What happened in Niagara shocked even Burgundy veterans.
On August 23rd, 2025, something extraordinary happened at Black Bank Hill Winery in the Niagara Benchlands.
A dozen wines. Twenty-four collectors. One epic showdown between Burgundy and Canada.
The vibe? Electric. Excited whispers filled the vineyard as glasses clinked and the tasting mats with twelve carefully chosen wines were laid out before us. Legendary winemaker Thomas Bachelder leaned in, ready to share his deep knowledge of Burgundian terroir. Collectors and Canadian wine super-fans held their breath.
For the first time in our six years as a club, we pitted Canadian Pinot Noir and Chardonnay head-to-head with Burgundy—the world’s benchmark.
And the results surprised even us.
Why This Tasting Mattered
Burgundy is the gold standard for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay. Canadian wines are the upstart challenger.
Side-by-side tastings like this are rare. They cut through hype, price tags, and labels, and reveal what’s truly in the glass.
One important note: Burgundian wines generally show their best after at least 5–6 years of aging. Most of what’s available in Canada right now are younger vintages, which makes comparisons tricky. (The same can be true for Canadian wines, though with our younger regions we have far less historical data on aging potential.)
Even so, the Canadian wines more than held their ground. In several cases, they outshone their Burgundian counterparts—often at half the price.
Above: Canadian wine lovers gather before the Canada-Burgundy tasting at Black Bank Hill Winery near Beamsville, Ontario.
Highlights From the Showdown
Here’s what stood out, with my own tasting impressions:
2022 Domaine Bouchard Père & Fils Meursault ($130) – 92pts
vs
2023 Bachelder “Hill of Wingfield” Chardonnay – Ontario ($70) – 95pts
Thomas himself struggled to pick out his own Chardonnay in a semi-blind taste beside the Meursault. His wife Mary had to convince him that the Hill of Wingfield wasn’t the Meursault. Rich, layered, with a mineral finish that wouldn’t quit—the Canadian wine at half the price was simply on another level.
2023 Famille Gueguen Chablis Premier Cru “Vaucoupin” ($75) – 90pts
vs
2020 Closson Chase “Churchside Vineyard” Chardonnay – Ontario ($70) – 93pts
The Chablis brought freshness, but Closson Chase delivered more texture and depth. Ilya Senchuk of Leaning Post admitted the Canadian pairings were far closer than he expected—and this matchup proved his point.
2023 Capuano-Ferreri Santenay Premier Cru “La Comme” ($160) – 92pts
vs
2022 Meyer Family “Micro-Cuvée” Chardonnay – BC ($70) – 94pts
This was a collector’s “aha” moment. Meyer’s Micro-Cuvée showed stunning minerality, vibrant acidity, and finesse—at nearly $100 less than the Santenay. Member Geoff Lebano summed it up best: “As an accountant, I’d rather buy two Meyers than one Capuano-Ferreri La Comme. The value proposition isn’t even close.”
2019 Pascal Clement Aloxe-Corton Premier Cru “Les Valozieres” ($105) – 94pts
vs
2020 Da Silva “Legado” Pinot Noir – BC ($70) – 93pts
At six years of age, the Aloxe-Corton was in its prime. Even so, Richard Da Silva’s Legado Pinot held its own with depth and balance. Marc Nadeau, founder of L’Academie du Vin Toronto, tipped his hat to Richard for such a showing against a Burgundy in peak form.
2022 Maison Chanzy Mercurey Monopole “Le Bois Cassien” ($60) – 92pts
vs
2022 Lightning Rock “Canyonview Vineyard” Pinot Noir – BC ($45) – 93+pts
This was the surprise of the tasting for me. I’ve been saying for a while that Summerland is an emerging region for world-class Pinot Noir, but Lightning Rock exceeded even my expectations. A Platinum winner that made the Mercurey feel flat in comparison. Elegant, pure, and expressive—a statement wine at $45.
2023 Domaines de Bellene Savigny-Les-Beaune Vieilles Vignes ($55) – 93pts
vs
2022 Black Bank Hill Pinot Noir – Ontario ($45) – 92+pts
Thomas was impressed that Niagara’s young Black Bank Hill Pinot (from five-year-old vines!) stood toe-to-toe with Burgundy fruit from 75-year-old vines. Our host and co-presenter Taylor Emerson, founder of Black Bank Hill, was initially nervous to have his fifth leaf Pinot poured alongside 75 year old vines. But the results were truly a revelation for all of us, and proof that our terroir is evolving faster than anyone expected.
Above: Carl Boucher (Carl's Wine Club), Thomas Bachelder (Bachelder Niagara), Taylor Emerson (Black Bank Hill), as well as Marc Nadeau (L'Academie du Vin) and Ilya Senchuk (Leaning Post Wines) chat with wine lovers during the Canada-Burgundy tasting.
The Verdict
By the end of the afternoon, something had shifted.
Instead of asking if Canadian wines belong on the world stage, collectors were asking: how long before prices catch up?
Marc Nadeau openly declared the Bachelder Hill of Wingfield his wine of the night. Members buzzed about the Meyer and Lightning Rock. And Thomas himself admitted the gap is closing faster than he could have imagined.
Above: the Canada-Burgundy line up and flights.
What’s Next
At Carl’s Wine Club, we’ve spent six years championing Canadian wines. This tasting proved we’re not just keeping up—we’re competing at the highest level.
And now we’re taking it further:
🍷 Relive the tasting at home. We’ve partnered with a top retailer to release a limited Burgundy–Canada mixed pack so you can experience these matchups yourself. Join the waitlist here.
✈️ Come with us to Burgundy. In June 2026, we’re heading to the source. Our inaugural Burgundy trip will pour Canadian wines alongside Grand Crus, in the cellars of the Côte d’Or. Just a handful of spots remain. Find out more here.
Above: Epoisses (stinky Burgundian cheeses) served during the intermission.
Final Thoughts
This was one of the most exciting tastings I’ve ever hosted.
Not because Canada “beat” Burgundy—that’s not the point. But because, glass after glass, we showed that Canadian wines don’t just belong in the conversation. They’re already changing it.
And as a Canadian wine lover, you’re at the heart of this moment.
Cheers,
Carl
