wine review: Norman Hardie County Pinot Noir 2020

Ottawa, ON

June 2024

It had been several years since I last tasted a Norman Hardie wine, so tasting through a few of their offerings at the Taste Ontario event this spring was a great reminder of how impressive their wines can be. Hardie’s wines from Ontario’s Prince Edward County wine region are renowned for their limestone influence, with great minerality and structure, complexity and balance. Over the last decade Hardie’s Prince Edward County wines have impressed wine enthusiasts around the world, including finding their way on wine lists at over 40 Michelin Star restaurants – restauranteurs appreciating the great style and food-friendly nature of their cool-climate wines which offer an exciting (and affordable) alternative to premium Burgundy.

Norman Hardie (Prince Edward) County Pinot Noir from the impressive five star 2020 vintage: As soon as you pour it in the glass there’s a pronounced flinty limestone influence that emerges from the bouquet. The nose shows expressive cherry, raspberry, dried cranberry, floral and dried herbs, cured meat and that PEC signature flinty limestone minerality. The palate repeats with incredible harmony – this Pinot is in such a sweet spot now – all components beautifully integrated, in perfect harmony and at a delightfully low ABV (12.5%) for the intensity of the wine. One of the best offerings I’ve tasted from PEC over the past two decades and a fantastic example of the high quality wines being produced in PEC. If you enjoy premium Burgundy, you’ll want to keep your eyes on this up and coming region and the expressive limestone influenced cool-climate wines they’re producing. Enjoy over the next five years, but no need to wait to experience the greatness of this vintage. Tasted June 2024. 96 points. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Available winery-direct $59