Canadian Sparkling Wine: a rare tasting crossing the country, with 24 different wines
Canadian Sparkling Wine is a category that is progressing nicely. This tasting was a selection of 24, across many different regions. Because of laws restricting inter-provincial shipping of wine, it’s difficult to get a line-up like this. These aren’t all of the best fizzes that Canada makes, but it’s a nice selection showing some of the diversity, with some real highlights. Niagara is slightly over-represented here because this is where the tasting took place.
NIAGARA
Trius Brut NV Niagara, Canada
50% from 2024, and 75% Chardonnay, 25% Pinot Noir. Bright and fresh with nice citrus drive. This has great balance and is fruit driven. Juicy, fresh and very tasty. 90/100
Trius Showcase Blanc de Blancs NV Niagara, Canada
This is a blend of 2011, 2012 and 2013, raised in neutral French oak, then 10 years on lees before being disgorged in September 2024. Lovely focused citrus nose is very pure, with nice toasty detail, and notes of bread and salt. Lively, linear and focused with real complexity and finesse. 93/100
Kew Vineyards Tradition 2021 Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Canada
4 g/l dosage. Fruity and bright with nice detail. Has pear and a touch of peach, showing warmth and balance. 89/100
Kew Vineyards Blanc de Blancs 2021 Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Canada
Lovely bright lemony fruit with some pear and apple. Fruity with nice density, and a touch of richness. 88/100
Kew Vineyards Blanc de Noirs 2020 Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Canada
Pinot Noir. Cherries and spice with nice density. Rich with some fruit sweetness and some spiciness. 90/100
Kew Vineyards Rosalie 2019 Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Canada
Skin contact Pinot Noir. Sweet and sour with cherries and spice, as well as a nice citrus drive, and a touch of orange peel. 89/100
Westcott Brilliant 2020 Vinemount Ridge, Niagara, Canada
45% Pinot Noir, 45% Chardonnay, 10% Pinot Meunier. Base wine has 10% barrel fermentation, wild ferment for all base wine. Four years on lees then disgorged with 5 g/l dosage. Lovely citrus drive with impact, and a touch of pithiness under the lively lemony fruit. Nice depth and intensity here. 92/100
Westcott Brilliant Blanc de Noirs NV Vinemount Ridge, Niagara, Canada
Two-thirds 2020 and one-third perpetual reserve. Barrel fermented in puncheons on the previous year’s lees. Freeze some juice for the liqueur for tirage, no adding yeast at this stage. Creamy and toasty with nice texture and some warmth. Some toast from the barrel ferment and a touch of spice. Broad, satisfying and refined. 93/100
York Brut NV Niagara on the Lake, Canada
This is 2018, the first vintage, although it is labelled NV. Focused, fresh and taut with nice lemony fruit, but also a bit of richness. Powerful with nice density. Stylish. 92/100
York Brut Rosé NV Niagara on the Lake, Canada
2017, first vintage, 100% Pinot Noir, short skin maceration to get colour. Fruity and fine with notes of orange peel, pear and citrus. Has some subtle toast. Textured and quite luxurious. 92/100
York Reserve 2016 Niagara on the Lake, Canada
60% Chardonnay, 40% Pinot Noir, base wine has 2 years in older French oak. Then 6 years on lees. This is complex and layered, toasty and lively. Nice peach, spice, pear and citrus with real complexity and power. 94/100
Malivoire Bisous Brut NV Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Canada
70% Chardonnay, 23% Pinot Noir, 7% Pinot Gris. 2020 base, 3 years on lees, 6 g/l dosage. Fresh, bright and pithy with nice citrus drive. Fruity and expressive. Tart and linear with a juicy finish. 91/100
Malivoire Bisous Blanc de Gamay 2023 Vinemount Ridge, Niagara, Canada
One year on lees after base wine aged in used French oak, 6 g/l dosage. Taut, fresh and linear with some bright pithiness and a touch of cherry on the nose. Juicy, herby palate with nice brightness. Has a slight saltiness. 90/100
Malivoire Bisous Rosé NV Beamsville Bench, Niagara, Canada
2023 base year, 2 years on lees, 8 g/l dosage. Very pale with lovely juiciness and tight cherry fruit with a good citrus drive. Juicy and fruity with a slight saltiness and nice purity. 91/100
Malivoire Bisous Noir 2023 West Niagara, Canada
75% Pinot Noir, 25% Gamay, one week on skins, one year on lees. Red in colour, this is fruity and bright with lively cherry and plum fruit. Nice red fruit character. Juicy and refined, lovely stuff. 92/100
QUEBEC
Domaine Saint Jacques Brut 2023 Quebec, Canada
24 months on lees, a blend of Chardonnay and Vidal. Fruity and bright with nice lemon and pear fruit. Juicy and linear with good acidity and admirable purity of fruit. Refined. 91/100
Domaine Bergeville Le Blanc 2024 Quebec, Canada
Some unusual notes on the nose: I thought it might be corked, but it wasn’t. Herbal, lemony and bright with pear and peach fruit as well as some pithiness. Juicy with some complexity, and quite distinctive. 88/100
NOVA SCOTIA
Benjamin Bridge Methode Classique NV Nova Scotia, Canada
11% alcohol. A blend of grapes including some hybrid in this cuvée. Fresh and linear with nice pithy hints. Tart and lively with a lovely lemony drive, some tightness and a slight herby character. Saline twist on the finish. Very fine. 93/100
Avondale Sky Blanc de Noir 2017 Nova Scotia, Canada
Fresh, fruity and lively with nice herb and toast complexity. Rich and layered with lots of flavour. 90/100
L’Acadie Prestige Brut 2019 Nova Scotia, Canada
Juicy, bright and fresh with nice pithiness. Some grapey richness as well as focused lemony fruit. Bright and linear with nice precision. 90/100
VANCOUVER ISLAND
Blue Grouse Sparkling Cuvée 2020 Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, Canada
Fruity, bright and linear with nice lemon and herb notes. Tart and lively with nice precision. 89/100
OKANAGAN/SIMILKAMEEN/FRASER VALLEY
Corcelettes MT 2022 Similkameen, BC, Canada
Juicy, bright and lemony with tartness and good acidity. Nice fruitiness here with a good acid line. 88/100
Terravista Vineyards En Terre 2022 Okanagan, BC, Canada
Juicy and bright with nice cherry and citrus fruit, with a compact character. Lively, bright and stylish. 91/100
Township 7 Sirius 2017 Fraser Valley, BC, Canada
Focused and quite toasty, showing nice complexity. There’s a saline edge to the focused citrus fruit, as well as some spicy complexity. Stylish 93/100
