Category Archives: Sparkling Wine

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

ANGELS GATE ARCHANGEL BRUT CHARDONNAY SPARKLING 2010, Méthode Traditonnelle, VQA Niagara Peninsula

14 Sunday Oct 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Angels Gate Archangel Chardonnay Brut 2010, Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Nigagara Penisula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Angels Gate Winery
Alcohol: 12.0 %
Description: Pale straw in colour with fine mousse and medium intensity on the nose

Positives: A simple sparkler featuring lemon lime, quince and light toastiness.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: The LCBO will have this sparkler on sale a couple of times throughout the year.

Drink now on its own or pair it with Sunday Brunch.

Tasted: 14 Oct 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO# 227009

DOMAINE FRANÇOIS SCHWACH BLANC DE BLANCS BRUT CRÉMANT D’ALSACE 2007, Méthod Traditionnelle, AC Alsace, France

20 Thursday Sep 2012

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


François Schwach Le Crémant Blanc De Blancs 2007, Ac Alsace Bottle

Cost: $18.95
Grape Variety: Pinot Blanc, Auxerrois, Pinot Gris and Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: France
Region: Alsace
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Domaine Francois Schwach
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with medium mousse & medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Not a complex sparkling, but very pleasant & easy going that will benefit  those that don’t like the yeasty, heavier champagne style. The wine features peach, honeydew melon, apple, lemon zest & nectarines. Lighter style with medium+ acidity & medium length.

Negatives: A touch watery.

Drink now on its own or pair it with eggs Benedict.

Tasted: 16 Sept 12

Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3

LCBO#: 268060

HENRY OF PELHAM CUVÉE CATHARINE BRUT SPARKLING WINE NV, MÉTHODE TRADITIONNELLE, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Ontario

08 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Henry Of Pelham Cuvée Catharine Brut, VQA Niagara Peninsula Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara Peninsula
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Henry Of Pelham Family Est. Winery
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light straw in colour with fine mousse & medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: If my best buy category was for under $30, this sparkling would definitely be one. Side note: Some LCBOs have this in clearance for $24.95, which does make it a best buy. This sparkling is easy to drink & features brioche, yeast, baked apples, lemon custard & stone fruit. Medium to medium minus in body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Drink now on its own or pair it with red Lumpfish caviar.

Tasted: 7 Sept 12

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

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

LCBO#: 217521

SUMAC RIDGE TRIBUTE SPARKLING WINE PRIVATE RESERVE, MÉTHODE CLASSIQUE (Blanc de Blanc) NV, VQA Okanagan, British Columbia

08 Saturday Sep 2012

Posted by in Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Sumac Ridge Tribute, VQA Okanagan Valley, British Columbia Bottle

Cost: $29.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: Canada
Region: Okanagan
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vincor International Inc. – B.C.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Straw to gold in colour with fine mousse & a medium intense nose.

Positives: This sparkling can compete with Champagne at the $40-50 price range. This sparkling features green apples, lemon/lime, some yeast, pear & peach. Medium body with good acidity & a fairly long length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: I was able to pick up this sparkling at 30% off at an LCBO store, which would make it a best but.

Drink now on its own or have it with Sunday brunch.

Tasted: 2 Sept 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 169508

FRANCIS COPPOLA SOFIA BLANC DE BLANCS SPARKLING WINE 2011, Monterey, California

27 Monday Aug 2012

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Francis Coppola Sofia Blanc De Blancs Sparkling Wine 2011, Monterey County, California Bottle

Cost: $19.95
Grape Variety: 86% Pinot Blanc, 12% Muscat, 2% Riesling
Category: Sparkling Wine
Where Bought: LCBO VINTAGES
Country: USA
Region: Monterey
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Francis Ford Coppola Pres Rosso & B
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Light gold in colour with highly intense nose.

Positives: A simple sparkling wine featuring pineapple, melon, cantaloupe, grapefruit & a perfume nose. Light body with good acidity & average length.

Negatives: A touch sour on the finish.

Interesting Point: Francis Ford Coppola’s Sophia line all have pretty labels & this also comes dressed in a light pink plastic wrap which makes it an eloquent way to bring this to someone’s home.

Drink now on its own or pair it with bacon or any cured meat.

