NEON CACTUS WINES

Vintage 2002 released  September 2010 by Moet & Chandon
Intensely floral nose with a hint of almond, lemon and oranges, rounded off by darker smoky qualities. The wine gains richness in the glass as the flavours become riper and almost tropical. Apricots, passion fruit and peaches emerge from this opulent champagne. Great persistence, backbone and acidity. This confident wine reaches every part of the palate with concentrated but creamy perfection, holding the promise of a long life ahead of it. $229.95*

Brut Organic Sparkling Wine
The Summerhill specialty and possibly Canada’s most critically acclaimed wine, the Cipes Brut is a beautiful Riesling-based traditional sparkling wine with aromas of apple, lime, pear, almonds and grapefruit. Crisp acidity on the palate, a soft, creamy mousse with a long finish and flavours of citrus, pear, apple, almonds and yeast. $29.95*

[ Canada British Columbia BC B.C. ]

The grapes for this exceptional sparkling rosé come from the traditional Chardonnay area of Trentino, in an ideal position to produce exceptionally fresh, elegant and scented spumanti.

TRIDENTUM is made from Chardonnay and Pinot Nero grapes from the Masi di Pressano and Valle di Cembra areas. The emphasis is on quality, not quantity. The aromatic notes of the grapes are more intense and complex, due to the considerable fluctuations in temperature. $19.95*

25% Chardonnay, 45% Pinot Noir, 10% Pinot Meunier, +20% Reserve wines
Sensory notes
It looks beautiful: golden straw-yellow colour with a foaming necklace of tiny and long-lasting bubbles.
Nose
Initially very pleasing and expressive, it delivers floral aromas (linden), then scents of ripe fruits (pear and apple).
Mouth
The first sip delivers freshness and forcefulness. The attack is clear and frank. It develops a symphony of fresh fruit taste (pear). Note the fine balance between distinction and forcefulness.
Food pairing
Recommended as an aperitif or served as a dessert, complementing a fruit salad with white fruits, such as pear.
$49.95*

In the ancient local dialect, garbèl, when referring to wine, means dry and crisp, pleasantly tart. This Garbèl is a highly esteemed sparkling wine produced from vineyards in the Colli Trevigiani that yield grapes which long experience has destined exclusively for outstanding wines.

The colour is straw and creamy mousse yellow with a delicate, persistent cascade of bubbles. Very ample, generous nose, releases notes of ripe fruit, such as pear, yellow apple, and melon. Superb balance and finesse complement refreshing aromas. Pleasantly tart and full-flavoured palate, with a crisp fruitiness. Admirable balance, and length, closely mirroring the aromatics of the nose. In sweetness, it lies between the Brut and Extra Dry styles which makes it ideal as an aperitif. It’s perfect for celebratory toasts, accompanied by any kind of appetiser or snacks. Chill to 7-8° C. Serve in a white wine glass, medium-wide. Avoid using tall, slender flutes: while they maximize enjoyment of the bead, they inhibit release of the wine’s bouquet. $21.95*

Sisters, Ginevra and Olivia Casa, grew up in Italy and developed a great passion for Prosecco. Italian laws regarding the production of Prosecco recently changed. After decades of being able to blend other grapes with the Prosecco, the Italian government now requires Prosecco to be produced with 100% Glera grapes. Loving the wine they grew up with, Ginevra and Olivia decided to keep the tradition of the Italian blend alive by creating Secco Italian Bubbles. Ginevra says, “We are using the noble varietals to increase the flavour and aromatic profiles … to make the best sparkling wine from my home region.”

Secco White
Pinot Bianco 40%, Glera (Prosecco) 60%
Amazing sparkling white with notes of flowers, apples and peaches, with a dry finish. Great paired with appetizers and any meal. Secco complements hard and soft cheeses, olives, almonds, potato chips, smoked salmon, sushi, sashimi, salmon tartare, fish, steak, sausage, pizza, nuts, paté and more, and is even delicious with your favourite Chinese or Italian takeout. $21.95*

Secco Rosé
Glera (Prosecco) 60%, Pinot Nero 40%
Delicious sparkling rosé with notes of rose petals, fruits, cherry and raspberry, yet dry. Excellent with hard and soft cheeses (including soft goat), prosciutto, chocolate, raspberries, chocolate covered berries, lobster, crab, scallops, caviar, oysters (raw), clams, swordfish, smoked fish (trout, herring), sushi, sashimi,salmon tartare, steak, sausage, pizza, foie gras, nuts, olives, and paté. Excellent complement to spicy Asian dishes. $21.95*

[Sorelle Casa]

Straw color, smooth and fresh aromas. A fine and fruity palate with a dry aftertaste. Clean, dry and crisp with citrus and apple flavours. A wonderful Cava, the Spanish name for sparkling wine. $13.95*

These convenient new little bottles can accompany you for a refreshing treat anywhere! This pleasant, versatile and modern Prosecco spumante has an easy, crisp delicacy. A brilliant pale yellow colour and a characteristic fruity aroma. It is well-balanced and slightly sweet. Ideal as a sparkling aperitif and also with light dishes such as fish, white meat or fresh cheesees.
200 ml for $6.95*

Canella Prosecco in the 750 ml size, a perennial favourite at Neon Cactus Wines, is back after a long absence with a new label! $17.95*

Demi-Sec is one of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin’s grand classics. During the 19th century, and up until the early 20th century, consumer tastes ran toward sweeter champagnes, those with a higher percentage of liqueur. Thanks to its exquisite balance, Demi-Sec is the ideal champagne to serve with dessert.
$64.95*

This Champagne is also referred to as the Brut Réserve, sometimes Brut non-vintage, and sometimes as the ‘White Foil’ non-vintage. A pale, straw-coloured bubbly wine blended from Pinot Noir, Pinot Meunier and Chardonnay grapes. The Pinot Noir provides structure and depth, the Pinot Meunier supplies body and floral aromatics and the Chardonnay provides freshness and light. Delightful for a celebration or for a refreshing aperitif anytime! $58.95*

Back again!

