Chardonnay 'Sans Soufre'

  • 2019
  • 2015
Our winemaking philosophy from the very beginning has been low-intervention; using absolute minimal amounts of sulphur, little to no filtration, and natural yeast fermentation. Occasionally, when our wines are perfectly balanced in harmony, we can make some wines with zero sulphur additions at all: Sans Soufre - without sulphur. This beautiful example from Prince Edward County showcases the minerality, freshness, and vibrancy our climate and soils offer. A nice, long finish and beautiful citrus notes on the palate. Ready to drink now, and could age for another 2-3 years. Fermented in large old French oak barrels, using indigenous/wild yeasts and lees. This wine was racked late August and sat on the fine lees until just prior to bottling. Racked and bottled with no filtration and zero sulphur additions.
The grapes are sourced from a variety of sites on the Beamsville Bench in Niagara. Gentle, whole-cluster pressing of the fruit into horizontal stainless steel tanks where fermentation starts with ambient yeasts. Fermenting juice is then transferred to 500L French oak barrels to complete ferment. About 30% new oak, the rest 2nd, 3rd and 4th fill. Wine underwent malolactic fermentation and was bottled unfined and unfiltered, with no sulphur addition. The 2015 vintage provided us an amazing opportunity to make a wine with zero sulphur added (from a global standpoint we use very little in all our wines). This wine is one of the most exciting and intriguing wines I have ever made. It draws you back to the glass like my favourite white Burgundy's, each sip slightly different but equally intriguing.
Sometimes, less is more. This is the inaugural bottling of Chardonnay with zero sulphur addition. After a rocky spring, threatened with a late frost in May, 2015 proved to be a fine growing year. The fruit was clean, displaying beautiful phenolic ripeness, perfectly in balance with the fresh natural acidity. This wine has a complex nose of citrus, hints of brioche, and a decidedly saline quality. The palate gives classic cool-climate Chardonnay flavours of lemon peel, stoniness, exhilarating acid and a long, lingering finish.