2022 Divergence Brut Chardonnay 🔥 93pts

One of the big wine competitions in Canada gave this wine a bronze medal and 88 points, and I strongly disagree with that result. This is a spectacular wine that I gave 93 points to, and it’s a brilliant traditional method sparkling wine.

Texture is one of the best features of this sparkling, and it helps that the base Chardonnay was fermented in oak barrels. I love that winemaker Jeff Moote named this wine a Chardonnay Brut, which is unusual, but speaks to the typicity of this wine. When I got my nose in this glass for the first time, it was so clearly Chardonnay, which is not always so evident with sparkling wine. The bubbles are soft and medium sized, which increases the feeling of softness in your mouth. The residual sugar is fairly low, but the natural sweetness of the grapes are absolutely at the perfect level, which makes this bubbly not austere, but very approachable. Think peach, yellow apple, and fresh baked croissant, with a nice salty mineral finish.

It’s complex, and extremely appealing. As a Chardonnay fanatic, I’m more than impressed with the result. Well done Jeff and team! (Carl Boucher, October 7, 2026).

93pts Carl’s Wine Club

Kennedy-House Vineyard, ON Niagara Peninsula, Creek Shores VQA

100% Chardonnay

Pairings: butter-poached lobster, fried chicken

Drink now until 2032