Category Archives: Sparkling Wine

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

GRAHAM BECK BRUT SPARKLING NV, Western Cape, South Africa

05 Monday Dec 2022

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Cost: $22.95
Grape: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Graham Beck
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Crisp clean, fruit driven dry sparkling wine. Score: 89/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast & toasted bread, lemon zest, peach, Fuji apples, saline, pink grapefruit & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with salt n pepper calamari.

My Opinion: Recommended

Tasted: December 4, 2022

LCBO: 593483

GRAHAM BECK ULTRA BRUT 2016, Méthode Cap Classique, Western Cape, South Africa

28 Monday Nov 2022

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

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Cost: $29.95
Grape: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: South Africa
Region: Western Cape
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Graham Beck
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Quality, complexity, dry but creamy & at under $30, this would best those Blanc de Blancs at $100+. Score: 99/100. My highest score for a Blanc de Blancs.

Tasting Note: Light gold to straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Brioche, yeast, sour dough, lemon, Key lime pie, Jonagold apples, peach, pear, Ataulfo mango, honeydew melon, roasted almonds & shale.

Negatives:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with caviar.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick

Tasted: November 27, 2022

LCBO: 435453

ANTECH CUVÉE EUGÉNIE BRUT CRÉMANT DE LIMOUX 2018, AC Limoux, Languedoc, France

17 Thursday Nov 2022

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Cost: $23.95
Grape: 70% Chardonnay, 20% Chenin, 10% Mauzac
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Limoux, Languedoc
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Maison Antech
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

One of my favourite Limouxs. Fresh, clean & creamy. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast, brioche, green apples, honeydew melon, white peach, limestone, & honeysuckle on the nose.

Negatives:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3 – 5 years on its own or pair it with Spanish omelette.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: November 10, 2022

LCBO: 25367

CAVE DE RIBEAUVILLÉ GIERSBERGER BRUT, NV, Champenoise Tradition, AC Crêmant d’Alsace, France

08 Tuesday Nov 2022

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Cost: $21.95 (Clearance Price: $15.40)
Grape: 80% Pinot Blanc, 20 % Auxerrois
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Cave de Ribeauville
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A nice dry sparkling wine with crispness & flavour. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Sourdough bread, lemon zest, green apples, pear & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Vineyard on hillsides entirely harvested by hand on the famous geological fault of Ribeauvillé, which offers an incredible diversity of terroirs.
Made in the purest respect of the traditional method with whole harvests and 12 months of aging on slats.”

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 7 years on its own or pair it with salt and pepper calamari.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: November 6, 2022

LCBO: 183624

PIERRE SPARR BRUT ROSÉ, NV, Traditionnelle Méthode, AC Crémant D’Alsace, France

29 Saturday Oct 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: Pierre Sparr
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made Blanc de Noirs that is crisp, dry but having good fruitiness that doesn’t make it too tart. Score: 92/100.

Tasting Note: Pomegranate in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Bing cherry, pomegranate, MacIntosh apples, strawberry, pink grapefruit & crisp mineral notes.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point:

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 5 – 8 years on its own or pair it with tuna tartare.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 28, 2022

LCBO: 39016

STREWN WINERY SPARKLER, SAUVIGNON BLANC, NV, Méthode Cuve Close, VQA Ontario, Canada

17 Monday Oct 2022

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

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Cost: $25.00
Grape: Sauvignon Blanc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Strewn Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

A pleasant surprise for this Charmat method Sauvignon Blanc. Not complex but good quality. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, a medium intense nose & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon/lime, honeydew melon, pink grapefruit, fresh grass & limestone.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Fermented in stainless steel down to dryness. Following stabilization and sterile filtration, the wine base underwent secondary fermentation to 6.5 g/L residual sugar in specialized pressurized tanks followed by battonage.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Devil
Eggs.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: October 16, 2022

PATRIARCHE BRUT ROSÉ CRÉMANT DE BOURGOGNE, NV, Crémant de Bourgogne, France

05 Monday Sep 2022

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Cost: $21.95
Grape: Pinot Noir, Gamay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Crémant de Bourgogne
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Mason Patriarche
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

A very pleasant dry sparkling rosé. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Cooper in colour with fine mouse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yeast, sour dough, wild strawberry, red currants & light ginger.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Vegan, Vegetarian

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Eggs Benedict Royale.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: September 3, 2022

LCBO: 16598

LA FLEUR DE FRANÇOIS BLANC BRUT CRÉMANT DE BORDEAUX, NV, Méthode Traditionnelle, AC Bordeaux, France

28 Sunday Aug 2022

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Cost: $16.95
Grape: Semillon Blend
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Bordeaux
Format: 750 ml
Producer: La Fleur de François
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Food friendly dry sparkling wine at a good price. Score: 88/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mouse, good acidity, low intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light brioche, yeast, lemon, grapefruit, bruised apple, pear, wet stone & limestone.

Negatives: None

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Ackee & Saltfish.

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 28, 2022

LCBO: 648170

SEGURA VIUDAS BRUT ROSÉ, NV, Método Tradicional, DO Cava, Spain

26 Friday Aug 2022

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Cost: $17.00 (Sale price until Sept 11/22: $15.00)
Grape: 40% Trepat, 40% Pinot Noir, 20% Garnacha
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO General List
Country: Spain
Region: Cava
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Segura Viudas
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.

Beautifully made, very appreciable full of fruit with some spice at a great price. Score: 93/100.

Tasting Note: Salmon in colour with fine mouse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Strawberry, cherry, peach, grenadine, redcurrants, cinnamon, cloves & roses on the nose.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: “Ageing time on the lees is less for this rosado than for the rest of our Cavas, since our objective is to retain the primary aromas of the fruit. A minimum of 12 months in contact with the lees will give the Rosado a perfect balance between fruit aromas and complexity. The fruit, naturally, comes from
the grapes, and the complexity from the process of autolysis of the yeasts during the secondary fermentation in bottle, where the personality of the yeasts is transferred to the wine, enriching it in flavours and nuances.” (Winery)

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Mini quiche Lorraine with asparagus and bacon.

My Opinion: Highly Recommended

Top Pick & Best Buy

Tasted: August 25, 2022

LCBO: 16306

PIERRE SPARR BRUT RÉSERVE CRÉMANT D’ALSACE, NV, Methode Traditionnelle, AOC Alsace, France

22 Monday Aug 2022

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Cost: $19.95 (Clearance price: $16.00)
Grape: Pinot Blanc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location: LCBO Vintages
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Pierre Sparr
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.

Simple clean, fruity with minerality. Score: 90/100.

Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, low to medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast & brioche, lemon, green apples, pear, peach cobbler & wet flint rocks.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: 1st review of this sparkling wine was in 2015, and the price was a dollar less, so great for the consumer that in 7 years it’s almost the same price.

Pairings: Drink this now or in the next 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Gyoza

My Opinion: Recommended

Best Buy

Tasted: August 21, 2022

LCBO: 388603