It has been a few years since the wines at Closson Chase really left me speechless. I was left so on my last visit to the winery. The portfolio is small and focused but over-delivers on every level. In fact, this current batch of wines may bed the best they have ever been. Visiting the winery in the busy summer is welcoming with several nooks and crannies in the barn to taste the wines. I am already looking forward to heading back.
2017 Closson Chase Vineyard Chardonnay – $29.95 – ****+ – The Closson Chase Vineyard Chardonnay sets up a trio of outstanding bottles available from the winery right now. I realize that thirty dollars is a lot to ask when I’m talking about value – but this delivers outstanding value. The concentration of flavours if off the charts and is climbing out of the glass the moment it’s poured. Aromas are honeycomb, peach, tangerine, pear, and golden delicious apple. Baking spice opens up on the middle of the palate and a vanilla note open up on the palate. Crisp acidity brings up the finish and keeps this light on the finish making this food friendly.
2017 South Clos Chardonnay – $39.95 – ****½ – Taking a step up to the South Clos Chardonnay it’s as if the Closson Chase Vineyard has been turned up to eleven. The texture is bigger, and flavours are even more complex, and the finish is longer. Aromas are lavender honey, tangerine, peach, pear, and baked apple. Flavours match the nose with spice, and vanilla – but the use of oak is nicely restrained and does not stand in the way of letting the fruit flavours scream for the attention it requires. The finish brings up a mineral note that brings up the finish gives the illusion of being polite and clean on the finish – but the finish on this is long and heavy with vanilla, and spice sticking around with the mineral note. Ideal pairing is a second glass – make sure you don’t serve this too cold.
2017 Churchside Chardonnay – $44.95 – ****½+ – It’s hard to imagine anything better than the South Clos Chardonnay – but here we are. This is the finest Chardonnay I’ve tasted in 2019 from Ontario. There is so much going on in the bottle – but everything is in perfect harmony. Concentrated aromas of peach, tangerine, toffee, pineapple, and apple. On the palate this is rich, concentrated, and the finish is long. Savour this with close friends – and enjoy with pasta and cream sauces, fried chicken, seafood cooked in butter – this bottle of rich wine needs some rich food.
2015 Churchside Pinot Noir – $39.95 – **** – The aromas and flavours in this Pinot are potpourri with dried rose, violet, and cherry. There is definitely some aging potential here if you want to hold bottles until 2023. The tannin is silk and this is drinking great right now. This is a little weighty on the mid palate and forest floor is added to the dried fruit on the nose.
2017 Churchside Pinot Noir – $39.95 – ****+ – This is fresh and vibrant on the nose with violet, cherry, and gingerbread spice. The texture of this wine is massive from the moment you take your first sip. The flavours are long and the fruit is plush and juicy on the palate. Mated with perfect acidity and soft, graceful tannin make this approachable and elegant if you decide to enjoy this now. But this will continue to evolve over the next 5-7 years with grace.
