Tasting Note: A well deserved Gold and great value from a fairly new Quebec winery where the Ottawa River and St. Lawrence Rivers merge. It is light bodied and firm as expected in this clime, but there are aromatic layers and impeccable balance. Along with purity. The nose is lifted and almost perfumed with strawberry-rhubarb pie, red currants and scrubby herbal/evergreen. Plus, well sewn barrel spice. It is firm, tart-edged and taut but not overly brittle or sour. The flavours stay well focused and hit excellent length. Best now to 2029. Last tasted August 2025.
Backgrounder: This winey was established in the Oka Valley by Daniel Lalande, who also owns of Vignoble Rivière du Chêne in St-Eustache. It islocated just minutes from Lac des Deux-Montagnes northwest of Montreal, with its hillside planted to 30 hectares of vines between 2015 and 2022. The focus is on chardonnay, pinot noir, riesling and rose, with three price tiers. This ‘top of the range’ pinot noir was stainless steel fermented with selected yeasts at 23C, then aged eight months in French oak.
Gold National Wine Awards 2025
