Category Archives: Sparkling Wine

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

FRESITA NV, Patagonia, Chile

18 Friday May 2012

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Fresita Sparkling Wine, Chile Bottle

Cost: $13.95 (on sale $12.95 until 27 May 12)
Grape Variety: Strawberry
Category: Flavoured Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Chile
Region: Patagonia
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Vina Casal De Gorschs
Alcohol: 8.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Beautiful rich strawberry colour with medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Always a favourite of mine featuring the flavour of freshly picked sweet strawberry with soft creamy mousse. Medium body, off-dry, with good acidity, long length & low alcohol.

Negatives: If you don’t like strawberries you won’t like this.

Interesting Points: Fresita means strawberry in Spanish & Patagonia is where strawberries were discovered.  In 1714 it was introduced to the world. LCBO usually has this sparkling on sale several times a year. It also comes in the smaller 200 ml bottles.

Nice to drink anytime. Drink now on its own, great for parties, or pair it with spicy food.

Tasted: 18 May 12

Amazing Buy

Score: 9.5/10, Value:10/10, Total: 19.5/20

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO#: 56697

CHATEAU DES CHARMES BRUT METHODE TRADITIONELLE NV, VQA, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario

15 Tuesday May 2012

Posted by in Best Buys, Canadian Wines, Sparkling Wine

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CHATEAU DES CHARMES BRUT METHODE TRADITIONELLE VQA

Cost: $22.95 (on sale: $20.95)
Grape Variety: 50% Chardonnay, 50% Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wines
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Canada
Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Chateau Des Charmes
Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw colour with fine mousse & medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Lighter champagne style featuring lemon, baked apple, limestone, pear, biscuit with light toast.

Good acidity with medium+ length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: I had it for Mother’s Day & my mom loved it. My wife and I had it for brunch on 21 May 12, and she really liked it too.

Drink now on its own or with fresh oysters.

Tasted: 13 May 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 145409

JANSZ PREMIUM SPARKLING ROSÉ NV, Tasmania, Australia

30 Monday Apr 2012

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Jansz Premium Sparkling Rosé, Tasmania Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: 60% Pinot Noir, 40% Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Australia
Region: Tasmania
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Negociants International
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Pale salmon in colour with fine mousse & medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: If I tried this sparkling blind I would have said that’s it’s made in the classic champagne method. The wine features toasty brioche, strawberry, apple crumble pie, pink grapefruit, lemon, orange rind & limestone. Medium body with good acidly & fairly long length.

Negatives: Some sour notes on the finish. Drink now on its own or pair it with cheese & tomato omelette.

Tasted: 29 Apr 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO# 37499

GLORIA FERRER BLANC DE BLANCS 2005, Carneros California, Méthode Champenoise

25 Sunday Mar 2012

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Gloria Ferrer Blanc De Blancs 2005, Carneros, California, Méthode Champenoise Bottle

Cost: $24.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Carneros
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Freixenet Sonoma Caves
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium+ straw colour with fine mousse and a medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Absolutely delightful. Notes of yeast, brioche, light toast, granny apples, lemon, orange & limestone.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Point: This bubbly taste closer to $100 Champagne.

Drink now on its own or pair it with caviar.

Tasted: 25 Mar 12

Top Pick & Best Buy

Score: 9.5/10, 10/10, 19.5/20 (one of my highest rated wines)

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 5

LCBO#: 223792

GLORIA FERRER SONOMA BRUT SPARKLING WINE, Sonoma County, California

21 Tuesday Feb 2012

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Gloria Ferrer Sonoma Brut Sparkling Wine, Sonoma County, California, Méthode Champenoise Bottle

Cost: $21.95
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: United States
Region: Sonoma County
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Gloria Ferrer
Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Blush in colour with fine mousse & medium to medium+ intensity.

Positives: Simply delicious & easy drinking. Raspberry, lemon tart, pear, light yeast, flan, molasses & ginger. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity & length.

Negatives: None.

Interesting Thing: Made in the traditional method. Drink now on its or or pair it with quail eggs & caviar. This wine was ranked #78 on Wine Spectator’s Top 100 list of 2009.

