SAQ Pinot Noir ‘Parfum De Niagara’ 2021, Bachelder
Bachelder's Aromas
Thomas Bachelder is a name that resonates with fans of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Burgundy, Oregon, and Niagara. This friendly, tall Quebecer, who left journalism to study viticulture and oenology in Beaune, has become a prominent figure in the wine world over the past two decades. If you hear less about his Oregon and Burgundy wines, that’s perfectly normal, as he now concentrates his activities around Niagara and his winemaking cellar, which he affectionately calls his "Bat Cave."
For several years, he has been working to map, analyze, and highlight the greatest terroirs of Niagara through the grape varieties of Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and most recently, Gamay. This monastic work allows us today to better understand the nuances along the Niagara Peninsula.
His négociant business leads him to purchase grapes from the finest plots, vinify them as naturally as possible, and, once fermentation is complete, select the barrels that express themselves the best to create great "cru" terroir wines, subsequently followed by "village" and "communal" cuvées.
It is precisely a communal Pinot Noir cuvée, "Parfum de Niagara," that will be available at the SAQ this week.
It is a blend of several terroirs from across the peninsula, with a strong concentration of Pinot from the escarpment, a preferred terroir for this variety. The 2021 vintage was cool and dry, resulting in wines that are more restrained and refined. The bouquet is dominated by aromas of ripe red fruits (raspberries and cherry pits) supported by a framework of allspice and loamy earth.
Thomas’s wines are always accessible upon release because he knows how to wait for them. You will enjoy drinking this one young, but you could also forget a few bottles in your cellar until the end of the Harris presidency...
- To pair with it: grilled Caesar salad with chicken and pecorino,
- Fun fact: Thomas is responsible for the birth of one of Niagara’s first renowned wines; the Clos Jordanne from Jordan,
- To better understand Pinot Noir: we're getting on the waiting list for our next seasonal happy hour.
- To go further in your Bachelder exploration, the 2020 Gamay "L’Insouciant" is still available for $24 at the SAQ (14822363)
OTHER HORIZONS...
