Aside from a good night’s sleep, Mom wants a glass of Champagne to celebrate Mother’s Day. If she’s a literary mom, she might enjoy a book, too, especially if she plans to spend the day in bed. The Widow Clicquot is a great read. It traces the career of the determined and talented woman who developed one of France’s great Champagne houses.
A lot of mums also appreciate a lovely glass of pretty pink Rosé. It makes her think she might be sitting at a café in Provence on a sunny afternoon, with nothing else to do except decide where to eat dinner. The LCBO has a whole Rosé section at this time of year, so it’s easy to pick one out, such as Listel Gris Rosé, from Provence. Rosé is made in several regions and with styles ranging from extra-dry to semi-sweet, so you won’t have any trouble grabbing a bottle or two…you could almost do it with your eyes closed.
Some Mums really, really want a Martini. That calls for gin, or an excellent vermouth and maybe an olive or twist of lemon for garnish.
Okay, the pressure is off, you know what to do. Here are a few suggestions to save you time this weekend.
Veuve Clicquot Brut Imperial is a perennial favourite, with its delicate notes of apples, pears and brioche and its fine, frothy bubbles. The name spells luxury, and Mom wants to be spoiled a little bit on Mother’s Day. Pair it with orange juice, or with brie cheese, a dish of macadamia nuts, meringue cookies or a dish of strawberries.
Dry • 12% • LCBO #563338 • $76.15
If you can snag a bottle of this, you can support our own Canadian wine industry as you enjoy a low-alcohol, sparkling wine crafted in beautiful Nova Scotia. Nova 7 has put Nova Scotia’s sparkling wine industry on the world map. It’s a little like an Italian Moscato but showcases a truly Canadian twist with the saline minerality that reflects its Maritime terroir. Aromatic and flavourful, it’s low in alcohol at 6.5%. It shows aromas of mango, marigold blossoms, peach, green apple, lime and Asian pear, repeated on the palate with a creamy texture and characteristic minerality. The bright acidity balances its slight sweetness—a guaranteed hit when served with fish tacos, lobster or fresh fruit.
Off dry • 6.5% • LCBO Vintages# 256289 • $25.95
Listel is the best-selling Rosé brand in France. It’s easy to see why, as you sip this pale pink wine, with its aromas and flavours of fresh peach, strawberry and apricot. There are herbal and floral notes, too, to round out the profile of this medium-bodied Rosé. Although it’s dry, it gives an impression of some sweetness on the palate, due to the summery fruit flavours. The crisp acidity makes it versatile with food and the fruit notes linger on the finish. This is a lovely sipper, or pair it with a smoked trout salad. It offers excellent value at this price.
Extra Dry • 12% • LCBO# 15568 • $12.90
Bombay Sapphire is ideal for mixing your favourite gin cocktails, with its refreshing aromas and flavours of juniper, herbs and citrus. Bombay uses a unique vapour infusion process to craft its gin, and uses up to 12 botanicals suspended above the spirit in perforated copper baskets during distillation. As the heated spirit vapours rise, they’re gently infused with all the rich aromatic flavours that the botanicals release. It’s an excellent option for gin lovers.
Dry • 40% • LCBO# 316844 • $34.95 • 750 ml
A truly lovely vermouth, with fresh apple, melon and white flower notes, balanced with beautifully aromatic botanical notes. The Piedmontese mint and lemon peels bring bright herbaceous notes on the refreshing palate.
Extra dry • 16% • LCBO Vintages# 38001 • $30.95 • 500 ml
And if your mother is a non-drinker, you can take her out for coffee because all she really wants is to see your smiling face.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the magnificent mothers out there!
For more wine and food discovery from Jane Staples, visit www.bellovinoj.com
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