Jessica Schumacher

9.6

A real competitor in the cava department! Perfectly balanced apple and mineral with that natural, small producer feel. Doesn’t break the bank either! — 4 years ago

M. Christopher Roebuck

9.2

Deep ruby, stewed red fruits, white and black pepper, clove, herbaceous, some vegies. Medium + tannins, high alcohol, full bodied, medium acidity. Medium finish. Very nice. On to an older competitor...

Please read my subsequent notes in the Muga Prado Enea for more context.

@Antonio Galloni any thoughts?

92 points — 6 years ago

Kurt Hall

9.0

Delicious! Compared against Caymus; a real competitor!
— 6 years ago

Kristin the Wine Girl

9.3

Beautiful. Silky. Balanced complex jam with subtle baking spice and sweetheart vanilla love in a bottle. Deathbed wine competitor. — 8 years ago

Henrik Poulsen

9.1

12.9% ABV
82% Chardonnay, 18% Pinot Noir.
35% fermented in barrel.

Serving this next to another $120 bubbly (2006 Taittinger Comte) I have to judge with both my wallet and preference. Unfortunately that doesn’t fall in the favor of this Schramsberg which showed a bit of reduction notes (noticeably some lead pencil shavings).
No doubt a great US sparkler but not a competitor with great Champagne at this price point. — 8 years ago

Tim Edwards

9.0

Itemse baking spice, pepper, wild thimbleberry jam on the nose.All combines for an intense micro cola on mid palate. Acid and alcohol very balanced on the lush finish......delightfully surprised this is only 13.8% ALC.......thought it would be higher! Pretty well made nonetheless. Crowd pleaser! — 9 years ago

Matt Brock

8.9

So I've come down off the Silver Oak high, and settled into this Oregon Pinot. This is a goto by-the-glass option for me at J. Marks. Not quite as fruit-forward as its competitor Meiomi, but really expressive flavor here. Markedly different from the CA North Coast Pinots. Im a fan. Paired with Black Diamond Aged Cheddar. — 9 years ago

with Jennifer

Katie

9.3

Slh competitor 3/12/22 — 4 years ago

Luis Arguero (@winefromAtoZ)

9.2

Va La Vineyards Mahogany 2011: Elegant tannins. Rich complex flavors. Velvety texture. Dark fruits. Mushrooms. Cedar. Leather. Earth. A beautiful, ultra small production red blend consisting of 8 varietals that will simply blow your mind away: Barbera, Malvasia Nero, Charbono, Petit Verdot, Carmine, Teroldego, Lagrein & Sagrantino. All in all, this is the real deal; a definite must-try if you want to experience the best red wine/winery in Pennsylvania. Watch out Napa, here is a legitimate competitor! Cheers🍷 — 5 years ago

Andrew Lohse

8.9

Find me a better entry-level competitor (there isn’t one) — 7 years ago

Stas Medvedev

9.6

🏅 Rating 96/100 (4,6🌟)

Super Vintages of SuperSeconds🍷

Classic Margaux with graphite of pencil shavings, rich in fruits, black tea. Fragrant and graceful. Pure elegance.

3eme GC Classé, but considered as SuperSecond. 47% CS, 47% M, 6% PV. Fermented in steel cone-shaped vats. 21mo aging in 45% new oak. Fining, no filtration.

'89 was a super vintage for Palmer.

The only true competitor to Ch.Margaux.

Significant cellar rennovations in late 90s make even better wines now. — 8 years ago

Mike R

9.4

It was great but the Myraid Cab was better and not as good as the last time I had it

Now that said I would not be embarrassed or kick it out of the bed (excuse the analogy in these days of #metoo) but just unfortunately had a stronger competitor last night

Still I think the wine is beautiful with a highly structured palette and silky tannins made it smooth but lacking in the boldness I wanted and the finish was not extraordinary

That said I love it and recommend it and even though it will cellar I am not sure it will get better so drink it if you got it

Big smiles last night — 8 years ago

with R

TheSkip

9.0

Continuing on with my sub-$20 exploration of grocery store Pinot Noir.

This was in the limited selection bin, meaning it won't be around for long. I had never heard of it, but guessed correctly that it was a product of @Sebastiani Vineyards. Having just written a little missive about enjoying their wines earlier, I thought why not? It's too cold to ship wine so I'm stuck with what I gots unless I get locally.

Against Meiomi, which I presume is its main competitor, this is more translucent in the glass. The strawberry notes dominate a bit more. The tannins are quite fine. Not very complex and not a long finish. Nevertheless, still a pleasant glass. — 9 years ago

Lee Pitofsky

9.4

MDT side by side I’ve always wanted to do! 😍

Vincent Dauvissat “Montée de Tonnerre” 2013- The first vintage of Dauvissat’s MDT, with just 2 barrels made and incredibly minuscule amounts making its way overseas. It’s super giving, seamlessly balanced and finely detailed showing a complex array of yellow fruit, lilies, wildflower honey and hazelnut with lemony acids and a stony minerality. It continued to gain volume and focus with air. A true competitor to Raveneau’s 2013 MDT, if not the wine I actually found myself ultimately savoring. It’s just in a great place and very ready to drink. — 5 years ago

Gunja Gargeshwari

9.4

A real competitor to the yamazaki 12 and I consider the Yamazaki 12 the gold standard! a little sweeter on the profile but the flavor is incredible! A steal at current price point. — 6 years ago

with Amit

Chris Zitzman

10

Been saving this one & it is in the sweet-spot of its prime. Never forget the first time I had it at the Wine Spectator, Grand Event “Tasting of the Ages” Thing at the Marriot Marquis back in 2014. In the highest of company it beautifully defined itself as more than just a “competitor” with some the most sought-after Cabs in the world- it was in a Leauge of its own. Good chance it’s my favorite Cab of all time.
@tonight its in its prime. — 7 years ago

with Beth

Skip Smyser

9.2

Another strong competitor for my summer time white. Floral with lovely citrus highlights. Lingering aftertaste that couldn’t be more pleasant. — 8 years ago

Vadim T

9.2

Very interesting, my first PN from New Zealand. Very spicy, my description is Mahogany. It took more than an hour, but at the end of our dinner it opened up as true Gevrey-Chambertin competitor. My advice - must be decanted. — 9 years ago

Alex Tso

9.4

A true competitor to the cloudy bay Sauvignon Blanc — 9 years ago

Victor Charcan

9.1

Really well made, I did not enjoy the 11 as much as I loved this one. Ripe cherries wrapped in tobacco and local spices (rosemary, fennel). Great tannins and length. Congrats (a competitor to Roda, my homeground, and a good solid one). — 10 years ago