Luccios Crémant De Bordeaux Brut

LCBO#: 207969
Price: $14.95
Made in: Bordeaux, France
By: S.C.A. Vignerons De Saint-Pey-Génissac
Varietal: Sémillon, Muscadelle

95% Sémillon, 5% Muscadelle. This French sparkling wine is very well-balanced overall. Yeast nose with a citrus tang and notes of fruit sweetness. A nice crisp mouthfeel which makes this one quite refreshing. A little dry with some mild sourness in the taste, a touch of sweetness and a smooth finish with some fruits, grains and yeast. Quite nice.

Rating: 4.2/5

Archangel Chardonnay Brut

LCBO#: 227009
Price: $19.95
Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Angels Gate Winery
2008

Big white creamy head. That’s right, creamy. Huge retention and continues a thick 5mm head above, created by very active carbonation. Mild yeast nose and taste is light as well. A little sourness, a little dryness. Nothing offensive here, but there is better VQA sparkling for cheaper.

Rating: 2.3/5

Voga Italia Sparkling Pinot Grigio

LCBO#: 215905
Price: $17.70
Made in: Veneto, Italy
By: Enoitalia Spa
2008

Italy sparkling wine. Very light gold in color with Lots of bubbles. Very mild aroma of bread (yeast). Nice dry mouthfeel. Smokey, citrusy and no bitter finish. Light grape aftertaste.

Rating: 4/5

Open Sociable Sparkling

LCBO#: 224410
Price: $13.95
Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Vincor International
2009

Sweet and intense on the white grape. Mild yeasty aftertaste. More on the fruity side then dry.

Rating: 3.5/5

Jackson Triggs Entourage

Price: $29.75
Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Jackson Triggs Estate Wines
Varietal: Sauvignon Blanc
2008

Purchased at the winery itself at $29.75, right after their awesome tour. First off, a beautiful apple scent comes out after the first pour (so the yeast is not overpowering like most other Sparkling). Second thing noticed is that the head has a great retention found in beer, not Sparkling usually. After breathing, citrus aromas appear. A nicely balanced mouthfeel between bitter, dry, creamy and wet. Again, the yeast is so mild in the taste, so lovely hidden. Everything is so well-blended. Sourness adds to all of the other things found in the nose. As said before, Jackson Triggs makes our favorites Sparklings. This one is no exception.

Rating: 4.4/5

Vincent Raimbault Vouvray

LCBO#: 244913
Price: $17.95
Made in: Loire, France
By: Vincent Raimbault
Varietal: Chenin Blanc
2011

Lys d’or au Concours des Vins de Loire 2011. Mild yeast nose at first but disappears quickly to show well-blended fruity aromas with some sweetness, dryness and light sourness. Pretty much the same for the taste… very well-balanced overall. A little tart, dry, sweet, sour, fruit with apples and citrus. Probably, France’s best sparkling we have had so far.

Rating: 4.2/5

Mumm Napa Rosé

LCBO#: 205641
Price: $29.95
Made in: California, USA
By: Pernod Ricard

Written on the cork – FO 080511. Méthode Traditionnelle, produced from handpicked Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes. Peach-like colours with a very mild nose with balanced yeast, fruits (peach, strawberries) and hints of maple syrup (which was mostly felt when the cork came off). More on the dry side than sweet, but still overall wet and refreshing. Taste a little more than the aromas. Close to the same – fruity with some light peach at first, and the strawberries come and blend both. All with a bit of yeast and maybe very light vanilla notes. Was expecting a little more bite, but overall easy-drinking, mild and interesting for all. Just not the price.

Rating: 3.8/5

Jackson-Triggs Cabernet Franc Icewine

Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Jackson-Triggs winery

Got this gem at the Jackson-Triggs winery on our tour there. This 2007 red Icewine shows a clean pink-red colour, looking like clear strawberry juice. Sweet aromas of berries and mild honey. The mouthfeel is a nicely coated tongues, but not too syrupy. The same is found in the taste as the scent. Sweet, but not too much to kill the flavours of strawberries and light honey, with notes of plums. This is quite the dessert wine, and quite a treat. Highly recommended.

Rating: 4.3/5

Creekside Estate Shiraz 2009

LCBO#: 66654
Price: $15.95
Made in: Ontario, Canada
By: Creekside Estate Winery
Varietal: Shiraz
2009

After seeing that this wine won first place in the SOSA (Southern Ontario Sommelier Association), we decided to grab a couple of bottles for Christmas. unfortunately, it was the 2009… and the one that won, was the 2010. Not sure if this one turned bad, but both bottle has a sour mouthfeel. Surprisingly, the aromas were actually quite nice, out of the bottle. Dark red grapes, hints of leather, old wood. Mild tannins are present, and the mouth is above-average dry. Can’t wait to find the 2010 winner, and hope this one is not sour.

Raiting: 3.1/5

Flame Lily Pinot Noir

Price: $9.99 – $15.00
Made in: Napa and St.Helena, CA
By: Flame Lily Wines
Varietal: Pinot Noir
2010

Beautiful aromas of cherries, raspberries and hints of molasses, tobacco and wood in the background. Unfortunately, that is where it stops. The taste is standard, mild with the red grape juices. Almost watery. Then, the aftertaste that lingers is like the wine was stored in a rusty metal pipe, instead of a barrel. The grapes are alright, but overall, not one we would have again.

Rating: 1.9/5