Category Archives: Sparkling Wine

Champagne, Prosecco, Cava, Sparkling Wine, Frizzante, etc.,

VAL D’OCA PROSECCO, DOCG Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Veneto, Italy

09 Tuesday Aug 2022

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Cost: $19.95 (Sale price until Aug 14, 2022: $17.95)
Grape: Glera
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Valdobbiadene Prosecco Superiore, Veneto
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Val d’Oca
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Elegant Prosecco with substance. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Apple, pear, peach, honeydew melon & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Cool bottle

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with charcuterie and cheese tray

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 7, 2022

LCBO: 340570

ALVI’S DRIFT BRUT BLANC DE BLANC, NV, South Africa

01 Monday Aug 2022

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Cost: $16.95 (Clearance Price: $14.75)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region:
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Alvi’s Drift
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp clean brut sparkling wine offering good value for the quality of wine. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Passion Fruit, lemon, green apples & pear.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Charmat method

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-4 years on its own or pair it with Sushi.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 31, 2022

LCBO: 21163

LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE NOIRE BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT, NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, Bourgogne, France

31 Sunday Jul 2022

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Cost: $18.00 (Sale Price until Aug 14, 2022: $16.00)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bourgogne
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Louis Bouillot
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A Blanc de Noir from Bordeaux made in the traditional method for $18, hard to say no to this sparkler. Score: 89/100

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yeast, brioche, peach, pear, lemon zest, toasted almonds & toasted buttered bread.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Originally reviewed June 6, 2018

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Sushi.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: July 31, 2022

LCBO: 464776

MUMM NAPA BRUT PRESTIGE, NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, Napa, California, United States of America

25 Monday Jul 2022

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $30.00 (Sale Price until Aug 17, 2022: $27.50)
Grape: 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Gris /Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States of America
Region: Napa, California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mumm
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Vibrant flavors are balanced by fine acidity and a rich, lingering finish. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast & brioche, lemon, green & red apples, pear, ginger, honey, vanilla,

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: ‘Fermentation is conducted at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and fruit intensity. A few select lots are aged in French oak barrels to add depth, complexity, and spiciness. The finished blend is
bottled for second fermentation, with an average of 18 months’ yeast
ageing to add complexity, subtle dough flavors, and layers of creaminess.
The wine is disgorged in brut style and a dosage is added back to balance
the wines acidity, ageing another 3 months.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with California Benedict.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: July 24, 2022

LCBO: 217273

RIVAROSE BRUT PRESTIGE SPARKLING ROSÉ, NV, IGP Méditerranée, Salon-de-Provence, France

24 Sunday Jul 2022

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Grenache & Syrah
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Méditerranée, Salon-de-Provence
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rivarose
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Pleasant, fresh off dry sparkling that’s a perfect as an aperitif. Score: 91/100.

Tasting Note: Light copper in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast, strawberry, raspberry, pink grapefruit, apricot, peach, clementine, thyme & orange blossoms on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “RIVAROSE is the oldest and largest producer of sparkling wines in the Mediterranean. Founded in 1909, the house markets its wines all over the world, including its eponymous product, a true ambassador of the bubbles of the south of France.” Winery

Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Alabama Beef Ribs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: July 23, 2022

LCBO: 515288

STELLER’S JAY MOUNTAIN JAY BRUT SPARKLING WINE 2017, Méthode Classique, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, Canada

11 Monday Jul 2022

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $24.95)
Grape: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Steller’s Jay
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautiful made with elegance. 93/100

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity & fine mousse, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast, brioche, green apples, lemon zest, pear, white peach, strawberry, toasted almonds & fresh cut carnations on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Lobster risotto.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy at clearance price

Tasted: July 10, 2022

LCBO: 264879

TORRESELLA ROSÉ PROSECCO NV, DOC Prosecco, North East Italy

18 Saturday Jun 2022

Posted by in Best Buys, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $23.99 CI
Grape: Glera, Pinot Nero
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: Italy
Region: North-East Italy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Torresella
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent wine to pair with Asian foods. Score: 90/100

Tasting Note: Pale copper in colour with good acidity, a low intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, tangerine, Pink Lady apples & spun sugar.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “The glera off the skins for 7–8 days at a temperature of 16 °C, and the pinot nero on the skins for 6–7 days. The cuvée is assembled just before second fermentation and the percentage of pinot nero may vary from 10 to 15% depending on the vintage. The second fermentation and subsequent resting on the lees require at least 60 days in order to obtain a fine, persistent bead and more stable colour over time.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-3 years on its own or pair it with Bibimbap Bulgogi beef, marinated shitake mushrooms, carrots, cucumber, cabbage, topped with a sunny side egg.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 14, 2022

CAVE DE BEBLENHEIM CRÉMANT D’ALSACE BRUT BLANC DE NOIRS NV, Traditional Method, AC Alsace, France

23 Monday May 2022

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave de Beblenheim
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Subtle flavours with elegance. 94/100.

Tasting Note: Rose gold in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light brioche & yeast, strawberry, cherry, Fuji apples, clementine & vanilla custard.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Strawberry, Tomato & Fennel Gazpacho.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: May 22, 2022

LCBO: 25070

BERNARD-MASSARD CUVÉE DE L’ÉCSSON BRUT SPARKLING NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, Luxembourg

16 Monday May 2022

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Cost: $20.95
Grape: 45% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Blanc, 15% Pinot Noir.
Category: Red Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Luxembourg
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bernard-Massard
Alcohol: 13.8 % Alcohol/Vol.

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.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: May 15, 2022

LCBO: 970970

PEARMUND OLD VINE CHARDONNAY MERIWETHER VINEYARD 2018, Fauquier County, Virginia, United States of America

10 Sunday Apr 2022

Posted by in Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: April 9, 2022

LCBO: 21833