Corinna scored this wine: 88/100

G. Gruet & Fils Blanc de Blancs Brute might be on the bottom of the shelf as far as price goes, but it offers more than your typical budget friendly bubbly. A bouquet of crisp apple and pear with hints of minerality so often associated with chardonnay and a picture perfect effervescence, boiling and rolling in your glass like a true champagne should. It goes down smooth and easy. Refreshing and light, there’s a reason this wine is seeing a spike in popularity and being donned with the occasional gold metal.

Corinna scored this wine: 87/100

A golden rose stunner, the Blason de Bourgogne Crémant de Bourgogne Brut boasts a big bite and a gorgeous, fizzy froth. The nose takes time to open, revealing a soft candy-floss aroma under the biscuit that first strikes you. The bubbles travel straight and true, with little variance, the mark of solid fermentation. Pair with a sesame dressed Asian salad, a bite of smoked salmon, beer can chicken (OK, not the height of romance), almond crusted trout, lobster with caper butter (there we go, that’s romance), or a cheese souffle. The Blason Crémant de Bourgogne Brut Rosé is our new house favorite because it also snuggles up nicely with an all dressed pizza. That’s my kind of romance. Casual, yet refined. Chin chin.

Corinna scored this wine: 85/100

With it’s delicate rose colour and feminine label, Désiré Petit Cremant du Jura is a wine built for romance that won’t gut your wallet. Retailing for $22.95 (CAD) but seen south of the 49th parallel for as low as $15 (USD) this is a sound value for an evenly structured sparkling rosé. The structure here comes from the wine’s solo grape varietal, Pinot Noir making for a smooth, creamy mousse. The bouquet of cranberry, red current and a whiff of raspberry open you to a light, fruity, flavour with an after bite of sour cherry that remains, lingering on your lips as you wait, open mouthed, to be kissed. It is, after all, French.

Corinna scored this wine: 89/100

Lip smakingly dry with a slightly astringent bite that makes for such a great food wine, a wine that makes you salivate is a wine to enjoy with dinner. Medium bodied, with that signature cherry back and hint of barn; a true taste of Burgundy without breaking the bank. Solid entry level Burgundy wine from a winemaker with a linage of style and tradition. This is a wine that will make you thirsty for more. Hold on to your wallet. Pair with a simple butter herb roasted chicken, a tangy frieze salad (with a poached egg and lardons!) or a ripe, semi-firm sheep's milk cheese.

Corinna scored this wine: 91/100

Woodsy, with deep fruit and hit of spice. It's in tense dark cherry is a reminder of why I love Valpolicella and all it's richness and complexity. The tannins are broad and smooth making this a deceptively charming wine, next thing you know you're wondering where it went! Pair with duck confit grilled cheese, raclette, rack of lamb, or a spicy tartar.