Full Review

Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky
2021 Founders Series, Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: Canada
Alcohol: 13% RS: .65%
85 Points
Silver Medal
Highly Recommended
$12

Wayne Gretzky
2021 Founders Series, Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA

Pair this wine with:
Chicken Shellfish Turkey

Category: Chardonnay

Date Tasted:
Country: Canada
Alcohol: 13% RS: .65%
Golden straw color. Aromas and flavors of lemon curd, lemon yogurt, baby’s breath, and vanilla nougat with a satiny, bright, dry light-to-medium body and a tingling, medium-length finish manifesting notes of lemon cream, apple yogurt, and vanilla with light oak flavor. A summer patio pounder with delicate vanilla and a citrus pop on the finish.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Rich & Full
Aroma Aroma: lemon curd, lemon yogurt, baby's breath, and vanilla nougat
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with notes of lemon cream, apple yogurt, and vanilla
Sweetness Sweetness: Dry
Enjoy Enjoy: Now on its own and with food
Recipes Pairing: Turkey, Roasted Chicken, Boiled Lobster
Bottom Line Bottom Line: A summer patio pounder with delicate vanilla and a citrus pop on the finish.

The Producer

Andrew Peller LTD.

The Producer
697 South Service Road
Grimsby, ON L3M 4E8
Canada
1 905-643-4131

Their Portfolio

93 Ama Bene NV Pinot Grigio, Italy 12% (Italy) $11.00.
94 Ama Bene NV Sangiovese, Puglia IGT 13% (Italy) $11.00.
92 Avenue 2022 Sauvignon Blanc 12.5% (France) $13.00.
88 Avenue 2022 Syrah Grenache Red Blend 14.5% (France) $13.00.
87 Good Natured 2020 Fresh White Blend, Ontario 12% (Canada) $10.00.
94 Good Natured 2020 Balanced Red Blend, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $10.00.
89 Good Natured 2020 Cabernet Merlot Red Blend, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $10.00.
91 Good Natured 2021 Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $10.00.
90 Good Natured 2021 Balanced Red Blend, British Columbia 14.5% (Canada) $11.00.
BR Good Natured 2021 Merlot + Petit Verdot Red Blend, Okanagan Valley 14.4% (Canada) $11.00. - Bronze Medal
85 Good Natured 2021 Crisp, Chardonnay, Ontario 13% (Canada) $10.00.
88 Good Natured 2021 Merlot Gamay Noir Red Blend, Ontario 13% (Canada) $10.00.
93 Natural Selection NV Dangerously Good, Chardonnay, Australia 12.5% (Australia) $9.00.
87 Natural Selection NV Dangerously Good, Shiraz, Australia 13% (Australia) $9.00.
87 Neon Coast 2022 Chardonnay, California 13% (USA) $13.00.
86 Neon Coast 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon, California 13% (USA) $13.00.
89 No Boats On Sunday Ontario Hopped Cider 5% (Canada) $3.00.
87 No Boats On Sunday BC Original Cider 5% (Canada) $10.00.
87 No Boats On Sunday NS Cider 5.3% (Canada) $3.00.
95 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.4% (Canada) $10.00.
94 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve Cabernet Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $10.00.
95 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve, Merlot, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13.5% (Canada) $10.00.
86 Peller Estates 2020 Family Reserve Winemaker’s Red Blend, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $10.00.
92 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve, Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11% (Canada) $14.00.
87 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve, Pinot Grigio, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $9.00.
87 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve, Chardonnay, Ontario 13% (Canada) $9.00.
94 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $9.00.
92 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve Double Noir Red Blend, Ontario 12.4% (Canada) $9.00.
87 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve Rosé Bubbles, Ontario 12.5% (Canada) $11.00.
87 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve Cabernet Merlot, Ontario 13% (Canada) $9.00.
92 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve, Cabernet Sauvignon, Ontario 13% (Canada) $9.00.
92 Peller Estates NV Signature Series Ice Cuvee Classic, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $26.00.
93 Peller Estates NV Ice Cuvee Rose, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $27.00.
86 Peller Estates 2021 Family Reserve Rosé Bubbles, Ontario 12.5% (Canada) $11.00.
93 Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve, Pinot Grigio, Ontario 12% (Canada) $10.00.
