"Every apple has its tasting moment" - 2012 Apple Tasting

And the results are in.  This year's favorite was . . . 

. . . the Ralls Genet -- which typically fares poorly at this event -- followed by perennial favorites the Esopus Spitzenburg and the Ashmead's Kernel (see the tabulations below).  Not appearing among the tastiest this time was the Albemarle Pippin, which has been listed as the top favorite at our annual Apple Tasting more times than any other.

When asked about this "turn of the table" (so to speak), long-time Monticello fruit-tree consultant Tom Burford explained that the Ralls typically has a commendable flavor after harvest, but it may be one of the few varieties that is benefiting from the higher temperatures of recent years, because it is ripening not only sooner but faster in the heat of the late summer.  In contrast, the Pippin specimens came from a young tree that saw too rapid growth of the fruit, adversely affecting the taste. Moreover, Burford notes that the appeal of some apples is really just a matter of personal taste. As an example, Burford cites the Calville Blanc d’Hiver as always erratically rated. "At a tasting at the National Arboretum," added Burford, "one person scored it a 10 and another a 0 with the comment, 'Are you sure this is not a green persimmon?'"

The time of year versus the time of a harvest will affect the taste as will the quality and content of the soil.  And even the year can make a difference with some being good and some presenting challenges for each cultivar. "But," Burford assured, "every apple has its taste moment."

Previous Years’ Results

2011: 1-King David; 2-Ashmead’s Kernel; 3-Albemarle Pippin; 4-Jonathan; 5-Ralls Genet; 6- Virginia Gold; 7-York; 8-Pomme Gris; 9-Limbertwig; 10-Idared; 11-Virginia Beauty; 12-Mutsu; 13-Roxbury Russet; 14-Jonagold; 15-Father Abraham; 16-Grimes Golden; 17-Yates; 18-Detroit Red

2010: 1-Esopus Spitzenburg; 2-Ashmead’s Kernel; 3-Roxbury Russet; 4-Albemarle Pippin #1; 5-Yellow Bellflower; 6-Albemarle Pippin #2; 7-Winesap; 8-Stayman; 9-Pomme Gris; 10-Ralls Genet; 11-King David; 12-Fuji; 13-Calville Blanc d’Hiver; 14-Rzor Russet; 15-Arkansas Black; 16-Jonathan

2009: 1-Esopus Spitzenburg; 2-Virginia Beauty; 3-Ralls Genet; 4-Albemarle Pippin #2; 5-Turley Winesap; 6-York; 7-Stayman

2008: 1-Virginia Gold; 2-Albemarle Pippin; 3-Yellow Bellflower; 4-Calville Blanc; 5-Stayman; 6-Ralls Genet; 7-Esopus Spitzenburg

2007: 1-Albemarle Pippin #2, 2-Roxbury Russet, 3-Pomme Gris, 4-Esopus Spitzenburg, 5-Albemarle Pippin #1, 6-Baldwin, 7-Golden Russet

2006: 1-Albemarle Pippin, 2-Father Abraham, 3-Virginia Gold, 4-Ashmead’s Kernel, 5-Arkansas Black, 6-Calville Blanc, 7-Ralls Genet

2005: 1-Ashmead’s Kernel, 2-Newtown (Albemarle) Pippin, 3-Gold Rush, 4-Esopus Spitzenburg, 5-Virginia Gold, 6-Stayman, 7-Ralls Genet

2004: 1-Albemarle Pippin, 2-Winesap, 3-Margil, 4-Ralls, 5-Ashmead’s Kernel, 6-Pomme Gris, 7-Roxbury Russet

2003: 1-Albemarle Pippin #2, 2-Albemarle Pippin #1, 3-Virginia Gold, 4-Roxbury Russet, 5-Ralls Genet, 6- Calville Blanc, 7-Lady, 8-Winesap, 9-Esopus Spitzenburg

2002: 1-Ashmead’s Kernel, 2-Stayman, 3-Albemarle Pippin #2, 4-Pomme Gris, 5-Esopus Spitzenburg, 6-Roxbury Russet, 7-Fuji

2001: 1-Albemarle Pippin #2, 2-Albemarle Pippin #1, 3-Ashmead’s Kernel, 4-Roxbury Russet #2, 5-Pomme Gris, 6-Pomme Gris #2, 7-Calville Blanc, 8-Roxbury Russet #1.

2000: 1-Roxbury Russet, 2-Ashmead’s Kernel, 3-Ribston Pippin, 4-Esopus Spitzenburg, 5-Albemarle Pippin, 6- Ralls Genet, 7-Golden Russet

1999: 1-Esopus Spitzenburg, 2-Grimes Golden, 3-Suncrisp, 4- Idared, 5-Calville Blanc d’Hiver

1998: 1-Esopus Spitzenburg, 2-Roxbury Russet and Albemarle Pippin, 4-Gold Rush, 5-Kinsei

1997: 1-Suncrisp, 2-Spigold, 3-Fuji, 4-Shuizuka, 5-Spartan, 6-Stellar, 7-Alb. Pippin

1996: 1-Cox’s Orange, 2-Grimes Golden Pippin, 3-Esopus Spitzenburg, 4-Crispin, 5-Senshu

1995: 1-Virginia Gold, 2-Swaar and Fuji, 4-Golden Russet, 5-Simerenko Reinette, 6-Esopus Spitzenburg 

1994: 1-Albemarle Pippin, 2-Rhode Island Greening, 3-Esopus Spitzenburg, 4-Swaar, 5-Golden Russet, 6-Ralls Genet, 7-Grimes Golden