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Tastings: April 2025
09 April 2025
92PTS
Mac Forbes Chardonnay 2022
Yarra Valley, Victoria, AustraliaThis is Mac Forbes Yarra Valley chardy overview, with fruit crom grower and winery-farmed vineyards across the Upper Yarra and valley floor. Destemmed and crushed fruit was native fermented in old barriques on lees, aging 11 months in older oak of varying sizes, and going to bottle without fining. Kisses of alluring flinty reduction are easily woven throughout this smart, slight (11.5%) white, carrying crystalline lemon, green apple, pencil shavings, and flake salt along the lees-decked palate. A lovely, serious Yarra overview.Prices:| BC | $50.00 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Bartier Bros. Pristine Chardonnay 2024
Columbia Valley, Washington, United StatesThe Pristine Chard is grown at Soaring Eagle Vineyard in the Wahluke Slope AVA of Washington State. The replacement wine was made in Oliver, BC, by winemaker Michael Bartier, known for his pristine wines. Bartier chose 40 year old vines grown in hot, fine, sandy loam soils with a southern aspect, not unlike much of the south Okanagan. It was night harvested, destemmed, crushed, and pressed immediately before being transported to Bartier Bros, arriving in BC before lunch. The wine could not be made any simpler. It was fermented in stainless steel and spent a modicum of time on its fine lees before being bottled. The nose has an attractive, sweet, red apple aroma. The palate is a pure, pristine green apple and citrus affair with a short finish. It is ready to drink at 12.5% alcohol. Perfect for spaghetti vongole, especially at $19.Prices:| BC | $18.99 | 750ml |
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88PTS
Domaine Artema Chardonnay 2023
CanadaDomaine Artema has taken over the old Desert Hills property on Black Sage Road across from Phantom Creek and Burrowing Owl Vineyards. This village chardonnay is made from hand picked, destemmed fruit that is pressed and fermented in a 50/50 mix of stainless steel and neutral French oak barrels, mixing indigenous and selected yeasts. The final blend spent some time in new French oak before bottling up the mouthfeel. The nose is fresh, pitching apple orchard fruit that spills onto the palate. The flavours vacillate between apricots and citrus, with a dusting of sagebrush and yellow fruit at the end. Clean, simple, austere, and ready to drink, it is best served now with creamy pasta or fish dishes.Prices:| BC | $34.90 | 750ml |
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91PTS
Maison Smith Montpetit Chardonnay 2023
Cawston, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Cawston Flats are home to this Similkameen Valley chardonnay grown at the estate Champs Alizés vineyard. The chardonnay is handpicked at 2 tons per acre, whole cluster pressed and cold fermented in oak for 7 weeks. The wine and fresh lees goes to barrel to finish the ferment before ageing in 50% new French oak barrels that get regular bâtonnage every 2 weeks. Full malolactic provides this wine with a magical, creamy texture mixing with nutty stone fruit, bright acidity, and rich toasted oak. It's an impressive start for this winery, making it well worth watching. The Similkameen is beginning to fulfill its wine promise, making wild and excellent wines. The Valley is surrounded by high elevation mountains, oriented north-south, allowing maximum sunlight but with no lake impact to moderate temperatures. By mid-afternoon, the winds howl, keeping the vineyard fresh and dry. Summer brings dramatic diurnal effects, with temperatures rising and falling some +/- 20C in 24 hours. The soils mix poor, deep sandy loams and rich valley bottom soils, along with rocky hillsides and benchlands dotted with alluvial fans. Maison Smith Montpetit soils sit at Cawston Flats located at the 49th parallel. They are marked by a mix of heavy, rich soil over river rock with loam, sand and gravel (2-5 ft deep). It has some river/water table influence and is part of the windiest area. Diminished vigour enhances grape quality, helps organic viticulture, and gives some frost protection.Prices:| BC | $34.99 | 750ml |
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90PTS
Stag's Hollow Renaissance Chardonnay Herrera Vineyard 2022
Similkameen Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Stag's Hollow Renaissance has changed neighbourhoods, but the wine is fine. The last time out in 2021 was Naramata based, but in 2022, the winery has turned to the windswept vineyards of the Similkameen Valley, namely Herrera Vineyard. It's a softer version that will appeal to a particular crowd with more oxidative almond notes and a smooth finish. It has all the earmarks of a ripe chardonnay, yet it sits at a perfectly light 12.6% alcohol. It would be a fine match for lobster, a creamy seafood dish, or an equally soft and creamy cheese.Prices:| BC | $36.87 | 750ml |
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89PTS
Quails' Gate Chardonnay 2022
West Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia, CanadaThe Quails’ Gate Chardonnay is a friendly introduction to serious BC chardonnay. It comes from several family owned sites and is fermented in a mix of vessels from stainless steel tanks to neutral French oak. It goes through partial malolactic fermentation to add a creamy character while retaining freshness. The attack is a balanced mix of citrus and creamy bakery notes spiked with fresh pear and barrel spice. The stylish, round, and easy to drink white is the perfect chardonnay at a price point you can serve to crowds. Shellfish, halibut, and roasted chicken all work here.Prices:| BC | $26.99 | 750ml |
| AB | $25.99 | 750ml |
| SK | $26.99 | 750ml |
| ON | $24.95 | 750ml |
| NS | $26.00 | 750ml |
| MB | $25.98 | 750ml |
| NB | $24.99 | 750ml |
| QC | $25.50 | 750ml |
| NL | $24.98 | 750ml |
| PE | $24.99 | 750ml |
| YK | $24.90 | 750ml |
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