Category Archives: Sparkling Wine

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

ANTECH HÉRITAGE CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX BRUT MILLÉSIMÉ 2011, Limoux, Languedoc-Roussillon, France

07 Sunday Dec 2014

Posted by in Non LCBO Wine, Sparkling Wine

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Antech

Cost: $25.95 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: 60% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin, 10% Mauzac, 10% Pinot
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Blackbeard’s, Cayman Islands
Country: France
Region: Languedoc-Roussillon
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Antech Limoux
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking sparkling that is very well balanced

Description: Straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This sparkling wine features lemon, pink grapefruit, ginger and honeydew melon. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: If you like Ginger Ale, you should like this

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with maple smoked bacon.

Tasted: 7 Dec 2014

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

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

13th STREET CUVÉE ROSÉ SPARKLING WINE NV, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

23 Sunday Nov 2014

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Rosés, Sparkling Wine, Winery Review Series

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13 Street

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: 55% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

It’s not a full flavour sparkler but still pleasant

Description: Rustic red brick in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features cherry, pomegranate, dried strawberry, pink grapefruit and a light yeastiness to it. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: The first bottle I had to return as it was oxidized and lactic

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with roasted salmon with shallot grapefruit sauce.

Tasted: 16 Nov 2014

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

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

LCBO: 147504

TREVERI BLANC DE BLANC EXTRA BRUT NV, Mèthode Champenoise, Columbia Valley, Washington State, United States

20 Thursday Nov 2014

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

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Treveri

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: White grapes
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Columbia Valley, Washington State
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Treveri Cellars
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

Easy drinking sparkling wine that has a nice flavour to it

Description: Gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. This wine features light toasted oak, brioche, grapefruit, lemon, honeydew melon, passion fruit, guava and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

  • “The name “Treveri” comes from the historic name of the city Trier, Germany, one of the former seats of the Roman Empire.” trevericellars.com. The coin on the label is of Constantine’s era coin in which thousands were discovered in the city the 1980s after they were discovered when repairing an old bridge.
  • No dosage was added to the wine.
  • Treveri Cellars specializes in making only sparkling wines.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Eggs Benedict

Tasted: 9 Nov 2014 (Happy birthday to my cousin; Birute)

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 17.5+/20

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

LCBO: 383844

13th STREET PREMIER CUVÉE 2008, Méthode Traditionnelle, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

13 Monday Oct 2014

Posted by in 13th Street Winery, Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine, Winery Review Series

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13 street cuvee

Cost: $34.95 (Clearance: $24.50)
Grape Variety: 51% Pinot Noir, 49% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: 13th Street Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Consistently a quality Ontario sparkling wine

Description: Straw in colour with a medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This wine features mild toast, Easter Lily, lemon drops, ginger, pink grapefruit, green apples and limestone. Medium to medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: Although this sparkling wine has been aged three years and made in the traditional method, not a lot of yeast and brioche notes, which should please those that want quality Champagne style but don’t like those notes.

Drink now or in the next 5 years on its own or pair it with delicate cow’s milk cheeses

Tasted: 5 Oct 2014

Best Buy at the clearance price

Score: 9/10, Value: 8.5+/10 (Clearance price: 9+/10), Total: 18/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 142679

CHÂTEAU DES CHARMES ESTATE BOTTLED SPARKLING ROSÉ 2010, VQA Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada

04 Saturday Oct 2014

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Chateau Des Charmes Rose

Cost: $28.95 (Clearance Price: $23.75)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay and Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling wine Méthod
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Château Des Charmes
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A simply delightful sparkling wine, which is not surprising from Château Des Charmes

Description: Salmon in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This sparkling wine features brioche, yeast, strawberry, raspberry, nectarines, clementines and Cambozola. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: In experimenting with different Champagne/Sparkling wine glasses, the thinner, longer style ones gave this sparkler a sharper note that may not be inviting to some pallets.

