Category Archives: Sparkling Wine

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

13th STREET WINERY GAMAY BLANC DE NOIR 2017, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

24 Tuesday Sep 2019

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $34.95
Grape: Gamay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Clean, finesse & elegance, a true delight

Positives: Light gold in colour with a fine mousse. This wine features lemon/lime, strawberry, Rainier cherries, light dough, almonds and honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 13th Street has become the quintessential winery in Canada for making the highest quality of sparkling wines thanks to winery maker Jean Pierre Colas.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Thanksgiving turkey.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 22, 2019

13th STREET WINERY GRAND CUVÉE BLANC DE NOIR 2013, Méthode Tradionnelle, VQA Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario, Canada

03 Tuesday Sep 2019

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding, Winery Review Series

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Cost: $59.95
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Creek Shores, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Finesse, complexity, richness and freshness. It’s simply delicious, maybe Canada’s best Blanc de Noir

Positives: Gold with pink tinge in colour with a fine mousse. The wine features light brioche & toast, lemon, apples, pear, white cranberry, white cherry and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Another winner by winemaker Jean Pierre.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with grilled cheese.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: September 1, 2019 (Pre-release date to public)

HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE CARTE BLANCHE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANC 2013, Traditional Method, VQA Short Hills, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

25 Sunday Aug 2019

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

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Cost: $49.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Short Hills Bench, Niagara, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol:  12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A high-quality Canadian Blanc de Blanc in a Champagne style with a Champagne price

Positives: Golden apple in colour with a fine mousse. The wine features brioche, toast, lemon, apple pie, pear, honey, hazelnut, limestone with an oxidative nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Picked by hand on the estate and matured in the bottle on the lees for 60 months.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with caviar.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: August 25, 2019

LCBO: 315200

KRONE ROSÉ BRUT 2017, Méthode Cap Classique, Tulbagh, Western Cape, South Africa

18 Sunday Aug 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: 85% Pinot Noir, 15% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Tulbagh, Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Twee Jonge Gezellen
Alcohol:  11.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

For those that like vintage Champagne rosés but cost 75% less

Positives: Dark salmon to rust in colour with a fine mousse. Wine features yeast, toasted hazelnut, brioche, strawberry, cherry, nectarine and red apples.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The historic Twee Jonge Gezellen farm in Tulbagh is the home of Krone, a collection of notable, vintage-only South African Méthode Cap Classiques made from grapes grown and night-harvested in this distinctive terroir.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with maple flavoured bacon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 18, 2019

LCBO: 130047

RIDGEVIEW BLOOMSBURY ENGLISH SPARKLING WINE 2014, Sussex, England

29 Monday Jul 2019

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

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Cost: $50 US
Grape: 58% Chardonnay, 28% Pinot Noir, 14% Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Jacques Scott, Cayman Islands
Country: England
Region:Sussex
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Ridgeview
Alcohol: 12 % Alcohol/Vol.

A delightful creamy Champagne style from England

Positives: A light golden colour with a fine mousse that features brioche, toasted buttered bread, peach, lemon, kiwi, green & golden apples, honey and macadamia nut cookie

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Beringer Bros. Chardonnay is picked at the peak of flavour development from top sites across California and fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks with 25% malolactic fermentation. 20% of the wine is aged for 60 days in second-pass charred American Oak barriques, which previously held Bourbon.

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: July 25, 2019

NIAGARA COLLEGE TEACHING WINERY BALANCED BLANC DE BLANC BRUT 2014, Traditional Method, VQA St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

23 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Non LCBO Wine, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $27.15
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: St. David’s Bench, Niagara Region
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery
Alcohol: 12.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

Clean, dry but refreshing with cool climate flavours

Positives: Light gold in colour with a fine mousse that features light brioche, lemon, green apples, pear, grapefruit & dragon fruit.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with baked brie and strawberry jam.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: June 23, 2019

CHAPEL DOWN CLASSIC NON-VINTAGE BRUT, TRADITIONAL BOTTLE FERMENTED, NV, Tenterden, England

22 Saturday Jun 2019

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

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Cost: $49.00
Grape: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: England
Region: Tenterden
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Chapel Down
Alcohol: 12.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

An elegant English sparkling wine that is a treat at the LCBO stores now, and worth the price

Positives: Light gold in with a fine mousse that features brioche, buttered toast, fresh baked bread, lemon, red apples, lemon grass, quince, English cucumber, strawberry and rose pedals on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Need to thank my daughter, Sarah, for this wine being my Father’s Day present.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with President Choice Maple flavoured bacon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: June 22, 2019

LCBO: 635185

RIVAROSE BRUT SPARKLING ROSÉ NV, IGP Salon De Provence, Mediterranee, Provence, France

22 Saturday Jun 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Rosés, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: 50% Grenache, %50 Syrah
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Salon De Provence, Mediterranee, Provence
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Rivarose
Alcohol: 12.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

Refreshing Provence sparkling rosé that glides easily over the palate

Positives: Rose gold in with a fine mousse that features raspberry, pink grapefruit, nectarine, honey and almond nugget.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Established in 1909, Rivarose is situated in Salon De Provence, and is now Provence’s oldest and largest producer in sparkling wines.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with omelette.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 22, 2019

LCBO: 515288

PONGRÁZ CAP CLASSIQUE ROSÉ BRUIT NV, WO Western Cape, South Africa

08 Saturday Jun 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Rosés, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $18.95
Grape: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: White Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave de Pongráz
Alcohol: 12.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best  traditional method rosés under $30, & this wine is under $20!. It’s an almost bone dry rosé with wonderful red berries & classic brioche

Positives: Copper in colour with a fine mousse. Wine features brioche, biscuit, raspberries, strawberries, dragon fruit and kiwi.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Original tasting review July 24, 2016

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with calamari.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 8, 2019

LCBO: 646968

 

ANTECH-LIMOUX EXPRESSION CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX BRUT 2015, Traditional Method, AC Limoux, Languedoc, France

02 Sunday Jun 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay, Chenin Blanc, Mauzac
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Limoux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Antech-Limoux
Alcohol: 12.0 % Alcohol/Vol.

This pleasant vintage Blanc de Blanc is complex, creamy, fresh & clean

Positives: Light gold a green tinge with a fine mousse. Wine features light yeast, brioche, lemon-lime, honeydew melon, green apples, Spy Apple & Napoleon Custard.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with blackened Mahi Mahi.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: June 2, 2019

LCBO: 68239