Not complex but easy drinking & delicious: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon-lime, light brioche, green apples, pear, limestone
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with salt and vinegar chips.
Cost: $29.95 Grape: Chardonnay Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Online Exclusive Country: United States of America Region: Fauquier County, Virginia Format: 750 mL Producer: Pearmund Cellars Alcohol: 13.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Nice to see Virginian wines at the LCBO, especially such a delicious one like this one. This is like an aged Bourbon (minus the high alcohol) as it’s smooth, complex, balanced, tangy, citric, spicy & smoked. Score: 99/100.
Tasting Note: Medium bright gold in colour with good acidity, a medium intense nose, powdery tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Kumquat, lemon zest, green apples, pear, peach, grilled pineapple, hazelnut, nutmeg, dill, ginger, honeycomb, butter toast, vanilla & smoked fall leaves.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: • Meriwether Vineyard is the 1st East Coast vineyard nominated as Grand Cru Vineyard from the American Grand Cru Society, as well as Virginia’s oldest Chardonnay vineyard that was established in 1976. • The Winery sells this chard for $34 (+tax) US, so it’s a great price for LCBO to sell. • Don’t over chill this wine in order to bring out all the complexity of the Chard.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Turkey dinner
Cost: $26.95 Grape: Pinot Noir & Chardonnay Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: United States of America Region: New Mexico Format: 750 mL Producer: Gruet Winery Alcohol: 12.5 % Alcohol/Vol.
Finesse & elegance sparkling wine at half the price of more well-known Napa sparkling wines. Score: 92/100.
Tasting Note: Bright gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, sourdough bread, light yeast, lemon zest, green apples, pear, ginger & limestones.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: This is Gruet’s 2nd entry to LCBO. I reviewed their rosé earlier, & that was very good as well.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Homemade Oven Baked Garlic Parmesan Fries
Cost: $34.95 (Clearance Price: $28.00) Grape: Chardonnay Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: United States of America Region: Monterey County, California Format: 750 mL Producer: Copper Cane Wines by Joe Wagner Alcohol: 12.3% Alcohol/Vol.
Classic vintage Champagne Blanc de Blancs style. Score: 93/100.
Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with a fine mousse, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour bread dough, brioche, lemon curd, green apples, toasted almonds, pear, peach, honeycomb & limestone.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Joe Wagner used only naturally occurring sugar of Chardonnay from one vineyard & each bottle is numbered. This one is: 03.521
Pairings: Drink this now or in 4 – 6 years on its own or pair it with Quiche Lorraine
Cost: $19.95 Grape: Glera Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Italy Region: Veneto Format: 750 mL Producer: Societa Agricola Giusti Dal Col Srl Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol. One, if not the best Prosecco I’ve tasted. Beautifully made, delicious, elegant & full flavoured Prosecco. Score: 92/100
Tasting Note: Medium straw with a green ting in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon/lime, pear, green apples, thyme & limestone.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: “Glera grapes from vineyards located in Veneto, in the hilly area of Montello and the Asolo hills, in the municipality of Nervesa della Battaglia and precisely in the vineyards of the estates ” Aria Valentina, Abbazia and Sienna located on the southern side of Montello. Primary fermentation takes place at a controlled temperature by selected yeasts. The second fermentation takes place at a low temperature in autoclaves.” Giusti Wines
Pairings: Drink this now or in next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Crispy Baked Scallops with panko, Parmesan Cheese, paprika, butter and olive oil
Cost: $19.50 (Sale Price until Nov 28, 2021: $17.50) Grape: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Aligoté, Gamay Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: Burgunday Format: 750 mL Producer: Veuve Ambal Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
A solid delicious, elegant Crémant de Bourgogne Brut. Score: 90/100.
Tasting Note: Deep straw in colour with good acidity, fine mousse, a medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yeast, brioche, pear, green apples, lemon drops, honeydew melon, ginger, toasted almonds & Easter Lily on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Family run winery since 1898, is now the largest producer of Crémant de Bourgogne.
Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-6 years on its own or pair it with.
Cost: $24.95 Grape: Chardonnay Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: South Africa Region: W.O Western Cape Format: 750 mL Producer: Rupert Wines Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A true expression of a vintage Blanc de Blancs at great price. Score: 95/100.
Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, light yeast & toast, kiwi, green apples, lime, pear & oyster shells.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: “The L’Ormarins range was initially established as a Cap Classique range, named after French Huguenot, Jean Roi’s hometown Lourmarins in Provence.” Rupert Wines
Pairings: Drink this now or in next 10 years on its own or pair it with Blue Point Oysters.
Cost: $19.95 Grape: Chenin Blanc Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: Vouvray, Loire Valley Format: 750 mL Producer: Chateau Moncontour Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Easy drinking but with complexity. This delicious Brut wine is juicy with tropical fruit notes. Score: 92/100.
Tasting Note: Deep straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, light yeast, baked apples, mango, peach, lemon, kiwi, roasted nuts, limestone & jasmine on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: This wine matures at least for 20 months in bottle after the second fermentation and before disgorgement in cool cellars carved out of the limestone cliffs beneath the Château.
Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Roasted Vegetables & Goat Cheese Tart.
Cost: $26.95 Grape: 58% Chardonnay, 32% Pinot Noir Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: United States of America Region: Russian River Valley, Sonoma, California Format: 750 mL Producer: Copper Cane Wines & Provisions Alcohol: 12.2% Alcohol/Vol.
Lots of sour notes, which is unusual for a sparkling wine, but I got used to it & in the end this isn’t a bad wine. In addition, this wine needs food to soften the sour notes. Score: 88/100.
Tasting Note: Bright yellow gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, an intense nose, & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sour dough bread, sour sop, light toast, yeast, grapefruit, lemon rind, apple, pear & honeycomb.
Negatives: Lots of sour notes
Interesting Point: This sparkling is made in the Charmat method where secondary fermentation takes place within the tanks. Winery is owned by the famous California wine maker, Joseph Wagner.
Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years & pair it with Hunan hot & sour chicken.
Cost: $18.95 Grape: Mauzac & Chardonnay Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: Blanquette de Limoux Format: 750 mL Producer: Domaine Rosier Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Rich & creamy with slight sweetness & good acidity. Score: 91/100.
Tasting Note: Yellow straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Dry apple peel, brioche, light toast almonds, lemon, pear, green apples, peach, honeycomb & honeysuckle on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: “The vines from which this seductive blanquette originate are located on the hills to the west of Limoux, and more specifically in the commune of Villelongue d’Aude, an ancient fortified village constructed in a ‘circulade’ (a traditional village of the area built in concentric circles).” Domaine Rosier
Pairings: Drink this now or in next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Honey Garlic Roasted Pheasant.
Twilight Wines 