Bachelder Werner-York Vineyard Chardonnay 2022

This is a new single vineyard for the Bachelder lineup. It’s a vineyard owned [by] Marty and Rachael Werner located on York Road on the St. David’s Bench with the property’s roots going all the way back to James Secord as part of a 400-acre parcel purchased in 1780. A good portion of the grapes are devoted to the Werners’ sparkling program, soon making their debut. ‘This is the kind of terroir discovery that our ‘mapping Niagara, one vineyard at a time’ project is all about,’ said Bachelder. This is so lovely with a pristine, suave and elegant nose that sneaks up on you with its intriguing subtleties of pure saline, wet stones, fresh pear, lemon, white peach and fully integrated spice notes. It’s mouth-filling on the palate with dense stone fruits, lemon, chiseled salinity, river rock, subtle creamy notes and spice with an elevated and long, finessed finish. I will be watching as this progresses and the nose catches up to the palate … what a beauty in waiting. Give it some time and grab a few bottle … this could be the bargain of the release. Score – 94. (Rick VanSickle, winesinniagara.com, Nov. 4, 2024)