Thomas Bachelder is the winemaker behind the Clos Jordanne label. But he also has his own endeavours including Niagara. He has a golden reputation for his Chardonnays. So lets try his Ardoise Chardonnay from Beamsville, Ontario which was made from grapes grown throughout the Niagara Peninsula.
Most likely aged in neutral French oak barrels as the oak has a light touch here. If you like big oaked Chardonnay this wine is not for you. It is a mid weight wine with aromas of apple, pear, lime and wet slate. On the palate it verges on creaminess with notes of grapefruit, arugula and pineapple. A bit of spice on the finish. Good to sip on its own but its tad of gruffness on the palate suggests it is a good match with food such as grilled chicken or filet of sole Florentine.
Give it another year in the bottle and the gruffness might vanish. It will sail into 2025 but take down the sails after that. For those tired of the acidity in so many white wines this will be a nice alternative. The acidity is so nicely tucked away here!
(L’Ardoise Bachelder Niagara 2020 Chardonnay, VQA Niagara Peninsula, Bachelder, Beamsville, Ontario, $24.95, Liquor Control Board of Ontario # 302083, 750 mL, 13%, RKS Wine Rating 91/100).
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