Tasting Note – This is the least expensive chardonnay in the Leaning Post portfolio, and a great value at $27. This one in unoaked, reducing cost of barrel ageing, but also reducing complexity a bit. But score is recouped by great texture thanks to lees aging for 8 months in concrete, brightness and purity. It is brilliant, pale lemon. The nose is gentle and almost rich with perfectly ripe yellow pear/peach fruit honeysuckle and lemon zest. It is medium weight, almost silky yet refreshing with fine acidity, moderate well-balanced alcohol (13%) and a dollop of sweetness. Impeccable balance. Lovely lemon and minerality on the finish. The length is very good. This will please anyone to whom you offer whether as an aperitif or with any manner of spicy dishes. It is designed for current enjoyment, and it is vegan. Tasted October 2026.

Backgrounder – Winnipegger Ilya Senchuk had been making wine in Niagara for several years before he and his wife and business partner Nadia, purchased an old farmhouse and barn in Winona in 2011 and, with gusto, grew Leaning Post into one of Niagara’s most cherished and consistently excellent wineries. It is focused on finding fruit from great sites in Niagara, including their own Senchuk Vineyard. It is a Chardonnay and Pinot Noir house, but he makes almost 30 different SKUs that range into sauvignon blanc, cabernet franc and even dolcetto. The winemaking throughout is impeccable. Leaning Post Chardonnays rank, in my view, among the best in Niagara. This is named for Fifty Road that connects the Escarpment west of Grimsby to the shore of Lake Ontario. Fruit however is sourced from vineyards across Niagara to which Ilya Senchuk has access for his more expensive bottles. The 2025 vintage was ripe and warm and dry producing health fruit. This was wild fermented in concrete and remained there for eight months to soak up subtle bready notes and lovely texture.