wine review: Cloudsley Wingfield Vineyard Chardonnay 2023, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Escarpment, Ontario

June 2025 Matt's review: From one of Niagara’s most compelling single vineyards, Cloudsley's 2023 Wingfield Vineyard Chardonnay delivers a stunning expression of cool-climate winemaking and site-specific nuance. The Wingfield Vineyard, planted in 1993 with Clone 76 Chardonnay, lies just uphill from the celebrated Foxcroft Vineyard on the Twenty Mile Bench, yet it carves its own... Continue Reading →

wine review: St. Hugo Chardonnay 2023 – Eden Valley, Australia – now at LCBO

St. Hugo Chardonnay stands as a great example of Eden Valley’s cool-climate elegance. From the first encounter, the nose is alive with zesty citrus, delicate stone fruit, and a blend of fresh herbs, melon, and a whisper of pineapple. These aromas are beautifully restrained, leaning towards crisp citrus rather than the heavy tropical fruit notes found in warmer climates. An exceptional expression of Eden Valley, this wine is already impressive, yet it holds the potential to age gracefully over the next decade.

Wine review: Stratus White 2021

Stratus White 2021 combines elegance and intensity in every sip. Whether enjoyed on its own or paired with a delectable culinary creation, it’s sure to leave a lasting impression, exactly why I recommend buying by the case. Although it’s showing beautifully now, expect further evolution and complexity gains over the next decade. Tasted July 2023, 94+ points. Matt Steeves - http://www.quercusvino.ca

#wine review: 2017 Arterra Pinot Noir

Ottawa, ON April 2019 Matt's review: 2017 Arterra Pinot Noir benefits from a touch of appassimento winemaking where a portion of the grapes were carefully set aside and left to dry for a period of time after harvesting, similar to what they do in Valpolicella (Italy) with the iconic Amarone wines, before the partially dehydrated... Continue Reading →

92+ pts #wine review: #Icellars 2016 Chardonnay

Ottawa, ON April 2018 Matt's review: Icellars are producing some of Canada's finest wines, from their boutique Niagara-On-The-Lake winery. Their 2016 Chardonnay (130 cases produced), from their Icel (estate) Vineyard, displays a light gold colour, revealing baked apple, tart pineapple, melon, croissant, white floral aromas, and minerality on the nose. Medium bodied and remarkably fresh, this... Continue Reading →

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