86 Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve, Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $10.00.
87 Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve, Chardonnay, Ontario 13% (Canada) $10.00.
87 Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve Rosé Bubbles, Ontario 12% (Canada) $10.00.
88 Peller Estates 2022 Family Reserve Secco Bubbles, Ontario 12% (Canada) $10.00.
90 Rewild NV Pinot Grigio, Murray-Darling 12.5% (Australia) $13.00.
93 Rewild NV Cabernet Sauvignon, Murray-Darling 13% (Australia) $13.00.
91 Thirty Bench 2022 Winemakers Blend, Riesling, Beamsville Bench 10.6% (Canada) $16.00.
89 Thirty Bench 2021 Winemaker’s Blend Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.1% (Canada) $18.00.
87 Thirty Bench 2020 Winemaker’s Blend, Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13.7% (Canada) $19.00.
87 Trius NV Brut Methode Tradiotionnelle, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $22.00.
88 Trius NV Brut Rosé Methode Traditionelle, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $22.00.
88 Trius 2022 Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11% (Canada) $13.00.
89 Trius 2022 Late Autumn Off Dry, Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11% (Canada) $13.00.
92 Trius 2022 Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $13.00.
90 Trius 2022 Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $14.00.
93 Trius 2021 Cabernet Franc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $13.00.
87 Vivo 2021 Especial, Cabernet Sauvignon, Central Valley 13.5% (Chile) $13.00.
88 Vivo NV Reserva Blend No.23, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chile 13% (Chile) $12.00.
86 Vivo NV Reserva Blend No.11, Sauvignon Blanc, Chile 13% (Chile) $12.00.
88 Vivo NV Reserva Blend No.19, Malbec, Argentina 12.5% (Argentina) $12.00.
BR Vivo NV Reserva Blend No.47, Pinot Grigio, Argentina 12.5% (Argentina) $12.00. - Bronze Medal
86 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Pinot Grigio, Ontario 12% (Canada) $12.00.
87 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series Fresh & Crisp White Blend, Ontario 11.5% (Canada) $11.00.
87 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11.1% (Canada) $12.00.
BR Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $12.00. - Bronze Medal
95 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series Rosé, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12% (Canada) $13.00.
93 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $12.00.
91 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series Cabernet Merlot Red Blend, Ontario 13% (Canada) $12.00.
88 Wayne Gretzky 2022 Founders Series, Pinot Grigio, Okanagan Valley 12.8% (Canada) $13.00.
87 Wayne Gretzky 2020 Whisky Oak Aged Red Blend, British Columbia 14.2% (Canada) $16.00.
88 Wayne Gretzky 2022 Founders Series, Sauvignon Blanc, Okanagan Valley 13.6% (Canada) $13.00.
85 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA 13% (Canada) $12.00.
92 Wayne Gretzky 2022 Founders Series, Sauvignon Blanc, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.5% (Canada) $12.00.
88 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Founders Series, Riesling, Niagara Peninsula VQA 11.1% (Canada) $12.00.
92 Wayne Gretzky 2022 Founders Series, Baco Noir, Ontario 12.5% (Canada) $11.00.
87 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Signature Series, Chardonnay, Niagara Peninsula VQA 12.9% (Canada) $21.00.
88 Wayne Gretzky 2021 Signature Series, Cabernet Sauvignon, Niagara-On-The-Lake 12.7% (Canada) $23.00.

Chardonnay

Wine Glass White.jpg
Serve in a White Wine Glass
Chardonnay is arguably the world’s most famous white variety, thanks to its success in France’s Burgundy region as well as throughout much of California. Chardonnay on its own has rather straightforward, pleasant aromas of apple and pear, but when aged (and sometimes fermented) in small oak barrels, the wines take on extra richness as well as notes of toasted almond, vanilla and yeast.

The most renowned examples of Chardonnay are from small villages and vineyards in Burgundy, such as Chassagne-Montrachet, Puligny-Montrachet and Meursault. These wines are very powerful with ample spicy notes and very good acidity; they age very well, sometimes as long as 20-25 years. Another part of Burgundy, Chablis, is home to more restrained style of Chardonnay. Certain areas of California, especially Russian River Valley in Sonoma and Santa Barbara County are also home to many distinguished examples of Chardonnay, with those from the latter region often displaying tropical fruit flavors.

