Alright, last but not least, all the rest of 'em. There's reviews to get to, so let's do it!
June 29, 2017
This week, we spied a familiar bottle, one that we saw in Tremblant last year, got it for Round Three of Champagne Thursday there. This year, it was Sieur D'Arques 2015 vintage of Première Bulle. Last year it produced a beautiful picture, this year was a bit more reserved and standard.
On the ridiculously loud pop, it had a very "creamy" sweet scent, like ice cream, which was a bit strange, but not in a bad way. In the glass it had a lot of tiny sharp bubbles. It had a familiar scent in the glass, which made us smile: sweet penny candies. Like the teensy Swedish Berries, or the small Big Feet that you used to get at the corner store for a penny (back when pennies were actual money). I also was getting an ever so slight bready scent, Shane was not though.
The bubbles got a bit creamier in the glass. It had a nice gold colour. This bubbly started out quite sweet, but a nicely tart-dry finish, which was great. We were having trouble identifying the flavours we were getting though. We thought maybe raspberry, but then couldn't decide if it was because it tasted like raspberries or if it was just because of the tart finish being reminiscent of raspberries...
We liked this one. And would definitely try it again.
July 1, 2017
Happy 150th Birthday Canada!!! We celebrated this one with an extra special bottle picked up from Vieni Estates a couple weeks prior specifically for this day! Actually, it was crafted by them specifically for this day! It's their Canada 150, a beautiful sparkling red (yippee!! We love love love sparkling reds!).
On the pop, it smelled like a nice red wine, full of body. It was a gorgeous deep red in the glass, as to be expected.
On the first couple sips, Shane said that it was very tart, making his cheeks pucker. I thought it was a nice dry red wine, with deep raspberries and cranberries (looking at the bottle after the fact, I impressed myself as it claimed to be currants, raspberries and cherries. Having never had a currant before, I'd equate that to a cranberry.).
We thought it was a lovely full-bodied red, but felt light in our mouths. Maybe the bubbles helped lighten it up. It tasted slightly oaked, had some tannins running through, and, most importantly, nice light bubbles. After a glass, the raspberries started to come through even more, but less luscious and deep, and more like they've been picked right off the vines.
Loved it. Glad we picked up two bottles when we were there, so we have some for another time.
July 6, 2017
This week a gold medal winner in Paris caught our eyes: Charme D'Aliénor's Crémant de Bordeaux. On popping the top, Shane didn't get much coming out, but in the glass I got a very strong pineapple scent (like the sweet, canned, in syrup pineapple). Shane agreed that there were definitely tropical fruits, but wasn't sure if it was specifically pineapple.
It had a very tart back (right before you swallow and it becomes an after taste). I was still pretty adamant that it was pineapple, but now a bit more sweet-sour. This bubbly had great bubbles, and was very refreshing. A nice and tart flavour that felt like a hot summer day's garden party bubbly.
After a glass and a half, it was a bit drier than it started, and had a bit less pineapple pulling through, but was still very delicious. We would definitely get this one again. Yum yum.
July 13, 2017
This week was a busy one, so we didn't get a chance to stop by the LCBO, so we chose something from out little stash at home. We got this one a couple weeks back when we did a small wine tour in the County. This was Broken Stone Winery's Exuberance. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting this winery, and it wasn't just for their extra-cute greeter (yes, it was a dog). The owner was friendly and eager to talk about his wines and family, and all the wines we tasted were fantastic, this sparkling Riesling especially.
On the pop, Shane didn't get a whole lot of scents coming out of the bottle. In the glass it smelled like a sweet white wine. The first couple sips showed signs of berry candies and tropical fruit. I couldn't ID the fruit so I said pineapple, but Shane didn't agree, even though he also couldn't figure it out.
It had nice bubbles, not as many as some others though, enough to be a nice sparkling but not burn the mouth. We found it got a touch tart (in a good way) throughout the bottle.
Overall, yes, we quite liked it and would get it again.
Til next time, keep poppin'!
~S&S
June 29, 2017
July 1, 2017
June 29, 2017
This week, we spied a familiar bottle, one that we saw in Tremblant last year, got it for Round Three of Champagne Thursday there. This year, it was Sieur D'Arques 2015 vintage of Première Bulle. Last year it produced a beautiful picture, this year was a bit more reserved and standard.
