Category Archives: Sparkling Wine

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

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES BRUT SPARKLING WINE NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, Niagara-On-The-Lake, Ontario, Canada

26 Sunday May 2019

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

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Cost: $25.95 (Sale price until May 26, 2019: $22.95)
Grape: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-On-The-Lake
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Des Charmes
Alcohol: 12.5 % Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently a stellar performer every year being bright, fresh & zesty

Positives: Light gold with a fine mousse that features brioche, light yeast, toasty apples, lemon-lime, green apples, peach, pear and lemon meringue on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Original tasting review July 24, 2016

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: May 25, 2019

LCBO: 224766

CALVET BRUT CRÉMANT DE BORDEAUX ROSÉ TRADITIONAL METHOD 2016, AOP Bordeaux, France

12 Sunday May 2019

Posted by in Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Cabernet Franc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dulong Calvet
Alcohol: 12 % Alcohol/Vol.

Not complex but it’s pleasant & easy drinking

Positives: Light rosé colour with fine mousse. Wine features strawberries, cherry, light yeast and red apples.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: May 12, 2019

LCBO: 624759

SEGURA VIUDA BRUT RESERVA CAVA, NV, DO Cava, Spain

07 Sunday Apr 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $15.95
Grape: Macabeo, Parellada, Xarel-lo
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Cava
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Segura Viudas
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Fruit, freshness & complexity

Positives: Bright gold in colour with a fine mousse and a long creamy finish. The wine features toasty yeasty notes with lemon, green & yellow apples, pineapple, kiwi, pear, peach and macadamia nuts.

Negatives: None

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: April 7, 2019

LCBO: 216960

BELCANTO DI BELLUSSI EXTRA DRY PROSECCO DI VALDOBBIADENE SUPERIORE, NV, DOCG Valdobbiadene, Treviso, Veneto, Italy

02 Tuesday Apr 2019

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Cost: $21.95 (Clearance Price: $17.60)
Grape: Glera
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Valdobbiadene, Treviso, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bellusi
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

This easy drinking Prosecco delivers with full flavour and some added complexity

Positives: Bright straw in colour with a fine mousse and a long finish. Wine features peach, pear, orange, green apples, lemon, yellow plum and clay on the finish.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The Valdobbiadene area is widely considered to be the home of the finest quality Prosecco.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 2-4 years on its own or pair it with Grana Padano cheese.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy and Top Pick

Tasted: April 2, 2019

LCBO: 53215

FLAT ROCK CELLARS 2011 RIDDLED, Traditional Champenoise method, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario, Canada

31 Sunday Mar 2019

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

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Cost: $34.95 (Clearance Price: $24.50)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Region, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A vintage Blanc de Blanc that is complex, elegant, creamy & delicious

Positives: Bright gold in colour with a fine mousse and a long finish. Wine features brioche, light yeastiness, toasted bread, green apple, pear, lemon, peaches, almonds and Easter lily on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Screw top used in order to maintain the freshness and eliminate the wine being corked.

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick and Best Buy at the clearance price

Tasted: March 31, 2019

LCBO: 383315

JACQUES BRUÉRE BON COURAGE ROSÉ SPARKLING WINE, 2011, Bottled Fermented Brut, Roberston, South Africa

10 Sunday Mar 2019

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Cost: $24.95
Grape: Cabernet Sauvignon
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Roberston
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bon Courage Estate
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A Blanc de Noir sparkling wine that’s is elegant, delicious with flavours nicely integrating with it each other and having good acidity

Positives: Cooper in colour with fine mousse. Wine features light toast, brioche, strawberry, cherry, pink grapefruit and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 1) I bought the wine because I liked the bottle & label; very elegant 2) On the label it list grapes Pinot Noir & Chardonnay, however on the wineries web site, and on the LCBO site, only grape used is Pinot Noir.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with seafood based canapés.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy and Top Pick

Tasted: March 10, 2019

LCBO: 630855

MAGNOTTA FLEUR D’OR NV, VQA Ontario, Canada

24 Sunday Feb 2019

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

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Cost: $25.15
Grape: Riesling, Vidal
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An off-dry sparkling that is well balanced, has substance & easy to drink

Positives: Yellow gold in colour with fine mousse, which features lemon zest, yellow apples, pineapple, peach and pear.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 1) I do like the gold bottle with the elongated neck, 2) The new Venture Series sparkling in the LCBOs is now $1 more, so I recommend you can go to the Magnotta stores.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple years on its own or pair it with strawberries

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 24, 2019

STREWN SPARKLER NV, VQA Ontario, Canada

17 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Highly Recommended, Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $24.00
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Strewn Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A delightful crisp & refreshing sparkling wine made in the Sancerre style rather than NZ

Positives: Pale yellow with a green tinge and fine mousse featuring light yeastiness, lemon/lime, pear, green apples, pink grapefruit, flint and limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Made in the Cuvé Close (Charmat) method

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

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: February 17, 2019

DUFOULEUR PÈRE & FILS BRUT CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, Aoc à Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy, France

10 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Aligoté
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: à Nuits-Saint-Georges, Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Dufouleur Pere & Fils
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple yet pleasant sparkling wine made in the traditional method

Positives: Pale gold in colour with fine mousse that features light yeast & buttered toast, lemon, peach, pear and Spy apples.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 3-5 of years on its own or pair it with strawberries

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: February 10, 2019

LCBO: 631762

HAUTE COUTURE FRENCH BUBBLES BLANC NV, Méthode Traditionnelle , France

10 Sunday Feb 2019

Posted by in Not Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price: $20.00)
Grape: unknown
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: France
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Haute Couture Bubbles
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple wine made for those that like sweetness in their sparkling wine and none of the yeastiness

Positives: Gold in colour with average mousse that features peach, pear and golden apples

Negatives: Not worth the price

Interesting Point: More like a Prosecco rather than a sparkling wine made in the traditional method.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next couple of years

My Opinion: Not Recommended

Tasted: February 10, 2019

LCBO: 617258