Thirty Bench Small Lot Chardonnay Extended Barrel Aged 2021 – Beamsville Bench, Ontario

Matt’s review: This is a beautifully poised, terroir-driven Chardonnay that speaks with quiet confidence and Burgundian grace. From the first swirl, the nose is lifted and detailed, offering delicate stone fruit, orchard fruit, pear, crisp apple, and a subtle brush of floral and mango tones, all underlined by a vibrant limestone minerality that immediately evokes the Beamsville Bench. The palate is where this wine truly shines: zesty citrus, wet stone, and fine spice unfold in a layered, elegant profile. There’s superb freshness and restraint, with lightly toasted oak framing — not masking — the wine’s complex fruit and lively texture. The result is a Chardonnay of precision, finesse, and quiet power. More in the style of fine white Burgundy than a common New World expression, this wine showcases what the Bench does best: elegance, freshness, and completeness. A top-tier effort from Thirty Bench and a strong statement on the potential of Niagara Chardonnay. Tasted May 2025. 94+ points. Cellar-worthy, but compelling now. Matt Steeves – http://www.quercusvino.ca

Available winery-direct $36