About a month ago I got one of the most interesting media packages from a winery in Ontario. Flat Rock Cellars sent me a small package with 3 100ml bottles of what will eventually become the 2017 Rusty Shed Chardonnay. It was interesting to get a package like this. I have never had an opportunity to do a blending trial at a winery. But it is interesting to see how each small bottle truly tasted different. The oak influence was front and centre on all three vials – but as I’ve come to expect from Flat Rock – the fruit was still holding firm and standing tall. I won’t bore you with the details of what each bottle tasted like, but it was interesting to see how the wine changed with different ratios of each. What was truly amusing – the final blend I made was an even blend of all 3 of the vials – and it’s what tasted best. I can’t wait for this wine to come out.
2017 Chardonnay – Vintages 286278 – $19.95 – ****+ – The entry level Chardonnay from Flat Rock always offers outstanding value – as far as bang for buck is concerned it’s hard to be beat. And it’s always great finding a solid VQA bottle of Chardonnay under twenty dollars. Now that being said – the 2017 incarnation of this wine it truly feels like Flat Rock have outdone themselves. The nose and flavours offer peach, pear, pineapple, and nicely integrated vanilla and spice notes. The texture of this wine is great and makes you forget how little you paid for this wine.
