Bachelder 2022 Gamay – Wismer-Foxcroft Single Vineyard, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara, Ontario

Thomas Bachelder always seems to be working with the best vineyards in each region to produce his award winning wines. That certainly is the case for Bachelder's 2022 Gamay Noir from Craig Wismer's Foxcroft Vineyard. 13% ABV and 34% whole cluster pressed. Released in Spring 2024, the 2022 Gamay Noir is a light ruby colour, and the nose shows bright cherry, tart raspberry, savoury herbs and and fresh cut hay, with distinct flinty minerality aromas - a very complex bouquet with great intensity. The palate is harmonious, beautifully integrated dark cherry, herbs, and spices with a refreshing and lively profile, the great acidity and delicate polished tannins inviting a savoury autumn dish to complement the experience. Showing beautifully now and structured to age gracefully, suggest enjoying over the next five (possibly ten) years with creamy mushroom risotto, beef Stroganoff or grilled lamb with a cherry reduction. Tasted July 2024. 93 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca Available winery-direct $33

Premium Burgundy Alternative You Need To Taste… and it’s not Pinot Noir… or from France.

Thomas Bachelder is renowned for his focus on producing ultra premium single vineyard wines throughout the Niagara Peninsula. Although Thomas produces some of the best and most sought after single vineyard Pinot and Chardonnay in Ontario, his latest project includes 9 single vineyard expressions of Gamay Noir from the Niagara region that highlight the great 2022 vintage. One that particularly impressed me was his newest single vineyard Gamay Noir from Corey Mio's Lincoln Lakeshore Sub Appellation vineyard in Beamsville, Ontario, located just below the Beamsville Bench.

wine review: Cloudsley Cellars 2020 Foxcroft Vineyard Chardonnay, VQA Twenty Mile Bench, Ontario, Canada

Each year Cloudsley Cellars are producing some of the best expressions of Canadian Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from their winery situated along the Twenty Mile Bench of the Niagara Peninsula. Their 2020 Foxcroft Vineyard Chardonnay is no exception. Proprietor Adam Lowy and winemaker Matt Smith source the grapes for this wine from a select parcel of the highly acclaimed Wismer Foxcroft Vineyard along the Twenty Mile Bench. Foxcroft Vineyard was planted in 1996 with Dijon Clone 96, and for the past two decades Foxcroft Vineyard has been renowned for producing many of the region's best wines, earing it a Cru-quality reputation, arguably one of the best single vineyards in the region, if not the best.

wine review: 2022 Gradis’Ciutta Ribolla Gialla Collio DOC, Italy – look for it in LCBO soon…

Italy's Collio DOC is renowned for producing many of the finest white wines in Italy. Nestled in the north east of Italy, along the Slovenian border, near the base of the Julian Alps and the shores of the Adriatic Sea, it's here where the unique Ponca soils that are found in the region's hilly vineyards create the ideal terroir for crafting expressive wines with outstanding structure, aromatic and flavour complexity, pronounced minerality, and ageability characteristics.

Wine review: Poplar Grove Pinot Noir 2022

Ottawa, ON July 2024 Matt’s review: Pinot Noir from the Okanagan Valley’s Naramata Bench can be absolutely incredible as they have great terroir for producing expressive terroir-driven wines thanks to the mineral rich soils, varying elevations and west facing aspects, northen latitude with long days, significant diurnal temperature differences, and of course the moderating effects... Continue Reading →

Wine review: Dr.L. Riesling 2022

Ottawa, ON August 2024 Matt’s review: From the northerly Mosel wine region, where some of the world’s finest Riesling are produced, Loosen Bros’ 2022 Dr. L. Riesling is an expressive, elegant, and beautifully balanced off-dry Riesling that over delivers on value. The nose shows fragrant floral blossoms, jasmine and honeysuckle, with orchard fruit, wildflower honey,... Continue Reading →

Wine review: Hester Creek “The Judge” 2021, Golden Mile Bench, Okanagan Valley, BC, Canada

The Judge 2021 is a deep ruby colour with slight garnet hue, the nose shows dark plum, black berries, dark cherry, savoury desert herbs, cedar, earth, and graphite. The palate shows great intensity of flavour with refreshing plum, fine integrated dusty tannins, with savoury dark fruit, spice, and pepper persisting on the long textured finish. A serious wine that beautifully showcases the unique vintage characteristics from this esteemed Golden Mile Bench estate. Enjoy over the next decade with rosemary and garlic grilled lamb chops or Parmesan crusted steak skewers. Tasted July 2024 and July 2025. 94 points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca

wine review: Norman Hardie County Pinot Noir 2020

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.

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