Bright, flinty, and laser-focused, this is Ferox at their best. On the nose: lemon curd, almond cookie, jasmine, and a touch of struck flint. The palate is precise and tense, with orchard fruit, citrus, and just enough oak to frame the fruit without ever weighing it down. The finish is long and flinty, the kind that keeps you reaching for another sip. Just opening up now, with a prime window over the next 4 years and the structure to age gracefully until 2032+. One of my top Canadian Chardonnays of the yearâand a bottle Iâll be packing with me to Burgundy in 2026. (Carl Boucher, Sept 24, 2025).
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Winery Notes:
To honour the second coming of the sold out 2021 Chardonnay Reserve, this 2021 Chardonnay RII evokes an inspiration of CĂŽte Chalonnaise, yet is authentic to Niagara. The wine presents with a medium gold colour, courtesy of blending stainless steel (SS) and barrel-aged (BA) components. Primary aromatics of lemon peel, honeysuckle, Comice pear, coconut and acacia dominate, with subtle secondary notes of toast, yoghurt, biscuit and brioche evident once warmed and aerated â courtesy of fine lees aging for 3 years, and 100% malolactic conversion (MLC). The palate mirrors the nose, with a focus on honeydew melon, ripe Anjou pear, lychee and vanilla, with our barrel program highlighting structure. Acidity is lively yet balanced with the glycerol and texture of this wine, with slight residual sugar harmonizing the tasting experience.
100% of the Chardonnay was picked from our South Block, from vines planted in 1998 on September 21st, 2021. Fruit was machine picked, optically sorted and pressed within 15 minutes of being picked. After cold settling, the juice fermented for 4 weeks, no greater than 18ÂșC. Once MLC was completed for the barrel-destined portion of wine, the volume was barreled down into 6 x 225L barriques with fine lees. The remaining volume was not put through MLC and stayed hermetically in stainless steel. After 3 years of aging, the wine was racked and blended, before fining, filtration and bottling on May 5th, 2025.
FOOD PAIRINGS AND SERVING TEMPERATURE
When pairing, look to foods that have salt and acidity, thereby making the wine perceptively smoother, richer, fruitier and less bitter / acidic. Dishes like Enchilada stuffed pasta shells or lentil Bolognese will help brighten the wine, while still showcasing itâs intense aromatic and palate profile. Alternatively, dishes like a pine-nut crusted Tilapia and broccolini with lemon will highlight the textural components of this Chardonnay, whilst delivering acid and umami notes.
TECHNICAL NOTES
Blend: 1350L BA Chardonnay (3 x 225L neutral French oak and 3 x 225L neutral Accacia) & 550L SS Chardonnay
94+ points Carl's Wine Club
Ontario Niagara VQA Niagara Lakeshore
100% Chardonnay
Dry Wine | RS: 4.4g/L | 12.0% ABV | Drink from 2025 to 2032
Pairings:Â grilled fillet of halibut, pork chops with peach chutney