Given that most Chardonnnays are aged in small oak barrels, there has been a movement as of late to give consumers a mored delicate style of Chardonnay, without all the spicy and toasty flavors. Thus there are now many producers that produce non-oak aged Chardonnays; this has been seen from many producers from Australia as well as a few in California as well.

Chardonnay, especially oak-aged versions, are quite rich and need seafood of equal richness at the dinner table. Thus lobster, halibut and swordfish are ideal food pairings.

Top Rated for
Chardonnay

Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Chardonnay, South Australia
95 POINTS
Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Chardonnay, South Australia
13.5% $13.00.
Australia
Mira Winery 2019 Napa Valley, Chardonnay, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
94 POINTS
Mira Winery 2019 Napa Valley, Chardonnay, Oak Knoll District, Napa Valley
13.5% $50.00.
USA
Bright Leaf Vineyard 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Finger Lakes
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Bright Leaf Vineyard 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Finger Lakes
12.2% $18.00.
USA
Jarvis 2021 Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
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Jarvis 2021 Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
14.8% $195.00.
USA
Jarvis 2021 Unfiltered Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
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Jarvis 2021 Unfiltered Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
14.9% $215.00.
USA
Gooseneck Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, France
94 POINTS
Gooseneck Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, France
13.5% $18.00.
France
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2021 Expedition, Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills
94 POINTS
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2021 Expedition, Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills
14.1% $15.00.
USA
Jarvis 2020 Unfiltered Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
94 POINTS
Jarvis 2020 Unfiltered Finch Hollow, Chardonnay, Napa Valley
14.8% $195.00.
USA
St. Andrews 2023 Chardonnay, Clare Valley
93 POINTS
St. Andrews 2023 Chardonnay, Clare Valley
13% $32.00.
Australia
Montsablé 2022 Chardonnay, Vin De Pays De L
93 POINTS
Montsablé 2022 Chardonnay, Vin De Pays De L'Aude
12.5% $19.00.
France
Davis Family Vineyards 2021 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
93 POINTS
Davis Family Vineyards 2021 Chardonnay, Russian River Valley
13.9% $40.00.
USA
Jip Jip Rocks 2023 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Padthaway
93 POINTS
Jip Jip Rocks 2023 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Padthaway
13% $16.00.
Australia
Wine Spots 2021 Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County
93 POINTS
Wine Spots 2021 Chardonnay, Santa Barbara County
14.5% $25.00.
USA

Best Buys for
Chardonnay

Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Chardonnay, South Australia
95 POINTS
Wakefield 2022 Promised Land, Chardonnay, South Australia
13.5% $13.00.
Australia
Bright Leaf Vineyard 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Finger Lakes
94 POINTS
Bright Leaf Vineyard 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Finger Lakes
12.2% $18.00.
USA
Gooseneck Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, France
94 POINTS
Gooseneck Vineyards 2022 Chardonnay, France
13.5% $18.00.
France
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2021 Expedition, Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills
94 POINTS
Canoe Ridge Vineyard 2021 Expedition, Chardonnay, Horse Heaven Hills
14.1% $15.00.
USA
Montsablé 2022 Chardonnay, Vin De Pays De L
93 POINTS
Montsablé 2022 Chardonnay, Vin De Pays De L'Aude
12.5% $19.00.
France
Jip Jip Rocks 2023 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Padthaway
93 POINTS
Jip Jip Rocks 2023 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Padthaway
13% $16.00.
Australia
Wakefield 2022 Estate, Chardonnay, South Australia
93 POINTS
Wakefield 2022 Estate, Chardonnay, South Australia
13.5% $18.00.
Australia
Natural Selection NV Dangerously Good, Chardonnay, Australia
93 POINTS
Natural Selection NV Dangerously Good, Chardonnay, Australia
12.5% $9.00.
Australia
Carmenet 2021 Chardonnay, California
93 POINTS
Carmenet 2021 Chardonnay, California
12.5% $13.00.
USA
Wakefield 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Padthaway
93 POINTS
Wakefield 2021 Estate, Chardonnay, Padthaway
13.5% $18.00.
Australia
Naledi 2023 Chardonnay, Coastal Region
92 POINTS
Naledi 2023 Chardonnay, Coastal Region
13.7% $18.00.
South Africa
Mt. Monster 2022 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Limestone Coast
92 POINTS
Mt. Monster 2022 Single Vineyard, Chardonnay, Limestone Coast
13.5% $13.00.
Australia