The bubbles got a bit creamier in the glass. It had a nice gold colour. This bubbly started out quite sweet, but a nicely tart-dry finish, which was great. We were having trouble identifying the flavours we were getting though. We thought maybe raspberry, but then couldn't decide if it was because it tasted like raspberries or if it was just because of the tart finish being reminiscent of raspberries...
We liked this one. And would definitely try it again.
July 1, 2017
Happy 150th Birthday Canada!!! We celebrated this one with an extra special bottle picked up from Vieni Estates a couple weeks prior specifically for this day! Actually, it was crafted by them specifically for this day! It's their Canada 150, a beautiful sparkling red (yippee!! We love love love sparkling reds!).
On the pop, it smelled like a nice red wine, full of body. It was a gorgeous deep red in the glass, as to be expected.
On the first couple sips, Shane said that it was very tart, making his cheeks pucker. I thought it was a nice dry red wine, with deep raspberries and cranberries (looking at the bottle after the fact, I impressed myself as it claimed to be currants, raspberries and cherries. Having never had a currant before, I'd equate that to a cranberry.).
We thought it was a lovely full-bodied red, but felt light in our mouths. Maybe the bubbles helped lighten it up. It tasted slightly oaked, had some tannins running through, and, most importantly, nice light bubbles. After a glass, the raspberries started to come through even more, but less luscious and deep, and more like they've been picked right off the vines.
Loved it. Glad we picked up two bottles when we were there, so we have some for another time.
July 6, 2017
This week a gold medal winner in Paris caught our eyes: Charme D'Aliénor's Crémant de Bordeaux. On popping the top, Shane didn't get much coming out, but in the glass I got a very strong pineapple scent (like the sweet, canned, in syrup pineapple). Shane agreed that there were definitely tropical fruits, but wasn't sure if it was specifically pineapple.
It had a very tart back (right before you swallow and it becomes an after taste). I was still pretty adamant that it was pineapple, but now a bit more sweet-sour. This bubbly had great bubbles, and was very refreshing. A nice and tart flavour that felt like a hot summer day's garden party bubbly.
After a glass and a half, it was a bit drier than it started, and had a bit less pineapple pulling through, but was still very delicious. We would definitely get this one again. Yum yum.
July 13, 2017
This week was a busy one, so we didn't get a chance to stop by the LCBO, so we chose something from out little stash at home. We got this one a couple weeks back when we did a small wine tour in the County. This was Broken Stone Winery's Exuberance. We thoroughly enjoyed visiting this winery, and it wasn't just for their extra-cute greeter (yes, it was a dog). The owner was friendly and eager to talk about his wines and family, and all the wines we tasted were fantastic, this sparkling Riesling especially.
On the pop, Shane didn't get a whole lot of scents coming out of the bottle. In the glass it smelled like a sweet white wine. The first couple sips showed signs of berry candies and tropical fruit. I couldn't ID the fruit so I said pineapple, but Shane didn't agree, even though he also couldn't figure it out.
It had nice bubbles, not as many as some others though, enough to be a nice sparkling but not burn the mouth. We found it got a touch tart (in a good way) throughout the bottle.
Overall, yes, we quite liked it and would get it again.
Til next time, keep poppin'!
~S&S
June 29, 2017
- Brand: Sieur D'Arques
- Type of Grape: Not noted
- Sweetness: 7g/L
- Price: $18.95
- Tasting Notes: Very bubbly, fruit candy scents, nice tart finish. Would pair nicely with a dark chocolate ice cream or gelato.
July 1, 2017
- Brand: Vieni Estates Winery
- Type of Grape: Pinot Noir, Baco and Pinot Meunier
- Sweetness: Not noted
- Price: $16.95 at the winery
- Tasting Notes: Lovely light feeling, full bodied sparkling red, raspberry and cranberry forward flavours, would pair well with a cheese fondue beside a fire. Would probably also make a mean sangria.
July 6, 2017
- Brand: Charme D'Aliénor
- Type of Grape: Semillon and Cabernet Franc
- Sweetness: 11g/L
- Price: $16.95
- Tasting Notes: Refreshingly dry, pineapple and tropical fruit aromas, would pair well with a summer afternoon garden party and friends.
July 13, 2017
- Brand: Broken Stone Winery
- Type of Grape: Riesling
- Sweetness: Not noted
- Price: $24.95 at the winery
- Tasting Notes: Lovely tropical flavours, pineapple and berries. Would pair nicely with spicy mango shrimp.
