I received three vintages of Chardonnay from Ontario’s Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery as part of my Ontario Chardonnay Review. I reviewed the 2020 and 2021 vintages previously (see article), and today I am reviewing their 2023 vintage. Without further delay, here are my tasting notes for this wine.
My Wine Tasting Note
Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery Chardonnay 2023 (ON $34.95)
From the winery, “Although the vineyards did not suffer from Covid, they did suffer from several very cold nights in the winter of 2022. As a result, the crop in 2022 was non-existent, luckily the vines survived but the fruiting buds were lost that year. In 2023, the vines recovered but yielded a smaller crop than usual…The tools and methods include French oak (all ‘experienced’ oak, none was new), long and cooler barrel fermentation, full malolactic fermentation, and 18 months on lees, in barrel.”
Appearance: A clear, deep mix of lemon and gold colours in the glass.
Nose: Medium intenstiy aromas of toast, pineapple, and butterscotch, with hints of pear and vanilla. No change to intensity or aromas after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, medium-minus body, but has a thick texture. Smooth and soft mouthfeel. Soft acidity. Deep flavours, primarily pineapple, along with butterscotch and toast, and also a touch of peach. The body bumps up to medium after decanting. No change to flavours or acidity, but you can add a touch of nutmeg.
Finish: Medium-plus to long length, finishing with pineapple, butterscotch, toast, and a touch of peach. Plus some vanilla. A little hot on the finish. Add a touch of nutmeg to the finish after decanting.
A quality, classic oaked Chardonnay. Deep flavours. No need to decant.
Rating: 
The Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery Chardonnay 2023 shows a deep lemon-gold colour with aromas of toast, pineapple, and butterscotch, accented by hints of pear and vanilla. The palate is dry with a medium-minus body but a rich, thick texture and soft acidity, offering pineapple, butterscotch, toast, and a touch of peach, while decanting brings a slightly fuller body. It finishes medium-plus to long with lingering pineapple, butterscotch, toast, peach, and vanilla, along with a touch of nutmeg. A little hot on the finish.
Where Can I Buy This Wine?
You can purchase this wine online from the Wending Home Estate Vineyards & Winery website. The LCBO lists the 2021 vintage, but I am not sure if that is correct. It may be 2023, but the website has not been updated. Please check out the LCBO and let me know about the vintage. Thanks.
