Looking for a unique gift for the holiday season? Don’t miss the LCBO Vintages Wine of the Month, Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve (#33894, $30), released December 6, 2008. This Pinot Noir is an excellent value Ontario Pinot Noir, which can be cellared for 3-5 years.
I had the opportunity to participate in a tasting let by Thomas Bachelder, Le Clos Jordanne winemaker. Thomas is a native Montrealer who developed his winemaking expertise in Burgundy, while pursuing a formal education in Viticulture and Oenology in Beaune. He has tremendous enthusiasm for Le Clos Jordanne terroir, for the winemaking team, and for his wine.
Le Clos Jordanne’s approach to the vines and the land is to allow the wine to express its ‘sense of place’. In order to ensure this, the vines and fruit are tended and harvested by hand, and no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides are used. In 2005, the winery received its first Ecocert Canada certification for organic farming.
Last summer, I had the opportunity of a private visit to Le Clos Jordanne winemaking facilities in Niagara, This winery was established in 1998 as a joint venture between Vincor and the French firm, Boisset. They were convinced that the Niagara property had similar characteristics of slope, climate, soil and terroir to the Cote d’Or in Burgundy.
The focus of Le Clos Jordanne is on premium Chardonnay and Pinot Noir. The grapes are grown on several properties which are uniquely situated; they include La Petite, Talon Ridge, Claystone Terrace and Le Clos Jordanne vineyards. The wine from each of its properties in unique, as I discovered during a barrel tasting. For instance, Claystone East produces a fairly robust Pinot, which may be blended with Talon Ridge, along with deselected barrels of the other single vineyards, to produce Le Clos Jordanne Village Reserve.
If you love fine Pinot Noir, as I do, visit the Vintages section of your LCBO, or contact us regarding the opportunity to purchase a case directly from Le Clos Jordanne.
Happy holidays