Varietals: 100% Chardonnay

Cases Produced: 100

Residual Sugar: 3.5 g/L

Total Acidity: 6.4

PH: 3.2

In 2004, our very first Estate vineyard bottlings of Pinot Noir and Chardonnay were christened St. Cindy, named for our dear sister, co-founder and benefactor Cindy Zwicker Reston. For the first time since 2005, Dan selected two barrels of the truly exceptional 2020 Chardonnay to re-introduce this special designation.

Tasting Notes. A voluptuous nose with notes of apple, lemon, and warm baking spices. A remarkable palette, showcasing notes of red apple, lemon zest, pineapple, and caramel, leading into extended, buttery, oak-driven finish. A thrilling drinking experience with plenty of ageing potential.  A luxurious pairing with a variety of pasta sauces such as lobster fettuccine, shrimp scampi or chicken alfredo. Also, an excellent pairing with rich root vegetables such as butternut squash or savoury pumpkin dishes. Drink now through 2030.

Growing Season: 2020 was one of the finest vintages ever here in Prince Edward County. This turned out to be a pleasant surprise following an extremely challenging Fall of 2019 when we had to scramble to bury the renewal canes to ensure the survival of fruiting budwood. We were about halfway done in the vineyard when the weather turned to snow and -20C temps in early November! The earth became too hard to work with our V plows and deep cultivators and vines were left uncovered through the cold snap. Despite this, the 2020 vintage resulted in fruit that achieved superb ripeness, great structure, and acidity.

Harvest: Harvest Date October 19, 2020. Bud break was slightly later than normal but summer quickly took the reins and galloped to veraison a couple of days earlier than usual. The weather conditions were warm without excessive heat and drought stress. Most importantly, harvest conditions were dry and warm allowing for full ripeness and maturity by every measure, not the least of which was potential alcohol content.

Winemaking: The 2020 vintage possesses great purity and volume of fruit while simultaneously displaying the fresh stony acidity that makes Prince Edward County such a special place to be a vigneron. The 2020 St. Cindy Chardonnay comprised only two 500 L French puncheons along with about 150 litres of unoaked estate Chardonnay. The puncheons barrel fermented and aged until early 2022 when the Cuvée was blended for bottling.

CRITICAL ACCLAIM

DECANTER MAGAZINE - Featured in Top Ontario Chardonnaysays

GOLD, National Wine Awards of Canada

SILVER International Wine & Spirit Competition

Distinctive chalky flintiness lends great tension and balances the plush, concentrated peach, while toasty popcorn oak and quinine-like crisp acidity will ensure it matures well. 92 Points, Decanter

Pretty peach, apricot, mango and almond aromas; bright and clean on the palate with plenty of juicy orchard fruit flavours and a deliciously creamy, complex finish. 92 points. IWSC 2023

A beautiful expression of Chardonnay…what the County is known for…[it’s] very elegant, very expressive.  Matt Steeves, CTV Ottawa

Few Prince Edward Country chardonnays were able to avoid ripening, softening, elevated alcohol and loss of tension but double R’s Cindy is the balanced one. Yes it is ripe and also rich but even more important is the pitch perfect seasoning, grip retention and finest moments where extract and tannin collide. This is really, really good chardonnay. Score 94, Michael Godel - WineAlign

I love the sapid acids, the crunch that accompanies the ripe citrus and white-fleshed orchard fruit, and above all the pronounced oyster shell flavours on the long finish. Wood influence has been nicely digested this genuinely concentrated ensemble, while length and depth are excellent. A top notch effort to be sure… worth the premium in my view. Tasted March 2023.” Score 94, John Szabo - WineAlign

It is quite rich and refined on the palate with impressive flavour intensity, a somewhat creamy texture and great acidity. Lemony, nutty and bitter on the finish, with excellent length. A big statement from an excellent vintage. Score 93, David Lawrason - WineAlign

Elegant and generous on the nose with ripe pear, juicy apple, lemon curd, flinty/stoniness, bergamot, and lovely integrated spices. It’s quite rich and creamy on the palate, with PEC derived chalky/flinty notes, pronounced Bosc pear, golden apple, savoury notes, fine oak spices, some fleshiness but balanced out by mouth-watering acidity on a long finish. A beauty of a wine that can age for a few years to come.” 94 Points, Rick VanSickle - WinesInNiagara.com

“Unfiltered. Light straw colour; minerally, toasty nose of yellow apples with a floral top note; medium to full-bodied, dry, nutty, apple flavour with oak spice. Well-balanced, well-integrated oak and harmonious. Lovely mouth-feel with a long lemony finish.” 91 Points, Tony Aspler - TonyAspler.com