Champagne Diary

Nobody does bubbly like the French, and Taittinger is certainly a prime example. We might even go as far as saying… our new favourite non-vintage Champagne.

Wine info

• Winery: Taittinger
• Country: France
• Region: Champagne
• Grape Variety: 40% Chardonnay, 60% Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier
• Alcohol Content: 12%
• Price: $53.95 CDN

 Appearance

• A classic Champagne bottle with an elegant label – comes in a box, a common style of packaging for higher-end Champagnes. The Champagne itself was a brilliant hue of golden yellow with a high volume of fine concentrated bubbles.

Aroma

• A complex, intricate and slightly off-dry aroma – very intriguing. Hints of fresh baked brioche, vanilla biscuit, honey, fresh orchard fruit, and citrus – with the intensity increasing by the glass. A lot going on when we examined the first glass, but upon airing out we found the aroma to be absolutely delightful by the 2nd or 3rd glass.

Taste

• We found the taste of this Champagne to be complex and almost difficult to define. However, that is the sole characteristic that makes Champagne so sought-after… it’s unique complexity and perfect balance. Though it is a Brut we found the flavour to carry a hint of sweetness and the perfect amount of acidity. Lots of fresh apple and vanilla biscuit flavour, paired wonderfully with the mineral-ly quality typical of the Champagne region. Overall, we found the flavour to be exquisite, elegant and refined.

Review notes

• We would describe this light bodied Champagne as silky, smooth, elegant and lush. The Aroma vs. The Taste were slightly different, but we found it to be perfectly balanced. You would imagine that it we be much sweeter based on its aroma alone, none-the-less it offers a surprisingly textured and romantic experience. Definitely one to splurge on for a special occasion, although it’s at a much more attractive price point (and offers a much better value) than it’s competitors like Veuve Clicquot and Moët & Chandon. We would certainly recommend/buy this Champagne again, it was a delightful treat shared on our anniversary, and overall a wonderful experience. 

Rating

• 90/100*

Links

• Taittinger winery
• Product info

*Note that we changed the rating scheme, we now rate all wines by various quality markers out of 10, then add up all the marks for a final grade out of 100.

Mmm… nothing like something delicious and Spanish on your lips! Uh… obviously we’re talking about Cava here ;)

Wine info

• Winery: Mont Marçal
• Country: Spain
• Region: Catalunya
• Grape Variety: 40% Xarel.lo, 30% Macabeo, 20% Parellada, 10% Chardonnay
• Alcohol Content: 12%
• Price: $13.95 CDN

 Appearance

• Very pale straw colour, almost clear. Abundance of tiny, persistent bubbles rising up from the bottom of the glass and forming a pool on top. Looks inviting!

Aroma

• Sweet lingering aroma with a tinge of apple and pear. Smells crisp, clean and delightful.

Taste

• Super smooth, with a nice balance of dry and sweet flavours. Our overall impression was a full body and delicious flavour from sip to swallow. No bitter aftertaste, not overtly complex, simple and delicious!

Pairing

• Selection of tapas.

Review notes

• The label on this one was simple and somewhat whimsical. It’s almost mimics the shape of a champagne flute and the movement of the bubbles in the wine. The text was clean and easy to read with a classic calligraphic detail. The little sheep on-top of the cap was a cute embellishment! There was no description of the wine or the region on the back label though, a little strange, we would have liked to know a bit more about it when we picked it out. Overall the taste was exquisite from start to finish. The Spanish use the traditional méthod champenois to craft Cava (méthod champenois = the method used to make Champagne in France), making it a great alternative to authentic Champagne for a fraction of the cost. Although Cava is often more “rough” and less complex than traditional Champagne (obviously Spain’s climate is very different) you can get an exceptional bottle of Cava for around the $20 price point, as opposed to about $70 for a good Champagne. We found this bottle to be of great value, and we would buy this one again!

Rating

• 4/5

Links

• Mont Marçal winery
• Product info

Alright… we’re not exactly girls, and we didn’t exactly go out… it was more like a “Gays’ Night In”.

Wine info

• Winery: Colio Estate
• Country: Canada
• Region: Lake Erie North Shore
• Grape Variety: 100% Riesling
• Alcohol Content: 11%
• Price: $14.75 CDN

 Appearance

• Wine has a pale yellow hue, a bit more vibrant than that of traditional champagne. Very bubbly throughout.

Aroma

• Strong presence of apples and other orchard fruit. Very fragrant, slightly sweet on the nose. Overall the aroma was very pleasing and “feminine” for lack of a better word – obviously what they were going for.

Taste

• Semi-sweet with a bite of a bite. Offers a flavour distinctive of the Ontario terroir. It’s a flavour we’re not particularly sure how to describe, but one that you would begin to recognize if you have enjoyed wines from this region. Very light, summery and enjoyable. Would be great on its own or with a light meal.

Pairing

• On its own.

Review notes

• The target audience for this sparkling wine is obviously women, the bottle is sparkly, feminine and playful – which is exactly how we’d describe the wine itself. Overall the flavours did not come as a surprise (based upon the aroma), the subtle sweetness and smooth viscosity of the wine renders it a perfect pairing to share with girlfriends in preparation for a night out. As it is produced here in Ontario, it’s done on a smaller production level, so to have it at this price point is quite impressive and offers a great value. They certainly hit the mark in marketing this one – the name and package work perfect with what’s inside the bottle, however, that really does limit their audience.

Rating

• 3/5

Links

• Girls’ Night Out wines
• Product info