The Long Way Home 2023 Chardonnay

The Long Way Home 2023 is a classic expression of Chardonnay grown in the cool climate of the Beamsville Bench.

Made from a select vineyards with minimal intervention, whole bunch pressed, barrel fermented and aged for 10 months in French oak.

The wine shows fresh aromatics, balanced natural acidity and a fine, flinty texture.

TECHINCAL SPECIFICATIONS

Vintage: 2023 Variety: Chardonnay Appellation: VQA Beamsville Bench Vineyard: Select vineyards, sustainably certified Picking Date: October 24th, 2023 Alcohol: 12.5% Residual Sugar: 0.8g/L pH: 3.40 TA: 6.2g/L Production: 160 cases Fermentation: 100% whole bunch pressed and barrel fermented Oak: 10 months in French Oak, 14% new Bottling Date: December 10th, 2024

TASTING NOTES

Appearance: Green tinged straw coloured Nose: Perfumed, Citrus: lemon and lime, Orchard fruit: pear and green apple Palate: Ripe Pear, fresh acidity, lemon zest, flinty, medium bodied, light toast Finish: Balanced, structured, layered, fine texture, lingering, flinty finish Cellaring: 5-7 years Serving Temperature: 12°C Food Pairing: Creamy lemon risotto; Fire roasted late season vegetables; Grilled trout, Seared scallops; Chanterelles, Poached pears, Cheesecake with gooseberries

Cheese Pairing: Aged cheddar, Brie, Gouda

VINTAGE CONDITIONS

The mild winter of 2022/2023 was followed by warm weather in the spring, leading to earlier than usual budbreak. Summer had variable conditions, with heatwaves and intermittent rainfall, which lead to increased and sustained disease pressure in the canopies. Timely leaf removal and other canopy management practices were crucial and only through vigilant management were grapes able to reach optimal physiological ripeness.

Fortunately harvest conditions were favourable, with warm, sunny days and minimal precipitation. Chardonnay fared especially well, retaining good acidity without accumulating excessive sugars, leading to balanced, elegant, fruit forward wines.

ABOUT THE LONG WAY HOME

The Long Way Home is a lifelong aspiration, a culmination of everything learned and years of experience making wines from unique and off the beaten path vineyards all over the world. It tells the story of leaving behind the known and putting down new roots. It is also a story of coming full circle, of strengthening old bonds and new friends who became close friends and making this wine come to life – Marlize Beyers, Winemaker

WHY CHARDONNAY?

Chardonnay is grown in many regions around the world due to its versatility in style and adaptability to various climates, but its true character can only shine in the right terroir. The Beamsville Bench sub-appellation is one of those, with the soils a mix of gravel, sand, silt, and clay layered in dolomitic limestone, the result of continuous erosion of the Niagara Escarpment and years of glacial activity. In the cool climate of the Bench, Chardonnay`s potential for greatness shows, resulting in elegant wines with fresh natural acidity and intense aromatic expression.