I've been making pies for more decades than I'll admit to, and I can raise my hand once to a great pie. I happened onto a mixture of great apples at the peak of their flavor at a farm I shopped at often outside Rochester (NY) and on a beautiful crisp, cool October afternoon I made 3 apple pies. The crust was the same as usual but I did notice as I rolled it the texture was fantastic. The pies were just snappy enough and just sweet enough. Those pies were not as pretty as the gorgeous pies in your picture, but they went to an anniversary dinner and disappeared in a matter of minutes. I was sad I did not make 1 to keep for us. People asked for the recipe and I gave it to them, but repeatedly said the recipe would make very good pies, but it was the extraordinary apples that made those pies so special. I've made hundreds of pies since then, many very good ones, but have never again found that magic that visited my kitchen that day.

• Reply