Interesting Note: Bottle fermented and aged on sur lie (on the yeast) for two to three years

Drink now or in the next 3 years or pair with Smoked Salmon Bruschetta.

Tasted: 28 Sept 2014

Best Buy on sale price

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 78055

BRUT EXCELLENCE DE CHANCENY VOUVRAY 2011, Méthode Traditionnelle, Ac Vouvray, France

19 Friday Sep 2014

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Brut Excellence

Cost: $25.99 Cayman Islands
Grape Variety: Chenin Blanc
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: Blackbeard’s
Country: France
Region: Vouvray, Loire Valley
Format: 750 mL
Producer: De Chanceny
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

An easy drinking sparkling wine that I would love to drink on a regular basis

Description: Bright gold in colour with a medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse. This creamy and smooth sparkling wine features peaches, lemon lime, tangerines, candied fruit and macadamia nuts on the nose. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Note: I love the shape of the bottle

Drink now or in the next 5-7 years on its own or pair it with Red Snapper Thai Ceviche

Tasted: 19 Sept 2014

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9+/10, Total: 18.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4+

MAGNOTTA CRACKLING GAMAY ROSÉ NV, Charmat Method, VQA, Ontario, Canada

14 Sunday Sep 2014

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Magnotta Gamay

Cost: $10.15 (Sale price September 2014: $8.15)
Grape Variety: Gamay Noir
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta
Alcohol: 11.9% Alcohol/Vol.

An off dry spritzer that’s a really nice wine to bring to a party

Description: Deep ruby in colour with a low intense nose and creamy mousse. The simple but flavourful wine features strawberry and cherry. Medium+ body with good acidity and an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with Cayman Style Ceviche (Fresh Snapper, Vinegar, Lime Juice, Tomato, Red Onion, Cilantro & Scotch Bonnet)

Tasted: 11 Sept 2014

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9/10 (Sale price 10/10) Total: 17.5+/20

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

DR. LOOSEN RIESLING SEKT NV, Charmat Method, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany

07 Sunday Sep 2014

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Dr Loosen Sparkling

Cost: $14.95
Grape Variety: Riesling
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Germany
Region: Mosel-Saar-Ruwer
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Loosen Brothers
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.

A simple but flavourful off dry & easy drinking sparkling that’s nice to drink

Description: Gold in colour with a medium intense nose and a fine mousse. This wine features peach, lime, honeydew melon and Kiwi. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Points: This year’s version is so much better than last years.

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with caviar topped poached eggs on a bed of wilted greens.

Tasted: 31 Aug 2014 (Happy Birthday to my friend Dave whom I’ve known for 44 yrs)

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

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

LCBO: 296095

MAGNOTTA VIDAL CLASSIC 2013, Charmat Method, VQA Ontario, Canada

21 Thursday Aug 2014

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

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Magnotta Vidal

Cost: $9.15
Grape Variety: Vidal
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Wines
Alcohol: 12.1% Alcohol/Vol.

A Spumante but with a bit more oomph

Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and a creamy mousse. This simple but flavorful wine features Anjou pears, Spy apples, orange and honeydew melon. Full body with good acidity and a good long length

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or add orange or peach juice.

Tasted: 18 Aug 2014

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 9/10 Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

MIRABELLE BRUT ROSÉ NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, California, United States

17 Sunday Aug 2014

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Mirabelle

Cost: $38.95 (Clearance price $27.30)
Grape Variety: 58% Chardonnay, 42% Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: California
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Schramsberg
Alcohol: 12.8% Alcohol/Vol.

At the clearance price it’s worth buying it

Description: Light copper in colour with medium+ intense nose and fine mousse. A simple sparkling wine featuring yeast, brioche, cherry, wild raspberry and lemongrass. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length

Negatives: None

Drink now or in the next 2 years on its own or pair it with sweet potato fries.

Tasted: 13 Aug 2014

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8/10 (Clearance Price: 8.5+/10) Total: 16.5+/20

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

LCBO: 329813