2015 Bachelder Saunders Vineyard Chardonnay – Vintages 324103 – $44.95 – ****½ – This Chardonnay is so freaking good. But this year when I open this bottle I am thinking a bit about the family that grew the fruit in the bottle. Beppi Crosariol profiled the Saunders family last year around this time and you really need to read the story here – https://www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and-wine/wine/the-history-behind-the-fruit-supplier-to-niagaras-best-wineries/article36597292/. Warren Saunders was 96 when the piece was written and had been through 52 harvests. If I were a farmer I could only hope that my fruit would end up in the hands as skilled as someone as Thomas. This is a rich wine with nice flavours of peach and tangerine. The fruit flavours are caressed by by a nice mineral note that keeps the flavours focused and each note in this wine feels very deliberate on the palate.
2015 Bachelder Lowrey Vineyard Pinot Noir – Vintages 361816 – $44.95 – ****½ – While we are on the topic of great growers – Michael Pinkus and I interviewed Wes Lowrey earlier this year on our podcast – https://andrewinereview.ca/two-guys-talking-wine-episode-102/ . There is something just spectacular about the Pinot Noir that comes from this vineyard. The earthy notes that you find from most Pinot in Niagara on the Lake is buried under an avalanche of black cherry, plum, and violet. Rich, and lush this bottle is helping to push the bar higher in terms of quality for what we can not only anticipate – but can expect. If you’re reading this you’re probably already very familiar with Thomas Bachelder – but if you’re not make sure you keep your eyes open for these bottles on the shelves of your local vintages section. I predict things will keep getting better.
