Chardonnay Reserve 2023

VQA NIAGARA RIVER | 750ML

VINTAGE & VITICULTURE

A mild winter followed by a warm spring led to early bud break, raising hopes for an abundant harvest. However, the summer brought unexpected challenges, including sporadic heatwaves and intermittent rainfall. Timely irrigation and canopy management played critical roles in ensuring grapes could uptake all the required nutrients from the soil and ripen fully.

WINEMAKER’S NOTES

This reserve wine was made using our oldest four-acre block of chardonnay planted in 1981. A slow warm fermentation in stainless steel was followed by aging nine months in new French oak, a departure from previous vintages which were aged partly in American oak.

TASTING NOTES

A superbly elegant wine with classic notes of apple and stone fruit as well as subtle aromas of hazelnut and vanilla. Smooth rich tannins on the palate with layered complexity as a result of oak aging. Always ideal to pair with salmon beurre blanc, a creamy angel hair pasta or buttery shellfish. For a special occasion, match with hazelnut crusted chicken breast or pork crown roast with homemade apple sauce.

RESIDUAL SUGAR: 2g/L

ALCOHOL/VOLUME: 13.5%

BRIX AT HARVEST: 22.7

TOTAL ACIDITY: 4.3g/L

AGING IN OAK: 9 months

AGEABILITY: 3 to 10 years