Thomas Bachelder has opened the first retail outlet on the Beamsville Bench in rented space at Locust Lane and will start selling his wines on line on November 1. See https://thomasbachelder.com/
I tasted through the portfolio:
Bachelder Niagara Chardonnay 2017
Yellow straw colour; apple, oak spice nose with a touch of barnyard; medium-bodied, dry, harmonious, rich mouth-feel with flavours of yellow apple and lemon with a thread of minerality. (91)
Bachelder “Les Villages” Niagara Réserve Chardonnay 2017
Yellow straw colour; minerally, lightly toasty apple nose; medium-bodied, dry, fresh and lively on the palate with apple and tangerine flavours. Beautifully balance with well-integrated oak. Lovely mouth-feel. (92)
Bachelder Wismer-Wingfield Vineyard Chardonnay 2015
Light gold colour; mature, toasty, apple nose; medium-bodied, mouth-filling and rich apple, peach and lemon flavours with a note of caramel. Well-balanced and intense. (90)
Bachelder Wismer-Foxcroft Vineyard Chardonnay 2015
Light gold colour; minerally, undergrowth nose of apple and citrus; medium-bodied, ripe (almost sweet) apple and green pineapple flavours, held in check by lively acidity. Good length. (90)
Bachelder Wismer-Foxcroft “Nord” Chardonnay 2016
Light gold colour; minerally, earthy nose of apple, medium-bodied, dry, very Burgundian in style with fresh acidity and well-integrated oak. Sustains well on the palate. (93)
Bachelder Wismer Winfield “Ouest” Chardonnay 2016
Bright light gold in colour; minerally, apple with a barnyard note; medium-bodied, dry with rich extraction of apple flavour balanced by lemony acidity. The suggestion of oak rounds out the palate. A very harmonious, seamless wine. (93)
Bachelder Wingfield “Est” Chardonnay 2016
Bright, light gold colour; minerally, lightly floral, apple nose with the suggestion of oak; medium-bodied, dry, peachy, pear and apple flavours carried on zesty, lemony acidity. Lovely mouth-feel and long in the mouth to a firm finish. (93)
Bachelder Saunders-Haut Vineyard 2015
Bright, golden straw colour; minerally, slightly earthy, apple nose with oak spice notes; medium-bodied, dry, mouth-filling, richly extracted flavours of peach and apple with balancing acidity. (92)
Bachelder Niagara “Cru” Gamay Noir Wismer-Foxcraft 2017
Deep ruby red in colour; lightly spicy red plum and cherry nose with a note of pencil shavings; light to medium-bodied, dry, fresh, cherry flavour; fruity, sour cherry finish. (89)
Bachelder Niagara “Les Villages” Gamay Noir 2017
Deep ruby colour; lightly floral, cherry nose with a mineral note; light to medium-bodied, red cherry and red plum flavours with lively acidity with a sour cherry finish. (89)
Bachelder Pinot Noir “Les Villages” 2016
Medium ruby; lifted nose of raspberries with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, raspberry and cranberry flavours with lively acidity and a firm finish of resolved tannins. (89)
Bachelder Lowry Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
Medium ruby in colour; lightly floral, raspberry nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, Volnay-style; well-balanced and firmly structured, beautifully balanced with a firm finish. (91)
Bachelder Lowry Vineyard Pinot Noir 2016
Medium ruby colour; lightly earthy, beetroot and raspberry bouquet with a floral grace note and vanilla oak notes; medium-bodied, dry, red plum and raspberry flavours; firmly structured with supple tannins. (90)
Bachelder Lowry “One Barrel” Vieilles Vignes 2016
Deeper in colour than the straight Lowry Vineyard bottling; lightly cedary nose of raspberries; medium-bodied, elegant, dry, lovely mouth-feel; firmly structured with raspberry and red plum flavours. (93)
Bachelder Wismer-Parke “Ouest” Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017
Solid ruby colour; minerally, lightly floral (violets), raspberry with oak spice on the nose; medium-bodied, richly-extracted raspberry and red plum flavours heightened by the presence of ripe tannins. Beautifully balanced and harmonious. Power and grace in a glass. (93)