For my Ontario Chardonnay Review, Cave Spring Vineyard sent me four bottles of their various Chardonnay wines. In my previous article I reviewed two of the wines and I am now reviewing the remaining two wines. This winery is one of the pioneers in the area, having been around for four decades. They are certified by Sustainable Winegrowing Ontario and their wines are also vegan-friendly. The two wines I am reviewing are the Cave Spring Vineyard Chardonnay CSV 2023 and their unique Cave Spring Vineyard Chardonnay Musqué 2022. Chardonnay Musqué is a highly aromatic clonal mutation of Chardonnay, known for producing perfumed, “musky” wines with tropical fruit (e.g. guava, papaya) and citrus notes.
My Wine Tasing Notes
Cave Spring Vineyard Chardonnay CSV 2023 (ON $34.95)
This wine is made from grapes from the Cave Spring Vineyard. It is a blend of 96% Chardonnay and 4% Riesling. Winemaker’s notes, “Whole-cluster pressing; 4-month barrel fermentation in French oak using exclusively indigenous yeast; barrel formats were 40% neutral 225L, 30% neutral 500L, and 30% 3rd–4th fill 225L; barrel ageing for 18 months sur lie; full malolactic fermentation; minimal sulphur additions.”
Appearance: A clear, medium-plus intensity lemon colour.
Nose: Medium intensity, deep aromas of ripe pineapple, butterscotch and oak, then with some swirling you also get apple and nutmeg. No change to the aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium body with a smooth, soft, slightly thicker mouthfeel. Lower acidity. Ripe pineapple and butterscotch to start, then with air, you get oak and dried apples, plus a buttery texture. There is also some light pepperiness that gets a little stronger toward the finish. No change to the aromas or body after decanting.
Finish: A medium-plus length, finishing with ripe pineapple and butterscotch flavours and some pepperiness and hotness. With air, you also get some dried apple flavour. A thick mouthfeel to the end. Buttery texture with some air. No change to the finish after decanting.
Classic oaked Chardonnay aromas and flavours. Slightly lower acidity. No need to decant.
Rating: 
The Cave Spring Vineyard Chardonnay CSV 2023 shows a clear medium-plus lemon colour and offers deep aromas of ripe pineapple, butterscotch, and oak, with apple and nutmeg emerging with air. The palate is dry and medium-bodied with a smooth, slightly thicker texture and lower acidity, delivering ripe pineapple and butterscotch followed by oak, dried apple, and a light peppery note toward the finish. It concludes with a medium-plus length, pineapple and butterscotch flavours, and pepperiness along with a buttery texture to the end.
Cave Spring Vineyard Chardonnay Musqué 2022 (ON $27.95)
Winemaker’s notes, “De-stemmed fruit was skin soaked for 16 hours pre press and fermented in neutral 225L barrels using exclusively indigenous yeast, and barrel aged 10 months sur lie in neutral 225L barrels; 100% malolactic fermentation; minimal sulphur additions.”
Appearance: Clear, deep amber and marmalade mixed colour.
Nose: Medium-plus, youthful aromas of sweet spices, ginger, rich, ripe apricot, and a touch of oak. Same aromas after decanting.
Palate: Dry, lighter bodied, with a smooth but thicker mouthfeel. Lighter acidity. Medium-plus intensity flavours of ripe apricots, with touches of lime, grapefruit pith, orange, and oak. Same flavours after decanting, while the body bumps up to medium-plus.
Finish: Medium-plus to long length, finishing with ripe apricot flavours, and touches of pepperiness, mint, oak, and grapefruit pith. No change to the finish after decanting.
A unique wine. No need to decant.
Rating: 
– The Cave Spring Vineyard Chardonnay Musqué 2022 shows a clear deep amber and marmalade colour with youthful aromas of sweet spices, ginger, ripe apricot, and a touch of oak. The palate is dry with a smooth, slightly thicker texture and lighter acidity, offering expressive flavours of ripe apricot with notes of lime, grapefruit pith, orange, and oak. It finishes medium-plus to long with apricot, touches of pepperiness, mint, oak, and grapefruit pith flavours.
Where Can I Buy These Wines?
Both wines can be purchased from the Cave Spring Vineyard website:
The Cave Spring Vineyard Chardonnay CSV 2023 is also available at Ontario LCBO stores.
