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Twilight Wines

Category Archives: Champagne

BILLECART SALMON BRUT RÉSERVE NV, AOC Champagne, France

25 Sunday Dec 2022

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $71.0 KYD (December 2022 sale: $50.99 KYD)
Grape: 40% Meunier, 30% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir
Category: Champagne
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Montagne de Reims & Grande Vallée de la Marne
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bellecart-Salmon
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A Christmas treat. Score: 94/100.

Tasting Note: Rich gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yeast, brioche, Anjou pear, peach, lemon, green apples, salted almonds, thyme & wet stone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vinification in stainless steel tanks, 50% to 60% reserve wines, ageing on lees: 30 months.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with crab spiced with ginger and a creamy courgette sauce which is topped with Daurenki caviar.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: December 25, 2022

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PIERRE PAILLARD LA GRAND RÉOLTE BOUZY GRAND CRU EXTRA-BRUT CHAMPAGNE 2018, AOC Bouzy, Champagne, France

14 Monday Mar 2022

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $130.00
Grape: 55% Pinot Noir and 45% Chardonnay
Category: Champagne Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bouzy, Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Pierre Paillard
Alcohol: 12.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Beautiful, elegant, delicious & complexed. Score: 98/100.

Tasting Note: Old gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, an intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, sour dough, buttered toast, Anjou Pear, lemon, kumquat, Golden Delicious apples, yellow pitaya, honeycomb, chalk, limestone, vanilla, a hint of salt & plumeria on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: La Grande Récolte 2008 benefits from extended aging “sur lie”: 10 years in our 19th century cellars at a depth of 53 feet/16 meters and
at a constant 50°F/10°C temperature

Pairings: Drink this now or in 7-10 years on its own or pair it with Caviar served on fresh baked Blinis.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 12, 2022

LCBO: 22922

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VICTOIRE BRUT ROSÉ CHAMPAGNE NV, Eperney, Champagne, France

28 Sunday Feb 2021

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $45.95 (Sale price until Feb28, 2021: $39.95
Grape: 20% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir, 15% Meunier, 15% Red Wine
Category: Champagne
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region: Epernay, Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: G.H. Martel & Co.
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Very easy drinking but with substance & a great price for a Champagne Rosé: 92/100

Tasting Note: Bright deep salmon in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: cherry, Strawberry, Fuji apples, raspberry, pomegranate, cured meat, toasted almonds, yeast & cassis.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 10 years on its own or pair it with Blinis with Smoked Salmon & Caviar.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 28, 2021

LCBO: 16396

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TARLANT BRUT RESERVE CHAMPAGNE NV, France

08 Sunday Nov 2020

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $47.70
Grape: 1/3 Pinot Noir, 1/3 Chardonnay, 1/3 Meunier
Category: Champagne
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Oeuilly, Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tarlant
Alcohol:  12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

In honour of Joe Biden’s victory & the next President of the United States of America, I present to you this very dry, crisp & elegant Champagne. Score: 92/100

Tasting Note: Gold in colour with good acidity, a low intense nose & a long length on the finish. Wine features toasted bread, brioche, sourdough, lemon, tangerine, baked apple, Anjou pear, hazelnut, ginger & Champagne mushrooms.     

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 10+ years on its own or pair it with Shiny Sea oysters.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 8, 2020

LCBO: 325167

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MONMARTHE SECRET DE FAMILLE BRUT CHAMPAGNE NV, Premier Cru, Ac Ludes, Montagne de Reims, France

23 Sunday Feb 2020

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $47.95
Grape: 40% Pinot Noir, 40% Pinot Meunier, 20% Chardonnay
Category: Champagne
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Ludes, Montagne de Reims
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Monmarthe
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Champagne but from an Independent Winegrower that is priced well under top Champagne houses with the same quality.

Positives: Deep gold in colour with a copper tinge. This wine has a fine mousse and features yeast, brioche, finely oxidative, green apples, Anjou pear, lemons, peach, ginger, nutmeg and crushed limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This Champagne was bought as a birthday present from my daughter, but today we drink in her honour in getting into her Masters program.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 10-15 of years on its own or pair it with New York style Parmesan, garlic & herb pits chips.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: February 22, 2020

LCBO: 624775

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BATTLE OF CHAMPAGNES Part 1: TAITTINGER PRESTIGE ROSÉ vs BOLLINGER ROSÉ

29 Sunday Dec 2019

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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TAITTINGER ROSÉ BRUT

