On April 21, 2015, Toronto Vintners was delighted to have award-winning winemaker Thomas Bachelder as guest speaker for a tasting of a variety of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay wines that he produced. As usual, he was entertaining, knowledgeable and delightful. There's no doubt that he is one of Canada's best winemakers.
HOW THE WINE WERE RANKED
THE WINES
2005 La Petite Vineyard $35 The lightest of the single-vineyard wines from a sandier block east of the main holdings. Moderately deep, ruby-garnet colour. Nose is lifted, very spicy and savoury with ripe sour cherry (not big black cherry) and a touch of earthy beetroot character. Feels lighter to mid-weight, firm, almost tart and sour, with grip on the finish. There is considerable, slightly green tannin. Nice focus, some finesse; very good to excellent length. Sour. Best 2010 to 2013. Torontolife.com November 2007
2008 Talon Ridge Vineyard $40 Dominated by plum, raspberry, spring flowers and beetroot/earth aromas. Dry, tannic and tight with good, youthful fruit waiting patiently to come to the front. Will reward 3-5+ years in a cellar, or enjoy tonight, decanted. My note: Canada's leader in Pinot Noir: classic Old World lines and balance with New World fruit and power. Floods the senses with ripe cherry fruit and raspberries, some spice on the finish for intrigue. Medium-bodied and silky, seductive. 90 pts. Natalie MacLean, nataliemaclean.com
2005 Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard $35 This site is producing very elegant, quite powerful wines similar to Le Grand Clos if with less depth. Fairly deep colour—youthfully ruby. Quite ripe sweet cherry and raspberry, cedar, leather, smoke, and sour currant, cranberry, beetroot character. Medium-full weight, open entry with some fruit sweetness, but generally quite tense, sour and tannic. Powerful. Excellent to outstanding length. Torontolife.com November 2007
2006 Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard $40 Plums, red fruit mingled with black berries and orange zest along with lovely hints of cedar and spice intertwine effortlessly in the mouth, which has incredible breadth and staying power, finishing on a note that is intensely mineral. Just 300 metres from Claystone Terrace, yet totally different, Le Clos Jordanne vineyard is our estate vineyard, located on the 'sweet spot' of the bench – the first rise from the plain. With its statuesque weeping willows and pond complete with lily pads, it is a beautiful vineyard to spend time in, but an even better one to find swirling up from your glass. Le Clos Jordanne Single Vineyard is the perfect marriage of power and elegance. Leclosjordanne.com
2009 Le Clos Jordanne Vineyard $45 Bright red berry and floral – driven bouquet with spice and toast. Pure, round and silky, intense and delicate in the same time, great deal of mineral accents underneath its succulent fruit core. Hate to compare, but reminds me of Volnay – Chambertin in Burgundy, this Pinot may very well be the best yet of LCJ. Please excuse the hyperbole, but I would like to go as far as saying that this bottling may be the finest Canadian Pinot Noir I have ever tasted. Jamie Drummond, goodfoodrevolution.com
2006 Le Grand Clos $70 This is an appealing, cerebral Pinot with spectacular elegance. The aroma is restrained … but this is still a very young Pinot that will be drinking well for many years. At this stage, the fruit flavours are sweet cherries and other red berries. A wonderful wine. 95 pts Johnschreiner.blogspost.ca February 2010
2008 Le Grand Clos $70 The grapes for the top wine come from the best block located the western side of the Le Clos Jordanne vineyard. It's the darkest of the Pinots with an intense fresh red fruit nose and hint of bramble and licorice. It's silky on the palate but needs time to fully integrate with the toast and oak. Tarry fruit and a reserved, slightly austere finish with dark chocolate lingering on the aftertaste. It has Old World sensibility and is well crafted. Drink now-2016. Winesinniagara.com November 2010
2009 Le Grand Clos $75 The 2009 Le Clos Jordanne pinots are finely constructed and complex but it is also a fairly lean, tart vintage that is a bit green and needs time. The Le Grand Clos, from a prime plot, is easily the most complex, elegant yet firm of the five single vineyard offerings. There is a fine sense of delicacy yet power, which is a great pinot hallmark. When I tasted it an LCJ tasting in October the nose was reserved, but very classy with spice, toast, some smoke and a touch of meatiness around the currant/cherry fruit. Tannins stand fairly firm and bitter; the overall length is excellent length. Best 2014 to 2017. Tasted November 2011. 91 pts, David Lawrason, Winealign.com