Category Archives: Sparkling Wine

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

HUNGARIA GRAND CUVÉE BRUT NV, Traditional Method, Hungary

28 Thursday Nov 2013

Posted by in Amazing Buys, Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Hungaria_Grande_Cuv_e_Kanada_web

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Hungary
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Hungaria Sparkling Wine Cellars
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw with a light yellow in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse.

Originally tested Aug 2011 and still the best traditional method sparkling wine for under $13

Positives: This wine features green and yellow apples, lemon/lime, peach, pear and light yeast. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with Chris De La Rosa’s, via Go Cooking, Caribbean coconut shrimp bisque.

Tasted: 26 Nov 2013

Amazing & Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 19+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO: 619288

ROEDERER ESTATE BRUT ROSÉ NV, Anderson Valley, Mendocino County, California, United States

03 Sunday Nov 2013

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Rod

Cost: $35.95
Grape Variety: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: United States
Region: Anderson Valley, Mendocino County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Maisons Marques & Domaines
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light turmeric in colour with a medium intense nose.

I like it, but not at the price point. Their regular sparkling is far superior.

Positives: This sparkling wine made in the traditional method shows yeast, crab apples, grapefruit, roasted garlic, cantaloupe, green papaya and flint. Medium body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Minimum two years on the yeast

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with prosciutto arugula flat bread pizza.

Tasted: 3 Nov 2013

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO: 479758

CARPENÈ MALVOLTI CUVÉE BRUT PROSECCO SUPERIORE NV, DOCG Conegliano Valdobbiadene, Veneto, Italy

14 Saturday Sep 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Prosecco

Cost: $15.95
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages
Country: Italy
Region: Conegliano Valdobbiadene, Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Carpenè Malvolti
Alcohol: 11% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and a fine mousse.

Easy drinking Prosecco that’s DOCG and well priced. Can’t go wrong with this one.

Positives: This sparkling wine features pear, apple, pistachio, peach and limestone. Medium minus body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The winery was started in 1868 by Antonio Carpenè producing his Prosecco.

Drink now or over the next year on its own or pair it with ceviche.

Tasted: 14 Sept 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18.5/20

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

LCBO: 727438

ARTADI BRUT 2007 CAVA, Traditional Method, Álava, Laguardia, Spain

04 Wednesday Sep 2013

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

≈ Leave a comment


Artadi

Cost: $24.95 (Clearance: $18.75)
Grape Variety: Viura
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages Private Import
Country: Spain
Region: Álava, Laguardia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Artadi Winery
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.

A unique experience and a rare find in Ontario — this Spanish sparkling made out of the Viura grape which also taste’s like a vintage Champagne at 1/3 of the price.

Positives: This sparkling wine features yeast, brioche, baked apples, lemon candy, peach, pear and limestone. Medium+ body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Only available at Crossroads LCBO (Weston & 401)

Drink now or over the next 10 years on its own or pair it with cavair.

Tasted: 3 Sep 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9/10 (Clearance price: 9.5/10) Total: 18+/20

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

MAGNOTTA BLANC DE BLANCS 2011 SPARKLING WINE, Traditional Method, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

30 Friday Aug 2013

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

≈ Leave a comment


d_swbldeblanc

Cost: $17.15 ($16.95+deposit)
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Magnotta Winery
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 14.1% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Bright straw in colour with a medium intense nose and fine mousse.

What a nice surprise to have a quality sparkling wine in the traditional method at under $20

Positives: Full flavoured, well balanced and easy drinking sparkling wine features lemon, green & golden apple, pear, light yeast & brioche and limestone on the finish. Medium+ body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Unusual to see a sparkling with about 14% alcohol.

Drink now or over the next 5 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops on a bed of cooked spinach & mustard greens.

Tasted: 27 Aug 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 19/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

KAIKEN BRUT NV, Traditional Method, Mendoza, Argentina

12 Monday Aug 2013

Posted by in Best Buys, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Kaiken Brut

Cost: $14.05
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintages Consignment
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Kaiken Winery
Alcohol: 12.4% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with a medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.

Nice to get quality sparkling wine similar to Champagne and yet only pay a quarter of the price.

Positives: This sparkling wine features lemon, yeast, brioche, baked apples, pears, green apples, almonds and limestone. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: Over two years aged in bottle

Drink now or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with seared scallops with angel hair pasta tossed in olive oil, nutmeg, and basil and tomato.

Tasted: 11 Aug 2013

Best Buy

Score: 9/10, Value: 10/10 Total: 19/20

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

TRIUS BRUT NV, Méthode Classique, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Canada

24 Wednesday Jul 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Trius Brut

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Andre Wines
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pale gold in colour with medium to medium+ intense nose and fine mousse.

A solid Ontario sparkling wine.

Positives: This sparkling features lemon/lime, brioche, baked apples, pear, toasted almonds & grapefruit. Medium body with good acidity a good length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with squash or pumpkin soup.

Tasted: 11 July 2013  (Happy Birthday Mom)

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

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

LCBO: 284539

MAGNOTTA BRUT 2011, Charmat Method, VQA, Ontario, Canada

18 Tuesday Jun 2013

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

≈ Leave a comment


Magnotta Brut

Cost: $11.15
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Winery or Magnotta Stores
Country: Canada
Region: Ontario
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Magnotta Winery
Alcohol: 12.9% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw in colour with fine mousse and a medium intense nose.

If you’re looking for an easy drinking sparkling wine but don’t like the yeasty/baked apples of Champagne, yet want more flavor than a Prosecco, then you should really like/love this sparkling.

Positives: This simple sparkling wine features a nice mix of apple, light lemon, pear and honeydew melon. Medium body with good acidity an average length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on its own or pair it with an omelet that has some spice in it.

Tasted: 10 June 13

Best Buy

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 9.5/10 Total: 18+/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE ROSÉ BRUT NV, Traditional Methode, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario, Canada

19 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


cc-rose-brut

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir & Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry of Pelham
Alcohol: 12% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Red snapper in colour with a fine mousse and medium+ nose.

A true quality sparkling that is a good substitute for Champagne rosé

Positives: A complex wine featuring brioche, baked apple, yeast, raspberry, strawberry, cranberry, rhubarb and chalk. Full body with good acidity and a long length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Notes: “The grapes were hand picked and bunch selected followed by a gentle whole cluster pressing. The secondary fermentation was finished in this bottle followed by a further 30 months.” (Winemaker’s notes)

Drink now on or over the next 3 years on its own or pair it with caviar.

Tasted: 19 May 13

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

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

LCBO: 217505

GLORIA FERRER VA DE VI ULTRA CUVÉE NV, Méthode Champenoise Sonoma County, California

12 Sunday May 2013

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


GF-VA-de-VI-new-134x245

Cost: $25.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay with a trace of Muscat
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO Vintage
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Goria Ferrer Winery
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw with a cooper tinge in colour, full mousse and an intense nose.

Positives: A slightly sweet dosage makes this an easy drinking sparkling wine from premier California sparkling producer features baked apple, lemon, Asian pear, peach and pink grapefruit on the finish. Medium body with good acidity and a fairly long length.

Negatives: None

Drink now on or over the next 2 years on its own or pair it with spicy pork sausage.

Tasted: 12 May 13

Score: 8.5+/10, Value: 8.5/10 (Clearance price 9/10) Total: 17+/20

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

LCBO: 200790