67% Macabeo, 33% Parellada
A Grand Reserve cava produced with wines from the finest harvests. The high percentage of Macabeo grapes preserves the youth of the cava during its long aging. The strong aging aroma in the bottle reveals a perfect combination of sugar and acidity. Potent in the mouth and elegant on the palate with a long finish. $32.95*

Laurie MacKay tasted and talked about
Pommery POP Champagne
on CBC radio’s Homestretch,
Friday, December 10 at 5:45 p.m.

POP is an authentic Champagne ~ the first one especially blended to drink from the bottle or through a straw. It’s made using traditional Champagne methods with a large proportion of Chardonnay. POP comes in a 200 ml blue glass bottle with a real Champagne cork. It’s the perfect Champagne for parties ~ take it anywhere and enjoy it anytime. POP is collective individualism with a whiff of scandal about it!

Each month, get the featured bottle at Neon Cactus Wines and enjoy some sipping pleasure with Laurie while you learn about wine!

A very delicate, sweet sparkling wine. Fine lychee and peach fruit on the palate. There is a lovely Moscato D’Asti appeal, with very racy sherbet-like fruit, and a delightfully summery appeal. Lovely shimmering stuff, with juicy apple and nectarine hints. $22.95

[ Familia Schroeder, Torrontes, Patagonia]

Made from carefully selected wines and fermented in the bottle. This Brut sparkling wine is quite complex and generous, with dried fruit, toast, white cheddar and bitter almond on the nose. It’s fairly full-bodied, loose and frothy, with good lemony acidity and a mineral finish. Good length. The fruity, elegant and harmonious style of this bubbly will make it a favourite for all your special occasions! $14.95*

This extra-dry sparkling wine has delicate aromas of sweet almonds and the Prosecco grape’s typical bitter finish. It can stand alone as a delightful aperitif or be paired with classics such as shellfish and smoked fish, asparagus and lightly spiced dishes. Serve cold.  $14.95*

[DOC, Valdobbiadene, Treviso]

Made from Prosecco grapes grown on the graceful slopes near the beautiful hill-top town of Conegliano, very close to Venice in northern Italy. Fruity aromas, especially of unripe apples, lemons and grapefruit, and a pronounced aroma of wisteria in bloom and acacia flowers. Pleasantly acid, fresh flavour, full-bodied and well balanced. Prosecco became the aperitif of choice for Venetians in the nineteenth century and its distinct personality made it renowned throughout Italy and beyond. Aromatic, refreshing and fruity, Canaletto Prosecco is an impressive, yet easy-going sparkling wine, perfect for any occasion.
Pair with antipasti or canapés, cheeses ~ fontina, goat cheese, gorgonzola, cambozola and ricotta ~ almonds, pasta, oysters and other seafood, and all kinds of vegetables and salads. $17.95*

[ Vino Spumante Italian Brut Casa Girelli Veneto Valdobbiadene]

This Brut Reserve is the most perfect expression of the Charles Heidsieck style: unctuous, round, vivacious wine with elegant complexity.

Here is a beautiful, pale golden Champagne with very fine yet lively bubbles. On the nose, the first impression is of a pastry shop. Then come the floral notes: lime-tree in full bloom, violets, lilac, all of which seem to resonate with the blueberry notes and those, even more concentrated, of soft dried apricots. The mouthfeel is silky smooth. Then it starts to melt like ripe, fleshy apricots, gorgeous melon and enticing rum pastries with the slightly spicy notes of Muscat grapes. On the whole, a perfect sense of balance, halfway between freshness and full bloom. An excellent aperitif and also a perfect accompaniment to simple savoury food. $59.95*

These wines were exclusively developed by Philippe Zinck following the méthode traditionnelle used for sparkling wines, most notably a second year-long fermentation sur lie.

White Crémant Brut is made with Pinot Blanc, Pinot Noir, and Chardonnay. Both light and full bodied with a biscuity bouquet of exotic fruit, it is well structured, uniting crispness, fruitiness and finesse. $21.95*

Crémant Brut Rosé, made exclusively from Pinot Noir grapes, exhibits aromas of cherry, raspberry, and wild strawberries. Solid structure with a sexy and silky finish. Extremely refined. $27.95*

Piper-Heidsieck Cuvée Brut Champagne brings its own vivacious and exuberant character to dry champagne’s traditional elegance and finesse. The nose is reminiscent of a bright, fresh morning in early May. Notes of citrus fruits, pear, Granny Smith apples and subtle hints of warm toastiness follow spring blossoms such as hawthorn. The palate is lively and fresh with pineapple, nutmeg, white pepper and oriental zest. An exceptionally harmonious and well-balanced champagne. $53.95*

This ready-to-pour cocktail, composed of Italian sparkling wine and high-quality orange juice is a refreshing aperitif, with perfect balance between sugars and acidity. It’s low in both alcoholic (5.5%) and caloric content and a wholly natural product. Chill and enjoy it now to fully appreciate the harmonious blend of flavours. $16.95*