Tony Aspler, Viognier 2021 (89 points):(four-year-old vines) Pale straw in colour; aromatic, spicy, toasty nose of ripe peach medium-bodied, dry, peach and lime flavours with a saline note. Great mouth feel, firmly structured with an intriguing note of almond bitterness on the finish for added interest. (Tasted March 2024)
Rick VanSickle, Wines in Niagara, Viognier 2021 (92 points) This first estate Vio was whole-bunch pressed, settled, and racked into used French oak barrels for wild fermentation and 18 months of aging on its lees. It’s nuanced, tightly wound at the moment, and then a floral note with ripe apricots, pear, white peach, nectarine, spice and orange blossoms. It’s rounded and opulent on the palate with a lush texture, lifted stone fruits, juicy apricot, some ginger and integrated spice with medium+ acidity on a long, lingering finish. Cellaring a bit will release the aromatics on the nose, or you can decant if drinking now. (Tasted May 2024)
Louise Boutin , Winecurrent.com, 2021 Viognier (94 points): Ripe nectarine, mango, beeswax and subtle orange blossom aromas is what you’ll find in this splendid 100% hand-harvested viognier, aged in neutral French oak barrels, on lees for 18 months. It is opulent on the palate with generous ripe orchard and tropical fruit flavours, perfect acidity and a nice chalky mineral layer that brings everything together. The finish is lingering on ginger notes and a mild balancing almond bitterness totally delicious. This is Northern-Rhône Condrieu caliber expected from much older vines and I can’t wait to see and taste future vintages. Absolutely delicious on its own but why not amplify the enjoyment and pair this exquisite medium-full-bodied white with lemon butter baked cod and a mango salsa. (Tasted May 2024)
David Lawrason, Wine Align, 2021 Viognier (90 points): This is a very pretty, fetching viognier from young vines on the Lincoln Lakeshore property. It is lighter than expected, but that is a good thing as viognier can be oily and heavy. This shows pretty peach/apricot and starfruit with some vanillin and spice from 18 months in French oak. It is creamy, smooth, even a touch sweet yet fresh with fine lacey acid underpinning. good purity, very good to excellent length. (Tasted May 2024)
Michael Godel, Wine Align, 2021 Viognier (89 points): Some oiliness and fatty qualities mark this viognier from the Lincoln Lakeshore but what really rattles the senses are the spices on the nose. Clove,
nutmeg, cinnamon and even cardamom for an exotic take on the grape as if Zanzibar or some other spice island were marking territory out of the bottle. A
southern hemisphere exoticism that captures imagination and sends the mind reeling far away. More than curious, also some sweetness and overall a most unique take on viognier. Needs more acidity to keep its legs moving one after the other and see better longevity. Drink 2024-2026. Tasted May 2024. Value Rating: 3-stars
