Pink Lady was my favourite apple until I happened upon a Lady Alice!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Alice_(apple)

Interesting. I've heard of it, but hadn't paid much attention to it. I'll try to check it out. My favorite apple blogger gives a review here: https://adamapples.blogspot.com/2010/03/lady-alice.html

He gives it 2 stars, which is a very high rating for him. He does have a few other modern apples that he gives an equal rating to, but he's only got 5 apples rated higher: Ashmead's Kernel, Cox's Orange Pippin, Macoun, Reine de Reinettes (King of the Pippins), Wickson. He has Pink Lady at 1 star, which is perfectly respectable.

What do you think of Gravenstein, ravenstine?

Apples don't breed true, all varieties are hybrids.

(orchards of a variety are grown from clones of a single tree that are grafted onto root stock)

I'm increasingly convinced that climate also matters quite a bit. There are some Honeycrisp that are a lot better than others.

with apples, they keep them in cold storage under nitrogen for up to three years (when they then juice them to dispose). So the fresh apples are so much better, and yes the terroir is always improtant with fruit veg flavour

Seconded. It’s one of the best apple varieties ever.