Category Archives: Sparkling Wine

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

ELYSSIA GRAN CUVÉE BRUT CAVA NV, Traditional Method, Do Spain

07 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $19.95
Grape: Chardonnay, Macabeo, Parellada, Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

An excellent substitute for Champagne style wines but at substantial lower price.

Positives: Nice complexity from of the yeast, brioche, apples, pear, pineapple and almonds. Good acidity with a medium+ body.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 3-5 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: February 25, 2018

LCBO: 392548

ELYSSIA ROSÉ BRUT CAVA NV, Spain

06 Thursday Dec 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Highly Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $33.75 (Comes only in a gift box with Elyssia Brut Cava)
Grape: Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: Spain
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

One of the best rosé cava’s I’ve tried

Positives: Full flavoured with red berries that finishes dry.

Negatives: Unable to buy separately

Ageability: Drink now or in the next 5-7 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: March 4, 2018

LCBO: 517664

CRÉMANT DE BOURGAGNE BAILLY-LAPIERRE CHARDONNAY BLANC DE BLANC BRUT, TRADITIONAL METHODE, NV, Burgundy, France

03 Monday Dec 2018

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Cost: $24.95 (Clearance price: $20)
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Burgundy
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Caves de Bailly
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Classic Blanc de Blanc Champagne style at half the price.

Positives: Full flavoured with yeast, Anjou pear, lemon, biscotti, green apples, roasted almonds.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 7-10 years.

Best Buy

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Tasted: April 8, 2018

LCBO: 369066

LOUIS BOUILLOT PERLE NOIRE BLANC DE NOIRS BRUT MÉTHODE TRADITIONNALLE NV, Bourgogne, France

28 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Recommended, Sparkling Wine

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Cost: $17.15
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 under $18, hard to say no to this sparkler.

Positives: A lighter style Blanc de Noir featuring a fine mousse, baked apples, lemon, pear, limestone and spice.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 years.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best buy

Tasted: June 6, 2018

LCBO: 464776

GRAHAM BECK PREMIER CUVÉE BRUT BLANC DE BLANC TRADITIONAL METHOD 2013, Robertson, South Africa

27 Tuesday Nov 2018

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

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Cost: $26.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Robertson
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Graham Beck
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Champagne style sparkler with great value for a vintage Blanc de Blanc

Positives: Fine mousse with taste of brioche, lemon peel, golden apple, pear, apricot and white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: August 11, 2018

LCBO: 907568

13th STREET WINERY PREMIER CUVÉE BRUT NATURE 2012, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

25 Sunday Nov 2018

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: 50% Pinot Noir, 50% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

An impressive and delicious Champagne style sparkling at half the price.

Positives: Full body, bone dry with lively acidity, a fine mousse and a long finish. Featuring brioche, green and yellow apples, Anjou pear, toasted pineapple, lemon-lime, limestone and gently oxidative. Pair this with shucked oysters.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: No dosage, 2nd fermentation in the bottle and aged sur lattes (en tirage) for a minimum 48 months.

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 25, 2018

CAVE DE LUGNY CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE BRUT BLANC DE BLANC NV, Traditional Method, Ac Burgundy, France

21 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Burgundy, Mâconnais, Lugny
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Cave De Lugny
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Besides being yummy, it’s also delicious. Lighter style, easy to drink, but full of flavour. Get a true Bourgogne Blanc de Blanc at half to three times less in price than those made in the Champagne region.

Positives: Fine mousse with taste of brioche, buttered toast, lemon, pink grapefruit, green apples, hazelnut, pear and white flowers on the nose.

Negatives: None

Ageability: Drink now or over the next 5-7 of years.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick, Best Buy

Tasted: August 19, 2018

LCBO: 460865

CAVE DE HOEN MAUSBERB BLANC DE BLANC BRUT CRÉMANT D’ALSACE NV, Methode Traditionnelle, AOC Alsace, France

14 Monday Aug 2017

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Cost: $17.95
Grape: Alsatian White Grapes
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Sica Baron De Hoen
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple but elegant

Description: Light straw in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features light yeast, brioche, white peach, green apples, pears and white flowers on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage.

Tasted: 13 Aug 2017

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5+/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5+

LCBO: 171785

VIENI CLASSIC BRUT 2013, VQA Ontario, Canada

03 Monday Jul 2017

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

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Cost: $22.95 (On sale: $19.95)
Grape: 60% Chardonnay, 24% Pinot Noir, 16% Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vieni
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp & dry with complexity

Description: Straw with bronze tinge in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This wine features yeast, lemon, green apples, pear, Honeydew Melon, Brazilian nuts, ginger, rose petals on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Champagne grapes but made in Charmat method.

Thanks to Suzie who was a gracious host to me at the winery.

Drink now or in the next 5-7 of years on its own or pair it with Pistachio-Crusted Scallops served with Linguine and olive oil garlic sauce.

Tasted: 2 July 2017

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price: 9+/10) Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

CANADA 150 EXTRA DRY RED SPARKLING WINE CHARMAT METHOD, NV, VQA Ontario, Canada

03 Monday Jul 2017

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

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: 44% Pinot Noir, 30% Baco Noir, 26% Pinot Meunier
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vieni
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple but full flavoured, delicious sparkler that is a hidden Canadian treasure

Description: Dark ruby in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose. This wine features black cherry, strawberry, raspberry and purple lilacs on the nose. Medium body with light tannin, good acidity and a good length.

Negatives: None

Thanks to Suzie who was a gracious host to me at the winery.

Drink now or in the next 3-4 of years on its own or pair it with Braised Rabbit served with a Sage, Rosemary and Black Cherry reduction.

Tasted: 1 July 2017 (Happy 150th Canada: congrats to my cousin-in-law, Kerry for becoming a Canadian citizen today!)

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9+/10 Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4