Review: Mike Weir Estate Winery
2007 Chardonnay
2007 Pinot Grigio
by Jeffrey Reed, Editor, LondonOntarioGolf.com

Ontario white wines are proving to produce some excellent 2007 vintage, and Mike Weir Estate Winery is no exception. Last month, we toasted Weir’s 2007 Sauvignon Blanc. This time around, we taste two offerings from Canada’s most accomplished golfer on the PGA Tour: 2007 Chardonnay; and 2007 Pinot Grigio. Both wines are solid additions to Weir’s lineup.

2007 Chardonnay

Next to a good Sauvignon Blanc, a Chardonnay ranks at the top of my wine list, and the 2007 Chardonnay from Mike Weir Estate Winery is no exception. It’s an instant classic in my books. Following in the footsteps of one of Weir’s top offerings – the 2005 vintage – his 2007 Chardonnay also boasts a forward nose of tropical fruits including mango and pineapple. These sweeter elements are balanced with notes of peach, lemon mineral notes and a hint of toasty vanilla. The palate shows excellent balance with the oak aging giving a round creamy texture, and the fruit providing delicate acidity and structure.

The fresh taste of this wine was a pleasant surprise, and it will continue to develop in the bottle two to six years from vintage date. Combined with cheese and crackers, the 2007 Chardonnay proved to be a great addition to our early fall patio enjoyment, following a quick nine holes at the local links.

The 2007 Chardonnay grapes hail from the Niagara Peninsula. The juice underwent a mix of ferment styles for complexity: 70% stainless steel fermented and aged, 10% stainless steel fermented but barrel aged, 20% barrel fermented and aged in a mixture of new and old French and American barrels. Barrel aging on the lees: an average of six months. The wine was blended and bottled in May 2008.

2007 Chardonnay
$15.95
Size: 750 mL
Description: 100% Chardonnay VQA Niagara Peninsula VQA
Release Date: July 2007
Sugar: Dry (0)
% Alcohol: 13%
pH: 3.47
TA: 7.2 g/L

2007 Pinot Grigio

The Mike Weir Estate Winery calls its 2007 Pinot Grigio “a delightful wine showing delicate fruit character and a smooth elegant texture.” We won’t argue. This wine is certainly drinking beautifully now, but will continue to develop over the next two years.

I was searching for the perfect wine to accompany a dinner including grilled fish and vegetables, and Weir’s 2007 Pinot Grigio hit it right on the screws. On the nose there are subtle aromas of honeysuckle, cantaloupe, citrus and pear fruit. The palate is medium bodied, flavours including fresh peach, melon, honey, mineral character and balancing acidity in the finish.

Grapes for the 2007 Pinot Grigio were harvested at various stages of ripeness from vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake during mid-September to early-October. Some were harvested early for good acidic structure, the remainder harvested later for greater fruit character and mouth feel. The grapes arrived at the winery at an average 20.2° Brix. The wine was fermented at cool temperatures averaging 12° C to preserve fruit character in 100% stainless steel tank. The wine was bottled April 9, 2008.

Few wines from Weir bring out the taste of food pairings like this vintage, and concurrently this wine came alive during dinner. Bravo for an outstanding vintage from Mike Weir Estate Winery.

2007 Pinot Grigio
$15.05
Size: 750 mL
Description: 90% Pinot Grigio, 10% Chardonnay
Release Date: July 2008
Sugar: 5 g/L Dry (0)
% Alcohol: 12.5%
pH: 3.43
TA: 8.17 g/L

If you’re like me, then every time you purchase a bottle of wine from the Mike Weir Estate Winery, you’re conscious of the fact, 100 per cent of the net proceeds are donated to the Mike Weir Foundation, in support of children in need.

For more on all of the wonderful offerings from the Mike Weir Estate Winery, visit www.weirwines.com.