Thomas Bachelder

June 1^st: Tasted a raft of 13^th Street wines.

13^th Street white wines

13^th Street Winery Expression Series Riesling 2022 (Niagara Peninsula)
Pale straw in colour; minerally, lightly floral nose of citrus fruits; light-bodied, crisply dry, lime and grapefruit flavours. (89)

13^th Street Winery June’s Riesling 2023 (Creek Shores)
White gold colour; floral, grapefruit nose with a thread of minerality; light-bodied, dry, elegant, lemon-lime and grapefruit flavours; in in the mouth. (91)

13^th Street Winery Gewurztraminer (non-vintage, Ontario)
Golden straw in colour; honeysuckle and lychee bouquet with a suggestion of oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, perfumed lychee and passionfruit flavours. Well-balanced. Drinking well now but the nose will develop with a year or two in bottle. (89)

13^th Street red wines

13^th Street Winery Cabernet Franc 2022 (Ontario)
Deep purple in colour; cedary, black cherry nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, savoury, sour cherry flavour; well-structured with ripe tannins. (89)

13^th Street Winery Sandstone Gamay 2022 (Niagara Peninsula)
Deep-ruby-crimson in colour; toasty, cherry nose with a note of violets; medium-bodied, dry, fresh and lively on the palate with cherry and red plum flavours and a firm finish. Chillable. (89)

13^th Street Winery Malbec Reserve 2020 (Niagara Peninsula)
Purple-ruby in colour; cedary, blackberry nose with a light floral top note; medium-bodied, dry, juicy blueberry and blackberry flavours; well-balanced and firmly structured, with well-integrated oak. (90)

Monday, June 3^rd: A tasting at Le Clos Jordanne’s new home, the former Angels Gate, conducted by winemaker Thomas Bachelder.

The new home of Le Clos Jordanne, the former Angels Gate Winery

We started with a welcome glass of Champagne A. Margaine Blanc de Blanc Extra Brut, followed by Le Clos Jordanne’s first sparkling wine, Crémant de Jordanne 2020 ($35), made from Pinot Noir.

Reception champagne

In Burgundian fashion, our tasting began with the Pinot Noirs before the Chardonnays.

Technical notes for tasting

Le Clos Jordanne Village Pinot Noir 2021 (Niagara Peninsula, $29.95)
Ruby colour; raspberry nose with a top note of violets; medium-bodied, dry, elegant; wild strawberry flavour with a thread of minerality. Well-integrated oak and great balance. Great value.

Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Pinot Noir 2021 (Twenty Mile Bench, $42)
Ruby colour; chalky, raspberry nose; medium-bodied, dry; firmly structured, earthy red berry flavour; well-balanced but still corseted with tannins. Needs time. (90–92)

Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir 2021 (20 Mile Bench, $49.95)
Ruby colour; tightly wound, floral, red berry bouquet with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, richly extracted, Chambertin-style; lovely mouthfeel with a saline finish. (94)

Le Clos Jordanne Village Chardonnay 2021 (Niagara Peninsula, $29.95)
Bright straw colour with a lime tint; toasty, apple nose; medium-bodied, dry, apple and lemon flavours with a creamy mouthfeel; beautifully balanced with well-integrated oak and a saline note on the finish. (92)

Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Chardonnay 2021 (20 Mile Bench, $49.95)
Bright straw colour with a lime tint; to medium-bodied, dry, toasty, apple nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, lovely mouthfeel; a seamless wine with a thread of minerality and great length. (95)

Le Clos Jordanne Le Grand Clos Chardonnay 2021 (20 Mile Bench, $49.95)
Bright straw in colour; toasty, spicy, apple nose with notes of vanilla oak; medium-bodied, dry; richly extracted, Puligny-Montrachet-style; full on the palate with a lovely mouthfeel. (95)

Le Clos Jordanne Claystone Terrace Pinot Noir 2022
Ruby colour; earthy, floral bouquet of raspberries; medium-bodied, dry, tight and firmly structured; lovely mouthfeel. needs 2–3 years, (92–94)

Le Clos Jordanne Beamsville Estate Chardonnay 2023
Bright straw in colour with a lime tint; toasty, apple nose with oak spice; medium-bodied, dry, elegant, lovely mouthfeel. Great length. (92)

Charcuterie plate

After the tasting (and a charcuterie plate of local produce), we repaired outside for a barrel tasting in the driveway of the 2022 Claystone Terrace Chardonnay and the 2023 Beamsville Estate Chardonnay conducted by Thomas and Arterra’s Brand winemaker Philip Brown. Exciting wines.

Thomas Bachelder and Philip Brown conducted an al fresco barrel tasting

Also tasted this week:

Jackson-Triggs Okanagan Shiraz 2005 made by Bruce Nicholson, who gave me the bottle when we had lunch together last month:
Deep purple in colour; spicy, blackberry nose with evident vanilla-tinged oak; full-bodied, dry, savoury, licorice, black olive, dark chocolate and mulberry flavours; well-balanced, with a fine spine of acidity – and very much alive for a 19-year-old BC wine. (93)

Pentâge Fizz Blanc 2020
Ehrenfleser and Gewurztraminer, Palest straw in colour with a lime tint; aromatic, lilac and citrus bouquet; light-bodied, on the dry side of off-dry; crisp grapefruit, peach and lychee flavours. Refreshing. (89)

Pentâge Rosé 2020
A field blend of 10 different varieties. Deep pink colour; minerally, strawberry/raspberry nose; medium-bodied, dry, raspberry and cranberry flavours with a flinty note, carried on lively acidity. (90)

Pentâge Syrah 2016
Deep purple in colour; cedary, herbal nose of blackberries with oak spice; medium to full-bodied, dry, savoury, black olive and black fruit flavours with well-integrated oak and balancing acidity. (89)

Pentâge Merlot 2016
Mature ruby colour; toasty, spicy, blueberry nose; medium to full-bodied, dry, richly extracted black plum and blueberry flavours; well-balanced with a firm finish of pliant tannins. (90)

Pentâge Pinot Noir 2018
Light ruby in colour; cherry pit bouquet with oak spice notes; medium-bodied, dry, lean and sinewy raspberry and cranberry flavours with a fresh acidic finish. (89)

Pentâge Hiatus Red 2015
A blend of 50% Petite Sirah, 22% Merlot, 10% Syrah, 1% Cabernet Franc, 4% Mourvèdre, 4% Zinfandel. Opaque purple in colour; cedary, sweet oak, plum and blackcurrant bouquet; medium to full-bodied, dry, lightly spicy, blackberry and black plum flavours; firmly structured and well-balanced. (90)