is typical yeasty citrus and apple with a boost of subtle strawberry, melon, and a bit of mushroomy funk. Full silky body with sharp acidity. Definitely not bone dry --just a little bit of sweetness through the mid-palate and finish. Very nice and an great value!
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12/15/2007 - dbkitc wrote: 85 Points
Light pear and citrus nose. Decent depth and good mousse. Fine value, but won't make you forget Bollinger. (85)
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12/2/2007 - AllRed wrote: 86 Points
Poured at a retailer tasting. 75% Pinot and 25% Chardonnay. Aromas of flowers and billowy cotton. Soft floral tones and some citrus on the palate.
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10/7/2007 - pgm wrote: 87 Points
Some bottles have been a little dull, but this one was good enough to grab my attention. Nicely done, much better than we have any right to expect for ~$15.
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9/21/2007 - kris.h wrote: 86 Points
Excellent QPR. I didn't take a detailed note but I enjoyed it very much. Crisp and clean with good body. Not a really long finish but what's there is really nice.
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9/14/2007 - Ombibulous wrote: 83 Points
Half bottle cost $11. Very bubbly and crisp. Not sweet to my palate, but not bone dry either. Mid-good (82.5).
Per label:
This wine has been "en tirage" for at least 24 months. Delicate pale salmon colour, richness, aromas that emanate from the predominant Pinot Noir. Abv 12%.
Per www.gruetwinery.com:
The rich and toasty character of our Blanc de Noirs is balanced. Aged for two-year minimum, the palate is developed and has complex flavour. The berry aromas and creamy texture play create a great finesse. Aggressive mousse and a lovely fruity wine with plenty of charm and toasty aromas. There is also a flavor of raspberry.
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9/2/2007 - brutusbuckeye wrote: 88 Points
Light pale straw colour; fresh citrusy aromas on the nose. Crisp with nice acidity and well balanced. Flavours of honeysuckle, grapefruit, and just a tiny hint of white chocolate perhaps. Nice long finish.
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8/25/2007 - Louise P wrote: 84 Points
Truly uninspired and unmemorable. Some taste of toast, practically no finish. Benign if a choice in a restaurant, but no reason to buy a bottle again.
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6/28/2007 - tanglenet wrote:
Served blind at a tasting. Pale blond color with apple and pear on the nose; soft approachable with a citrus bite. Was my #2 of 5 wines tasted.
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6/15/2007 - cgrimes wrote: 86 Points
Amber, golden color. Nose and palate of sweet apples and pears. Refreshing and enjoyable.
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6/3/2007 - hk94 wrote: 86 Points
Nice cheap bubbly. Apples, crispness. I found the mousse to be a good feel for a Banc de Noirs in this price range. Paired wonderfully with a fritatta.
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5/20/2007 - abkennedy wrote: 88 Points
Pleasantly tart, with good carbonation.
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4/25/2007 - otisabdul wrote:
Used for mimosas.
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3/25/2007 - Hillbilly wrote:
Quaffable. Performs well with a hard chill, gets sweeter as it warms. Has a little attractive dustiness in the finish, some balanced fruit and acid. No complexity.
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3/17/2007 - DancingDavidE wrote: 86 Points
Very good, I preferred this one to the other Gruet that I had. Purchased at Wine Discount Center on Elston.
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3/3/2007 - thelostverse wrote: 86 Points
Decent sparkler for the money. Some berries and green apples.
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2/22/2007 - ews3 wrote:
No formal note. Good QPR sparkler to keep around the house. there was a lot of froth when poured, and the bubbles were a bit bigger than I like, contributing to a "cheap" mouthfeel -- but the flavor profile was quite good.
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1/26/2007 - drdebs wrote: 88 Points
Pale copper color. Small bead but lots of froth. Nutty and apple aromas, more hazelnuts, apple, and a touch of berry on the palate. Nice brut wine, not harsh, with more complexity than many at this price point.
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12/31/2006 - Tejano wrote: 87 Points
Light straw with a hint of peach in color. Soft nose that showed a little more nuance of fruit...or a little more sweetness than the Brut. A light entry that firmed up at the mid palate with a fresh palate of fruit that had a bracing framework around it. Again not bad for the price...
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11/24/2006 - lpollack wrote: 88 Points
Crisp green apple and lemon. A good value
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8/26/2006 - jim dixon wrote:
No yeast, no complexity, some fresh apple on the palate. Nice enough for the money.
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6/25/2006 - jmull wrote: 86 Points
Excellent QPR, although not as dynamic as I remembered the previous bottle.
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1/28/2006 - jjclips2 wrote: 88 Points
Very nice, yet simple sparkler. Fresh berries with a touch of citrus. Easy to drink and not too complex. Definitely a crowd pleaser overall.
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12/24/2005 - Danny Joe wrote: 85 Points
Nice crown, nice color. Not years, good acids. Simple - sort of like an inexpensive cava. Worth another shot, but it is hard to beat the Spanish in this price range.
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8/5/2005 - OneLastSyrah wrote:
Mona Kidnaps James: 75% Pinot Noir. Nose of cherry stones with a touch of grape. The finish is slightly doughy. Okay.
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7/17/2005 - cab wrote:
I have let my champagne expert dictate the tasting note on this one, and she says that if she had to buy a case for New Year's eve, she might consider this one, but we agree that this doesn't present anything interesting. "A step above inoffensive," is the bottom line. Not much depth, tart, yet still tasty. Nothing special, but decent enough for about $15,
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6/11/2005 - AndrewSGHall wrote:
Wine Lovers Discussion Group (Slim's Restaurant, Cincinnati, Ohio): Consistent with my experiences before - not complex, but well-done with a lot of appeal. Pale hint of colour, slightly spicy nose. Light on acid, decent depth and a nice clean finish.
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5/11/2005 - Stephan O wrote: 80 Points
This sparkler doesn't shine. It does sport an attractive deep-walnut color, and it is generically fruity, but it doesn't show much else -- no yeast, no toast, and no minerals. A forgettable quaff.
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5/4/2005 - AtlantaBill wrote: 80 Points
Pinkish golden color. Bubbles somewhat large. Aroma of strawberries. Slight frutiness. A little bitterness in the finish
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11/21/2003 - peternelson wrote: 87 Points
Anita House; w/Val; Very clean, bright, light bread, a little citrus fruit; even, well-bal., but not a lot of character. Good for price.
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