Black Bank Hill 2019 Chardonnay, Twenty Mile Bench VQA

Black Bank Hill 2019 Chardonnay, Twenty Mile Bench VQA

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100% Foxcroft single-vineyard Chardonnay, whole-bunch pressed, fermented with natural yeasts, and 18-months élevage in 2/3 neutral and 1/3 new 228L French oak barrels. From the same 2 rows of Foxcroft as the 2018 release, showing a consistent quality and class, but with higher concentration, acidity, and citrus-focused fruit profile due to the vintage. The inclusion of one new French oak barrel into the mix takes the oak treatment up a step, but the wine has responded in kind with the citrus and creamy mid-palate firmly holding the smokiness of the oak within its grasp. The nose is an entrancing combination of lemon, dried citrus peel, smoke, and a touch of nut butter. An exciting Chardonnay, and one that will be very interesting to watch evolve over time. 

Fully dry, 13.0% abv., 67 cases made. 

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Independent Wine Reviews

Leah Spooner, @the_winepress [93 points] — A Chardonnay from the esteemed Foxcroft Vineyard on the Twenty Mile Bench sub-appellation. Delicate aromas of walnut, nectarine, buttered toast, and candied lemon. A velvety and plush palate cascades flavours of golden apple, walnut, candied lemon, cedar, and vanilla. Talented oak integration, a poised vein of lifting acidity, and a dusting of chalky minerality towards a persistent finish. This is everything I love about Bench Chardonnay! (March 2022)

Rick VanSickle, Wines In Niagara [93 points] — The fruit was sourced from venerable Foxcroft Vineyard on the Twenty Mile Bench. It was wild fermented and aged in a combination of new and old French oak barrels. The stony/minerally notes peek through the oak nuances on the nose with fresh pear, apple slices, bergamot, and spices. It has a flinty take on the palate with lovely orchard fruits, lemon curd, enticing spice notes and all nicely balanced through a lively finish. (September 2022)

John Szabo, Wine Align [91 points] — Intriguing, highly flinty, reductive style here from Black Bank's inaugural vintage, a chardonnay from the celebrated Foxcroft vineyard, while estate vineyards mature, produced and bottled at Cloudsley Cellars. The style is really quite polarizing, but I'm on the side of like; it's a wine of deep and accomplished character, and fully in line with other bottlings from this top chardonnay site on the Twenty Mile Bench. Depth and flavour intensity are genuine and high, and length is superb. Lovely stuff, best now-2027 or so. Tasted October 2022.

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