Tasted: 26 Aug 12, Score: 8.5/10, Value: 8.5/10, Total: 17/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO: 128314

SANTA ANA SPARKLING EXTRA BRUT NV, Maipú, Argentina

11 Saturday Aug 2012

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

≈ Leave a comment


Cost: $17.99 (Cayman Islands)
Grape Variety: 80% Chardonnay 20% Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Location Bought: Cayman Islands (Blackbeard’s)
Country: Argentina
Region: Cruz de Piedra, Maipú, Mendoza.
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Bodegas Santa Ana
Alcohol: 13% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Yellow in colour with fine mousse & a medium intense nose.

Positives: A delightful sparkling wine featuring lemon, apple, brioche, ginger, English cucumber and pineapple. Medium body, good acidity and a medium length.

Negatives: A slight wateriness is detected.

Interesting Things: A very good sparkling made in the Charmat method & 120 days under sur lie.

Drink now on its own or pair it with cheddar cheese flavoured sourdough hard pretzels.

Tasted: 11 Aug 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4+

GLORIA FERRER BRUT ROSÉ 2007, Carneros, California

29 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by in Rosés, Sparkling Wine, Top Picks, Price Not Withstanding

≈ Leave a comment


Cost:  $32.39 (KYD)
Grape Variety: Pinot Noir, Chardonnay
Category:  Sparkling Wine
Appellation:  Cayman Islands
Country:  United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 ml
Producer:  Gloria Ferrer
Alcohol: 12.5%

Description: Light copper colour with full mousse and medium intense nose.

Positives: Full flavoured sparkling featuring strawberry, cranberry, lemon, clementine, brioche and some minerality.

Negatives: None 

Drink now on its own or pair it with cheese, tomato omelette with clementines on the side.

 Interesting Things: Made in méthode Champenoise.

Tasted: 29 July 12

Top Pick 

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine 4.5

 

BOTTEGA ROSE VINO DEI POETI SPARKLING, Veneto, Italy

15 Sunday Jul 2012

Posted by in Rosés, Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


Bottega Rose Brut Bottle

Cost: $12.95
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Italy
Region: Venice
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Distilleria Bottega
Alcohol: 11.5 %
Description: Deep salmon colour with fine mousse & a medium+ intense nose.

Positives: A simple easy drinking prosecco rosé featuring strawberry, cherry & lime. Medium body with good acidity & average length.

Negatives: None. Drink on its own well chilled on a hot summers day by water, just bring enough bottles as this will go down quickly.

Tasted: 15 July 12, Score: 8.5/10, Value: 9/10, Total: 17.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 277202

KIWI WALK SPARKLING SAUVIGNON BLANC NV, Marlborough, New Zealand

05 Thursday Jul 2012

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

≈ 2 Comments


 

Kiwi Walk Sparkling Sauvignon Blanc, Marlborough Bottle

Cost: $17.95
Grape Variety: Sauvignon blanc
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: New Zealand
Region: Marlborough
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Yealands Estate Wines Ltd.
Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with frothy mousse & medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: You get the traditional Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc notes of gooseberry, lantana, guava, lime, hay, cucumber, asparagus & chalk. Medium body with good acidity & a surprisingly long length.

Negatives: If you don’t like traditional Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc, you wont care for this one.

Interesting Point: Comes with its own sparkling wine stopper, which is always a bonus. The LCBO just brought this into the general list.

Drink now in its own or pair it with cooked asparagus wrapped in prosciutto.

Tasted: 4 July 12, Happy US Independence Day!

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

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

LCBO#: 270462

YELLOW TAIL BUBBLES ROSE, NV Australia

31 Thursday May 2012

Posted by in Sparkling Wine

≈ Leave a comment


yt bubbles rose

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Semillon, Traminer, Shiraz, Frontignac
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Casella Wines
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Salmon colour with light mousse with medium+ nose.

Positives: Guava, grapefruit, lemon/lime & sour cherry. Medium minus body with good acidity & medium+ length.

Negatives: A little tartness on the finish.

Interesting Point: Simple & clean sparkler, just don’t expect more.

Drink now on its own or pair it with coconut covered scallops.

Tasted: 29 March 2012

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 229047