Winey Tasting Notes: Teeing off with Weir Chardonnay

Winey Family pic from one of our favorite Ontario golf courses, Sawmill Creek, 2009

I’ve written before about the wonderful vacations that The Winey Family has taken over the years up to the beach in Canada. Winey Tasting Notes: Two Canadian Unoaked Chardonnays, Eh? And in addition to the water sports we get to partake of up there, there is another sport that goes hand in hand with our Canada trips: golf.

Winey Family pic from one of our favorite Ontario golf courses, Sawmill Creek, 2009

We’re lucky that very close to our beach cottage are a number of really nice golf courses. And although I have been on a bit of a break from the sport (spinal surgery will do that to you), and The Winey Daughter would rather play soccer, The Winey Hubby and Son hit the links every chance they get. (This doesn’t just apply to our Canada vacation. Those two never, ever, ever pass up the chance to golf. As I write this, it’s a lovely sunny autumn Thursday and I’ll give you one guess where The Winey Hubby is. Hint: it’s not at his desk at work.)

Winey Family pic from one of our favorite Ontario golf courses, Sawmill Creek, 2009

There is a reason I’m talking about golf and Canada here. It’s Mike Weir. He is Canadian golfer, Masters champion and more to the point: he has a winery in Ontario. So of course on our most recent visit to the beach, I decided it was time to hit the ball off of the tee, so to speak, and try some of Mike Weir Winery’s Unoaked Chardonnay (2014, 12.5%, Niagara Peninsula). This cost $14.95 Canadian, making it a wonderful bargain (about $10 American at the time I bought it).

The first thing I noticed about this Chardonnay was that it was a really pretty, bright clear gold color. It looked so nice with the beach setting. Anyway, the nose on this wine is pure pear. As for the taste, that pear was the first flavor  that came through. It was followed by some golden apple, some toasty vanilla, nutmeg and a tinge of cinnamon. It finished very juicy and tasty. Pure Chardonnay grapes, no wood barrels to interfere.

I can best describe this wine as round and full. It falls somewhere between summer and fall – fruity and juicy but with those warm brown spices that give you a hint of the autumn weather to come. It’s a great transition wine, if you feel the need to ease yourself away from light whites to more hearty whites as the weather grows cooler.

OK, I’ll say it: this wine is hole-in-one! A birdie! Or if you’re me, and holes-in-one and birdies are not normally used in conjunction with your golf game (ahem), it’s a really good wine. (I may not have been the world’s best golfer, but I always had a keen appreciation for the cute outfits and the drink cart.)

Fore! (For some reason, I say that a lot when I golf.)

Cheers!