Stratus Vineyards Tollgate Chardonnay 2018

Stratus Vineyards Tollgate Chardonnay 2018

Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula

$24.95 (644583)

Tollgate is one of the secondary labels at Stratus Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake, which offers a taste of the quality-minded, site-specific winemaking at work at an attractive price. Typically sourced from the same block of 28-year-old vines that produces the Stratus Chardonnay, Tollgate is given every advantage to result in a distinctive and enjoyable wine. Grapes are hand-picked and sorted. The pressed juice undergoes spontaneous fermentation in French oak barrels with full malolactic conversion to contribute richness and weight before aging. Made in a rich and refreshing style, this offers classic fruit expression (citrus and apple) with attractive nutty and toasted notes. It’s very fresh, very pure, which makes it truly delicious right now. It’s also certain to develop nicely in bottle over the next three to five years. (91/100)