Bachelder L’Ardoise Niagara Chardonnay 2023

It does not matter whether they be the single vineyard chardonnays or the conglomerative sku that acts as the geological sum of the total bill. In the world of Thomas Bachelder the intention is ‘to define the dolomitic origins of our crazy-quilt patchwork of post-glacier melt/flow terroirs.’ L’Ardoise is a clean, pure and representative slate of these notions, a chardonnay intent on helping to unearth what matters most, that being soil and place, to deliver this and more into a poured glass. The 2023 succeeds with its mix of fruit, acid and barrel, with ease and just enough complex depth to keep us asking for more. And posing new questions, to travel further and begin to discover the single terroir bottles made by Mr. Bachelder. Drink 2025-2028. Tasted October 2025. Score – 91. (Michael Godel, winealign.com)