Tasting Note – Here’s broad shouldered, well-balanced chardonnay. For all its size and a quite toasty, barrel-driven aromatics it narrows to very fine, elegant and mineral finish. The nose is flush with hazelnut, cedary and nutmeg spice, vanilla custard and ripe pear fruit. The texture rich and smooth, the alcohol is in check and the overall balance is quite fine. The length is excellent to outstanding. I would age this about two years to achieve better oak integration, and it could and should live more than a decade.

Backgrounder – Le Clos Jordanne brought Burgundy to Niagara symbolically and almost literally as a Franco-Canadian joint venture in 2004, with Quebec-raised winemaker Thomas Bachelder at the helm. It is now solely owned by Arterra Wines, and housed since 2024 at Domaine LCJ on Beamsville Bench. The meticulously and sustainably, hand farmed Grand Clos Vineyard in Twenty Mile Bench has been the soul of the project throughout. And as its vines reach over 20 years their pedigree is really showing. This wine is from the west side, more evening shaded side of the Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard, creating longer hang time. It is always a big wine with terrific structure and great depth, although often wearing its oak heavily in its youth, thanks to almost two years of elevage in 228 French oak barrels, about 20% new. This vintage is just releasing in the summer of 2026.