A heady, room-filling nose of ripe peach, beeswax and pineapple (as befits its rich, golden colour) bolstered by complex savoury notes of buttered brioche and Ontario limestone.
The blending process adds so much to this wine, allowing J-L to craft something unique with each vintage. The 2016 White’s palate gushes with peach nectar and tropical fruit and the finish is as broad as it is long.
"Tasted in Feb 2020 where this rich, layered white was vying for Wine of the Year at the Canadian Culinary Championships in Ottawa (it placed close 4th). It is a full bodied blend of five varieties that were estate grown then aged in French oak barrels for just under two years. Very exotic, generously spicy aromas from the wood are joined by ripe apricot-like fruit and resinous juniper/pine-like greenness. It is full bodied, creamy and intense with a slightly sappy, bitter finish. The length excellent to outstanding. 92 Points" - David Lawrason, WineAlign.com
Growing Conditions
The 2016 vintage was one for the record books. Winter was mild and dry with a late April snowfall delaying bud break ever so slightly. A warm and dry spring, especially during flowering, led to even cluster development. Dry conditions continued in May through the middle of August making it one of the driest summers on record. The warm days stimulated an early veraison that led to wonderful potential ripening for all varietals. Some late August rains were quickly absorbed without any negative impact. White varietals were in great shape to be harvested early.
Details
- Varieties
- Chardonnay
- Sauvignon Blanc
- Viognier
- Semillon
- Gewürztraminer
- Vintage
- 2016
- Body
- full
- Region
- VQA Niagara Lakeshore
- Winemaker
- J-L Groux
- Alcohol
- 13.1%
- Bottle size
- 750 mL
- Serving Temperature
- 16 °C
- Drinking Window
- 2020 - 2031
- Harvest Date
- October 30 - November 22, 2016
- Cooperage
- 627 days in French oak │ 11% new
