Westcott Estate Chardonnay

The fruit comes from both estate vineyards – the Westcott Home Farm and Butlers’ Grant. The grapes are hand-picked, whole bunch pressed, wild fermented and then aged in French oak for 10 months. I’m finding the Niagara Chards from 2023 to be more robust and giving in their youth and that is on display here in spades with the estate wine and single block Chard reviewed below. The nose shows ripe pear and yellow apples in an opulent style balanced by citrus zest and saline with butterscotch, toasty vanilla and spice. It has a creamy, buttery texture on the palate with baked pear, apple crumble, toasted almonds, lemon tart, baking spices and a luxurious finish. It’s rocking right now and there’s really no need to cellar more than a couple of years. Score – 92. (Rick VanSickle, winesinniagara.com, June 26, 2025)