30 NOTABLE CANADIAN PINOT NOIRS Tasted September to December 2022


Martin’s Lane Winery Fritzi’s Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019 Okanagan Valley


With a perfumed nose of ripe fruit that leads to an elegantly sculpted palate of sweet and sour cherries accented with herbs, this is a gorgeous Pinot Noir. The fruit and acid are in perfect sync, the tannins are silky and structured. | 96


Bachelder Lowry Vineyard Old Eastern Block 2020 St David’s Bench


A stunning Pinot Noir, yet to hit its stride but already plumbing complex depths of fruit (cherry, red berries), with top notes of herbs and spice. The acidity is perfectly calibrated, and the tannins are ripe and silky. | 96


Southbrook Vineyards Laundry Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020 Lincoln Lakeshore


A beautiful Pinot Noir, with a generous, even bold palate of layered fruit, mainly red cherry with herbal top notes. The clean acidity is perfectly calibrated and lifts the texture; the tannins are fine-grained and relaxed. | 95


Hidden Bench Estate Winery Felseck Vineyard Pinot Noir 2019 Beamsville Bench


A lovely Pinot Noir with finesse to spare, this delivers defined and nuanced red- and dark-cherry flavors, with dried fruit and spicy top notes. The fruit/acid balance is spot on, and the tannins are smooth, drying, and largely integrated. | 95


Domaine Queylus Réserve du Domaine Pinot Noir 2018 Niagara Peninsula


An elegant and beautifully textured wine that shows layered and clearly defined fruit flavors (red and dark cherry, spices, and herbs), finely balanced with fresh acidity. The tannins are fine-grained and easily manageable. | 95


Sperling Vineyards Organic Pinot Noir Reserve 2020 Okanagan Valley


A gorgeous Pinot Noir that delivers real depth and complexity in the layered, complex flavor profile that lies mainly in the red- and dark-fruit zones. With excellent fruit/acid balance and fine, integrated tannins, it’s impressive all around. | 94


Flat Rock Hexa Pinot Noir 2020 Twenty Mile Bench


An exquisite addition to this winery’s fine Pinot Noirs, Hexa is richly textured and shows powerful yet elegant fruit, well layered in the red and dark zone. The acidity is perfectly measured, and the youthful tannins are refined. | 94


Unsworth Vineyards Saison Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020 Cowichan Valley Vancouver Island


A very attractive Pinot Noir that speaks elegance from start to finish. All the components are in sync: lovely and quite intense fruit, assertive acidity, moderate alcohol (12.4%). It’s a sheer pleasure to drink. | 94


Tawse Winery Cherry Avenue Vineyard Pinot Noir 2020 Twenty Mile Bench


Fruit—red and dark berries with a hint of mint—is to the fore, but it’s a well- balanced wine, thanks to a seam of bright, juicy acidity. The tannins are firm, smooth, and quite manageable. A lovely Pinot Noir, through and through. | 94


Château des Charmes Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard Pinot Noir 2017 St David’s Bench


A beautiful Pinot Noir made only in good years, the 2017 delivers complexity to spare in the fruit profile that shows both depth and breadth. The acidity is perfectly calibrated, and the tannins are silky and nicely resolved. | 94


Although it’s fairly pale red in color, this Pinot Noir delivers quite rich and layered fruit, dominated by cherries, berries, and herbs. The acidity is bright and tailored to the fruit, and the drying tannins are light to moderate. | 94


Keint-he Winery & Vineyards Greer Road Pinot Noir 2018 Prince Edward County


This elegant medium-bodied Pinot Noir is characterized by balance from the attack, all the way through to the finish. The fruit is layered and well defined, the acid is clean and juicy, and the tannins are fine-grained and quite well integrated. | 94


Pelee Island Winery Vinedressers Reserve Pinot Noir 2017 South Islands


This really lovely wine, from warm Pelee Island in Lake Erie, shows high- toned flavors with base notes of cherry and top notes of herbs. The acid is perfectly tailored to the fruit, and the tannins are structured, drying, and largely integrated. | 94


Monte Creek Pinot Noir 2020 Thompson Valley


A lovely example of Pinot Noir from a cool year. It’s fairly light-bodied but delivers plush flavors of red and dark fruit with some spiciness. The acidity is bright and clean, and the tannins are easygoing. | 93


THE WORLD OF FINE WINE | ISSUE 79 | 2023 | 137


Lightfoot & Wolfville Vineyards Pinot Noir 2018 Annapolis Valley


Made in the lighter style characteristic of Nova Scotia, this translucent Pinot Noir delivers hugely attractive and focused flavors of red and dried cherry, accented with spiciness. The acid is bright and clean and adds juiciness to the texture. | 94


Westcott Estate Pinot Noir 2019 Niagara Escarpment


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