Best Buy

Tasted: 20 Feb 12

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 192898

ASOLO SUPERIORE EXTRA DRY PROSECCO 2010, DOCG Veneto Italy

29 Sunday Jan 2012

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Prevedello Asolo Superiore Extra Dry Prosecco 2010, Docg Bottle

Cost: $16.95
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Prevedello
Alcohol: 11.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw in colour with good mousse & medium intensity.

Positives: Notes of peach, wild flowers, honeydew melon, baked apples, lemon rind, tangerine & yeast taste on the finish. Overall one of the more complex Proseccos I’ve tasted. Medium to medium+ body, good acidity & long length.

Negatives: Some might not like the yeastiness on the finish.

Interesting Thing: I wouldn’t use this Prosecco to make Bellinis due to the complexity of the wine. It would be a waste of this fine sparkling.

Drink now on its own or pair it with calamari.

Tasted: 28 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO#: 262881

 

Alamos Extra Brut NV, Mendoza, Argentina

14 Saturday Jan 2012

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Cost: $18.99
Grape Variety: Chardonnay & Pinot Noir
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: Cayman Islands
Country: Argentina
Region: Mendoza
Format: 750 ml
Producer: Bodega Catena Zapata
Alcohol: 12.5%

Description: Medium straw colour with medium mousse and medium intensity on the nose.

Positives: Very easy drinking wine featuring lemon pie, custard, apples, jasmine and ginger. Medium body with good acidity and medium length.

Negatives: None

Interesting Things: Charmat (tank) method

Drink now on its own or pair it with shrimp ceviche.

Tasted: 12 Jan 12

Best Buy

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

MONT-MARÇAL BRUT RESERVA CAVA, Catalunya, Spain

27 Sunday Nov 2011

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Mont Marçal Brut Reserva Cava, Do Bottle

Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: Xarello, Macabeu, Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Spain
Region: Catalunya
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Mont-Marcal
Alcohol: 11.5 %
Description: Bright gold in colour with fine mousse & medium to medium+ intensity on the nose.

Positives: Fresh & lively best describes this sparkler. Green & red apples with lemon & some ginger dominate. There’s traces of limestone to give it a touch of minerality. The wine is medium body, good acidity, medium + length & delicious.

Negatives: None

Interesting Point: This is one of if not my favorite Cava that I have tasted. Traditional Method.

Drink now on its own or have it with Chinese food.

Best Buy & Top Pick

Tasted: 26 Nov 11

Score: 9.5/10, Value: 10/10, Total: 19.5/20.

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4.5

LCBO#: 229021

GIAVI CONEGLIANO VALDOBBIADENE PROSECCO SUPERIORE, DOCG, Treviso, Italy

30 Sunday Oct 2011

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Tenuta Giavi Prosecco Valdobbiadene Superiore, Docg Bottle

Cost: $14.65
Grape Variety: Prosecco
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: VINTAGES
Country: Italy
Region: Veneto
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Tenuta Giavi
Alcohol: 11.0 %
Description: Light straw in colour with a medium intense nose.

Positives: Easy drinking Prosecco with pear, peach pit, lemon/lime & apple. This is a lighter style Prosecco with medium+ length & good acidity.

Negatives: Slight bitterness on the after taste.

Interesting Things: Try this with Reese peanut butter cups, it’s delicious.

Tasted 30 Oct 11.

Best Buy.

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 4

LCBO:# 209569

YELLOW TAIL BUBBLES, NV, Australia

25 Sunday Sep 2011

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Cost: $13.95
Grape Variety: White blend, predominantly Chardonnay
Category: Sparkling Wine
Appellation: LCBO General List
Country: Australia
Region:
Format: 750 mL
Producer: Casella Wines
Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Description: Medium straw colour with fine mousse and medium intensity

Positives: This is a vast improvement over past Yellow Tail Bubbles & not only the nicer label & bottle, but the nose & taste. The mousse is fine & lasting. The nose has nice aromas of white flowers, apples, lemon/lime & a little biscotti. The taste is easy to drink & will do well mixing with fruit juices or drinking in its own. The taste has pear, sweet peach, mango & lemon/lime.

Negatives: The taste is weaker than the nose, but Yellow Tail is going in the right direction.

Interesting Things: With the new bottling there is a new reusable top that I really like, so if you need to cork it & still have the carbonation later, just use their top. Drink now on its own or with Sunday brunch or with gelato.

Tasted: 25 Sept 11

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

Out of 5 stars, I rated this wine: 3.5

LCBO#: 229039