I always look forward to the new releases from 16 Mile Cellars. The 2014 vintage is seeing this winery enter a maturity as their own estate vineyard go up and running full speed ahead. Needless to say the new batch of Chardonnay is exceeded my expectations … and the bar was already set very high.
2014 Civility Unfiltered Chardonnay – ****½+ – $29.95 – This checks all the boxes for what great Niagara Chardonnay should be. The aromas offer a perfect harmony of fruit met with oak. The aromas are peach, golden delicious apple, and pear. There is nice vanilla, and baking spice – but it doesn’t overpower, it caresses the fruit. On the palate this matches the nose perfectly, but the concentration of all these flavours is so intense it’s vinous pyrotechnics. In spite of its boisterous presence on the palate this wine is incredibly focused and balanced with nice acidity bringing up the finish. The finish is long and satisfying with a lingering note of vanilla. This is exciting, affordable, and one of those wines that you are not likely to find next to food in my house – because this bottle is an adventure on its own. You could hold a bottle for 5-7 years, but I don’t anticipate this lasting very long in my house.
2014 Rebel Unfiltered Chardonnay – **** – $22.95 – This is a perfect Chardonnay to set on the table next to fried chicken, creamy pasta, or halibut (okay I went specific with the fish here … but any white fish would work). A little more restrained, and the lighter side of Chardonnay as a nice mineral note makes itself well established immediately in the glass. Aromas offer peach, apple and a restrained hint of vanilla. On the palate the fruit really tells the story here, but a vanilla and spice note pokes through reminding you that this wine has spent some time in barrel. This finishes clean, nice acidity keeps this light with just a hint of spice that lingers.
