Cost: $18.00 (Sale Price until Aug 14, 2022: $16.00) Grape: Pinot Noir Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: Bourgogne Format: 750 mL Producer: Louis Bouillot Alcohol: 11.5% Alcohol/Vol.
A Blanc de Noir from Bordeaux made in the traditional method for $18, hard to say no to this sparkler. Score: 89/100
Tasting Note: Light straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Yeast, brioche, peach, pear, lemon zest, toasted almonds & toasted buttered bread.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Originally reviewed June 6, 2018
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with Sushi.
Cost: $14.00 (Sale Price until Aug 14, 2022: $12.00) Grape: 39% Viognier, 38% Chenin Blanc, 23% Grenache Blanc Category: White Wine Location: LCBO General List Country: South Africa Region: Franschhoek Format: 750 ml Producer: Boekenhoutskloof Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol.
For an inexpensive wine, this has a lot of complexity & a steel at the price. Score: 93/100.
Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Lemon custard, yellow plum, Jonagold apples, gooseberry, white peach, pineapple, ginger, lemongrass, clove & verbena on the nose.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in 2-4 years on its own or pair it with Sushi.
Cost: $30.00 (Sale Price until Aug 17, 2022: $27.50) Grape: 45% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Gris /Pinot Meunier Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: United States of America Region: Napa, California Format: 750 mL Producer: Mumm Alcohol: 13.0% Alcohol/Vol. Vibrant flavors are balanced by fine acidity and a rich, lingering finish. Score: 91/100.
Tasting Note: Straw in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast & brioche, lemon, green & red apples, pear, ginger, honey, vanilla,
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: ‘Fermentation is conducted at cool temperatures in stainless steel tanks to preserve freshness and fruit intensity. A few select lots are aged in French oak barrels to add depth, complexity, and spiciness. The finished blend is bottled for second fermentation, with an average of 18 months’ yeast ageing to add complexity, subtle dough flavors, and layers of creaminess. The wine is disgorged in brut style and a dosage is added back to balance the wines acidity, ageing another 3 months.” Winery
Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with California Benedict.
Cost: $19.95 Grape: Grenache & Syrah Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: Méditerranée, Salon-de-Provence Format: 750 mL Producer: Rivarose Alcohol: 12.0% Alcohol/Vol. Pleasant, fresh off dry sparkling that’s a perfect as an aperitif. Score: 91/100.
Tasting Note: Light copper in colour with fine mousse, good acidity, medium intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast, strawberry, raspberry, pink grapefruit, apricot, peach, clementine, thyme & orange blossoms on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: “RIVAROSE is the oldest and largest producer of sparkling wines in the Mediterranean. Founded in 1909, the house markets its wines all over the world, including its eponymous product, a true ambassador of the bubbles of the south of France.” Winery
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-4 years on its own or pair it with Alabama Beef Ribs.
Cost: $82.00 Grape: Viognier Category: White Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: Condrieu, Northern Rhône Format: 750 mL Producer: Les Vins de Vienne Alcohol: 14.5% Alcohol/Vol. Smooth, powerful yet elegant & delicious. Score: 98/100.
Tasting Note: Bright light gold in colour with good acidity, light to medium intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Apricot, peach, honeydew melon, Jonagold apples, Anjou pear, star fruit (Carambola), vanilla, & acacia & honeysuckle on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: Ageing: 9 months on lees in French oak barrels and tuns.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 6-7 years on its own or pair it with pike quenelles in Crayfish sauce.
Cost: $12.40 (Sale price until July 17, 2022: $10.40) Grape: Grenache, Syrah, Mourvèdre and Carignan Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO General List Country: France Region: Ventoux, Southern Rhône Format: 750 mL Producer: Bonpas Alcohol: 14.0% Alcohol/Vol.
Best under $13 red I’ve tried to date. Smooth, elegant, light to medium body, nice balance of fruit & light spice. Score: 93/100.
Tasting Note: Light to medium ruby in colour with good acidity & medium intense nose, soft tannin & a good length on the finish. This wine features: Black cherry, raspberry, mulberry, black olives, thyme, baby spinach & vanilla.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: “The south-facing slopes of Mont Ventoux in the Vaucluse, which rises to 1,912 meters covering almost 6,700 hectares. The terroir is made of Limestone and marly scree.” Winery
Pairings: Drink this now or in 3-5 years on its own or pair it with wooden oven pizza.
On a blind I would say this was from Provence, but I would be wrong. Beautifully made showing vibrant fruits & crispness all at a great price. Score: 92/100
Tasting Note: Light cooper in colour with good acidity & medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Pink grapefruit, raspberry, Dragon Fruit, watermelon, white peach & honeysuckle on the nose.
Negatives: None
Pairings: Drink this now or in a couple of years on its own or pair it with barbecued chicken skewers
Cost: $29.95 (Clearance price: $24.95) Grape: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc Category: Sparkling Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: Canada Region: Okanagan Valley, British Columbia Format: 750 mL Producer: Steller’s Jay Alcohol: 12.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Beautiful made with elegance. 93/100
Tasting Note: Straw in colour with good acidity & fine mousse, medium+ intense nose & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Light yeast, brioche, green apples, lemon zest, pear, white peach, strawberry, toasted almonds & fresh cut carnations on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point:
Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Lobster risotto.
Cost: $15.95 Grape: 40% Grenache, 30% Syrah, 25% Carignan, 5% Mourvedre Category: Red Wine Location: LCBO Vintages Country: France Region: Corbières Format: 750 mL Producer: Bonfils Vins & Château Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Top notch Corbières; fruity & spicy. Score: 95/100
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with good acidity, medium+ intense nose, soft tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Cherry, blueberry, mulberry, plum, licorice, black & white pepper, fennel, olives, leather & violets on the nose.
Negatives: None
Interesting Point: New label for my favourite Corbières, although I prefer the previous one as it was more classic. See my review of their 2016 vintage.
Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with PENNE ALLA VODKA Sautéed prosciutto with caramelized onions and tossed in a rosé sauce from Fat Cat Pizza restaurant St. Catharines.
Cost: $24.95 Grape: Syrah Category: Red Wine Location: Winery Country: Canada Region: Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario Format: 750 mL Producer: Niagara College Teaching Winery Alcohol: 13.5% Alcohol/Vol.
Not complex but well-made wine at a great price that features dark fruit & spiciness. Score: 95/100
Tasting Note: Medium ruby in colour with foaminess around the perimeter, good acidity, medium+ intense nose, round tannin & a long length on the finish. This wine features: Mulberry, plum, tamarind, black & white pepper, vanilla,
Negatives: Should be labelled Syrah not Shiraz as it’s not styled in the Australian way.
Interesting Point: The foaminess, which looks like soap, doesn’t seem to affect the wine & expect it’s due to the wine being Unfiltered. From Dr. Vinny from Wine Spectator: “Foam, and bubbles in general, are caused when the surface tension of water is decreased, which is how soap creates so many bubbles. Let’s assume that there isn’t soap in your decanter (but you should be sure you are rinsing them out thoroughly, just to be certain). That means there is something in the wine itself that is affecting the surface tension of the wine or the rinsing water.
There are two sources of surface-tension reduction in wine. The first is a protein that’s present in tannins. I tend to notice the foam phenomenon much more often in red wines than in whites, and there are more tannins in reds. Alcohol (ethanol) also has an effect on surface tension. So, you can expect a tannic, high-alcohol wine to yield the most foam among still wines.”
Pairings: Drink this now or in 4-6 years on its own or pair it with Ribeye Steak.
Twilight Wines 