$99.95

BOLLINGER ROSÉ BRUT

$113.95

40% Chardonnay, 35% Pinot Noir, 25% Pinot Meunier 62% Pinot Noir, 24% Chardonnay, 14% Pinot Meunier
Colour: Cherry-Salmon Colour: Pale copper
Cherry, strawberry, wild raspberry, blackberry, hazelnut, clementine, cherry tomatoes Apricots, apple (red & yellow), brioche, tangerine, peach,
Elegant Luminous, creamy, yeasty with good acidic
Pairs well with mussels in a red wine butter garlic broth Pairs well with Escargot in garlic butter sauce
Both complex in a different way Both complex in a different way

Winner: In a head to head comparison, in several different stemware, it was determined for pure drinkability that Bollinger came out ahead. However, in food pairings it was equally enjoyable depending on what you paired the Champagne with. For example, the Bollinger, being higher in acidity paired better with fatty foods. The creaminess of the Taittinger was the perfect foil for other milder savory food items.  Overall the Bollinger is slightly more expensive but worth the price, therefore the nod goes to Bollinger.

My opinion: Highly recommended for both

Top Pick for both

Tasted: December 29, 2019

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L’HOSTE CHAMPANGE TRADITON BRUT NV, AOC Champagne, France

25 Wednesday Dec 2019

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended

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Cost: $54.75 US (Sale price for December: $38.08 US)
Grape: 70% Chardonnay, 30% Pinot Noir
Category: Champagne
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Père & Fils
Alcohol:  13% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple yet classic Champagne

Positives: Bright gold in colour with fine mousse, this wine features yeast, brioche, white peach, apricot, honeydew melon, lemon and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: At the regular price there are several better Champagne options. However, at the sale price it’s a good buy.

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops with creamy lemon sauce.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 25, 2019

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WESTCOTT RESERVE PINOT NOIR 2015, VQA Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

30 Saturday Mar 2019

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Red Wines

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Cost: $46.00
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Red Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Westcott Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.

An easy drinking Pinot full of flavour but over priced

Positives: Garnet in colour featuring cherry, mulberry, nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla and red roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Chill the wine to 15C

Ageability: Drink now or over couple of years on its own or pair it with roasted duck.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy and Top Pick

Tasted: March 30, 2019

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CHAMPAGNE BOLLINGER SPECIAL CUVÉE BRUT, NV, Champagne, France

17 Sunday Mar 2019

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Highly Recommended, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $84.95 (Clearance Price: $68.00)
Grape: 60% Pinot Noir, 25% Chardonnay, 15% Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bollinger
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Bone dry but full of character & quality

Positives: Bright gold in colour with a fine mousse and a long finish. Wine features brioche, yeastiness, green & golden apple, Anjou pear, lemon, white peaches, walnuts, nutmeg and cloves.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Maturation cellar aged for more than twice the time required by the appellation, which in total 36 months.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10-15 years on its own or pair it with raw oysters.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: March 17, 2019

LCBO: 384529

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CHAMPAGNE LE MESNIL BLANC DE BLANCS GRAND CRU BRUT NV, AOC Côtes des Blanc, Champagne, France

12 Saturday Jan 2019

Posted by Twilight Wines in Champagne, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended

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Cost: $75.00 US
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Champagne Wine
Location: The Tasting Room & Wine Cellar
Country: France
Region: Côtes des Blanc, Champagne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Le Mesnil
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic expression of Blanc de Blancs Champagne

Positives: Rich, crisp and yeasty Champagne featuring a fine mousse, buttered brioche, green and yellow apples, lemon rind, cucumber and limestone

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: – 90% 2014 harvest, 5% 2013 harvest, 5% 2010 harvest

-Bottled in April 2015, minimum 3 years aged in cellar

-Disgorged in 2018 as Brut with sugar dosage 9 g/l)

-100% of vineyards of Le Mesnil sur Oger are ranked as Grand Cru

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10-15 of years on its own or pair it with crispy fried calamari.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: January 12, 2019

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Edward Rasiulis: Certified Sommelier

Canadian Association of Professional Sommeliers whose reviews are published in LCBO Vintages Magazine, LCBO Stores & Wine Importers

What is Twilight Wines?

Twilight is sometimes defined as when something is approaching its end, especially in a gentle or peaceful way. It is universally known as that optimum moment between day and night, light and darkness. Twilight is that point when we have learned the lessons we are apt to learn and have spun our last breath, and told our last tale: our twilight years. It is that moment when everything and everyone is at its finest, when the earth and all its occupants pause for just a fraction of time in anticipation of what comes next. That is the moment at which all wine should be drank and with a little insight and a lot of luck, fate will allow us the moment in which this will occur. The luck my friend’s is totally of your own creation. Here in my domain, Twilight wines. I will endeavour to impart that insight.

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