Vintages New Release Collection – March 29, 2025

Burgundy Chardonnay

Almond / Vanilla / Crushed-Stone Minerality

Pear

Apple / Spice / Wet-Stone Minerality

Ontario Chardonnay

WESTCOTT ESTATE CHARDONNAY 2022 6 VQA Niagara Escarpment, Ontario, sustainable This ended up as a blend of mostly the Westcott Home Farm and a bit of Butlers’ Grant fruit. It was hand-picked and whole bunch pressed with no sulphur added at time of crushing and aged in 100% French oak (20% new) barrels for 10 months. This Chardonnay and the ones to follow are all wild fermented. Such freshness on the nose with stony minerality, pear, bergamot, yellow apples and gentle spice notes. Turns richer on the palate with quince, lemon tart, wet stones, subtle spices and a long, echoing, crisp finish. Score: 92 (Rick VanSickle, winesinniagara.com, Aug. 6, 2024) Full-bodied & Rich 424507 (XD) 750 mL $29.95 2 DOMAINE BERGER-RIVE LA CHAUME RULLY 2022 AC, Burgundy, France A balanced, engaging, floral wine, with quince, lemon, peach, pear, almond, stone, and a deli cate spice on the close. Pair this with seafood, chicken alfredo, or a creamy vegetable risotto. It will drink through the early 2030s. Full-bodied & Rich 43044 (XD) 750 mL $39.95 2 New at Vintages

Chardonnay BURGUNDY AND ONTARIO

Chardonnay can express terroir with absolute precision. The challenge for winemakers, whether in the grape’s native Burgundy or here in Ontario, is to strike a balance between the choices of the winemaker (including the use and degree of oak influence) and Chardonnay’s fragile transparency. This is the razor’s edge that separates superior- quality Chardonnay from generic expressions. The high quality of Niagara’s Chardonnay is a result of our cool climate and limestone- rich soils; factors we have in common with Burgundy. Both regions produce lean, minerally wines, but Niagara’s examples exhibit slightly bolder fruit expression, concentration and texture.

10 VINTAGES