Kacaba Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2014 Wine Review

Kacaba Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2014

Niagara Escarpment, Ontario V.Q.A., Canada

Community Score:88/100

Community Reviews: 6

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Price: $14.95

Drink: 2015-2018

Bottle size: 750 ml

Alcohol: 12.4%

Sweetness: Dry

Wine Type: White Wine

Winery: Kacaba Vineyards

Agent: Kacaba

Natalie's Score: 88/100

Light, clean and fresh unoaked Chardonnay from Niagara. Lots of pure apple flavour here without any heavy smoky or toasted aromas. Perfect on its own as an aperitif or pair with shellfish.

Chardonnay food pairings: rroasted poultry, cream sauce pasta dishes and salads.

This Kacaba Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2014 was reviewed on July 7, 2017 by Natalie MacLean

More Vintages: 2015 2013 2012 2011 2017

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Pricing & Stock Information

LCBO
326975
$14.95
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Reviews and Ratings

Pamela Chiles rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

This is one of my go-to white wines - ideal to keep a few chilled on hand. Find it in the VQA Ontario section in the front of most LCBOs. Clean, fresh citrus with hints of tropical fruit, nicely balanced - always a delight, never lets you down! Perfect patio sipper and just the thing with all sorts of delish dishes.

Gwen Barton rated this wine as 90/100 with the following review:

Crisp, clean, refreshing- typical of Niagara Chardonnay. Aromatic with nose of peach, white flowers and ripe tropical fruit. Flavours of stone fruit, pineapple and apple with a hint of minerality. Generous finish- well balanced and enjoyable. Great value Niagara Chardonnay.

Melanie Aubert rated this wine as 86/100 with the following review:

This pale yellow wine offers citrus, minerality, orange pith, stone fruits and white flower on the nose, with much the same on the palate. It is light-to-medium bodied with high acidity, making it the perfect Easter wine to cut through the saltiness of a ham, or even a good pairing for seafood.

2014 Growing Season - Chardonnay is a grape variety that takes very well to Niagara’s growing conditions. In years like 2014 exceptional chardonnay can be produced even with a harsh winter that the region saw prior to the growing season. A quick spring pushed Chardonnay’s early budding back just past the frosts typically seen in early May. The month of June onwards saw average temperatures allowing the vines to catch up relatively well from a late start.

As the grapes matured and veraison set in mid August we knew at Kacaba we would have Chardonnay that would show textbook characteristics. During the typical harvest season saw some cooler temperatures and above average rain. Harvest was still somewhat later than usual with the grape pick occurring at the end of October rather than the beginning. This was done so we could achieve the perfect balance of sugar, alcohol and acidity. The result was excellent Chardonnay to work with in the end.

Harvest and Winemaking - With a later than usual harvest period the chardonnay was hand picked to only the cleanest fruit. Cool temperatures during the pick at the end of October allowed the juice that was pressed of to be cold settled in tank prior to fermentation much more easily. After the settling process this wine was cool fermented for a full month in order to achieve the refreshing nature that is Unoaked chardonnay. Further aging on lees helps round out the body.

John the winemaker produces this style of wine to best represent the varietal character of chardonnay. Choosing not to use any oak influence whatsoever in this Chardonnay ensures that nothing will mask the true nature of this wine. John’s philosophy regarding a wine such as this is to maintain purity of aromatics and the refreshing character.

Tasting notes - A rather pale straw colour verging on being clear. The nose is clean and bright with hints of granny smith apple and star fruit. On the palate the chardonnay character shows through; obviously dry yet with a soft acid. Delicate aromas of star fruit and citrus carry through on a delicate finish. A truly excellent model of Unoaked Chardonnay.

Source: Winery (Kacaba Vineyards)

1 Member would buy this wine again

Julie Lautens

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Kacaba Vineyards Unoaked Chardonnay 2014 Wine Review

Natalie's Score: 88/100

Pricing & Stock Information

Reviews and Ratings