Scharffenberger Brut Mendocino County Excellence NV

92 points James Suckling: "A solid core of fruit with apple, strawberry and hints of iron and salt on both the nose and palate. Full yet not too much with a lively mouthfeel and fine tannins. Tensioned and plenty of flavor. Mostly 2018 vintage. 2 1/2 years on the lees. 8g/L dosage. A blend of 60% chardonnay and 40% pinot noir. Drink now. (1/4/24)"

91 points/'Top 100 Best Buys of 2021,'' Wine & Spirits: "This is clean and crisp with rich undertones of brioche and lemon custard. It offers a balance of the soft and the lively, a refreshing sparkling wine to kick off a dinner party. (Aug 2021)"

90 points John Gilman (View From the Cellar): "The current release of the Scharffenberger non-vintage “Brut Excellence” is from the base year of 2021 and was composed from its customary cépages of sixty percent chardonnay and forty percent pinot noir. It offers up a bright and classy bouquet of apple, nectarine, dried flowers, bread dough, a lovely base of soil and a nice topnote of smokiness. On the palate the wine is crisp, fullbodied, focused and complex, with a lovely core of fruit, good mineral undertow, frothy mousse and a long, crisp and very nicely balanced finish. This is really quite stylish. 2025-2040. (Nov/Dec 2024)"

90 points Wine Enthusiast: "This sumptuous bottling offers baked stone fruit, Golden Delicious apple, carmelized pear and orange crème fraîche. A firm mousse in midpalate comes together with baked brioche, allspice and buttered toast on the way to a dry finish. Pair with oysters, a seafood tower or anytime. Alcohol 12.5%. (Apr 2024)"

90 points Falstaff Guide: "Brilliant, medium golden yellow. Open, accessible nose of yellow peach, vanilla cream, fragrant lemon blossom and delicate brioche aromas. Well-structured perlage on the palate, creamy, delicately spicy texture with an appealing acidity. Balanced and round with a fine fruity sweetness on the finish. Medium length. (10/6/23)"

Producer notes: "[$24 list] The wine is approximately 60% Chardonnay and 40% Pinot Noir. The full malolactic style adds a vanilla cream character producing a round and full-bodied wine. After approximately two years on the lees, there are notes of freshly baked bread and pastry that enhances the more fruit forward style of the wine. Finally, after several months on the cork, the wine develops caramel and hazel complexors. Alcohol 12%."