Ontario’s Dobbin Estate Winery does not talk a lot about itself. It lets their wines do the talking. Last year I tasted their Dobbin Estate Cabernet Blend 2020, which I rated as one of my top wines for 2025. They are located on the highly acclaimed Twenty Mile Bench, and they note their calcium-rich soils are ideal for producing Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Cabernet Franc. They also farm organically.
I was gratified to have them send me a bottle of their Dobbin Estate Winery Chardonnay 2020 for my Ontario Chardonnay Review. It is wild fermented and aged on its lees in second fill French oak for 18 months. Here are my tasting notes for this wine.
My Wine Tasting Note
Dobbin Estate Winery Chardonnay 2020 (ON $260 for the magnum)
Appearance: A clear, bright, medium-minus intensity lemon colour.
Nose: Medium-minus intensity aromas of apples and pears, butterscotch, and touches of vanilla, sweet spices, and oak. A bit stronger, medium intensity aromas, after decanting.
Palate: This wine is dry, light to medium body, with a smooth and soft, light mouthfeel. Lighter acidity. A buttery texture. Light flavours of apples and pears, butterscotch, vanilla, and sweet spices. No change to the body or flavours after decanting.
Finish: Medium-plus to long length, finishing with apples, butterscotch and a touch of oak and light pepperiness. No change to the finish after decanting.
This wine still feels fresh and young. Excellent qualtiy. Elegant. I enjoy the flavours and the buttery texture.
Rating: 
– Dobbin Estate’s 2020 Chardonnay opens with medium-minus intensity apple and pear notes layered with butterscotch, vanilla, and subtle sweet spice. The palate stays light and smooth, with a soft, buttery texture and light flavours of apples and pears, plus butterscotch, vanilla, and sweet spices. It finishes with medium-plus length, leaving flavours of apples, butterscotch, and a touch of oak and pepper, keeping its character after decanting.
Where Can I Buy This Wine?
I cannot find the 750 ml bottle of this wine available on the Dobbin Estate Winery website, so I assume it is sold out, but there are still magnums of this wine available for purchase.
