In the belief that quality and value go hand in hand, Château des Charmes is dedicated to producing world class wines in Canada using only the finest grape varieties.
Please note: Prices include bottle deposit.
2007 Riesling Icewine
Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard
(V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula)
This famous dessert wine is produced exclusively from the Paul Bosc Estate Vineyard. The fruit is harvested in the winter at a maximum temperature of -8 degrees Celsius or colder when it is frozen solid on the vine. The frozen grapes are then pressed and the resultant nectar exudes aromas of apricot and honey with a fine overall balance between fruit flavours, sweetness and acidity. Icewine is a gift of winter to be enjoyed on its own or served with dessert.
Château des Charmes' renowned icewines have won numerous national and international awards including the International Wine and Spirit Competition Trophy in London, England where it was judged "Best Icewine Worldwide." 623 cases produced. Harvested January 20, 2008.
“Very exotic tropical fruit and pears/peaches/apricots in syrup flavours, with some spiced apple and ginger nuances. The palate is full, lush, certainly sweet yet not cloying, with impressive concentration and length. Lots of appeal here, for short term enjoyment in my opinion, to capture the exotic fruit essence. 93 pts.”
– John Szabo, Ontario Wine Report, August, 2009
Awards
Ontario Wine Awards, 2010 – Gold
Sugar Content (25) Retail Price $65.00 / 375 ml
2007 Vidal Icewine (V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula)
Château des Charmes Icewine is produced from 100% Vidal grapes and is a wonderfully sweet nectar fermented with wild yeasts. It exudes aromas of honey and apricots with a beautiful balance between fruit, sweetness and acidity. 2,342 cases produced. Harvested January 25, 2008.
Château des Charmes' renowned icewines have won numerous national and international awards including the International Wine and Spirit Competition Trophy in London, England where it was judged "Best Icewine Worldwide."
"Always one of Niagara's strongest icewine producers, this new vintage stays on the beam with a quite intense nose of ripe peach/mango, lemon and herbs, with a touch of vinyl typical of many icewines. It's rich, sweet, elegant and just a little lower in acidity this vintage. Nicely bright; with excellent length. Very good +."
– David Lawrason, winerytohome.com, October, 2008
Sugar Content (25) Retail Price $44.95 / 375 ml
Also Available
2006 Vidal Icewine (V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula)
5,912 cases produced. Harvested January 17, 2007.
“Expressive alluring aromas of honeyed pear and caramelized apple mingle with nuances of minerality. Succulent and mouth-filling, the deftly balanced nectar is smooth as silk and flavourful with dried apricot, peel marmalade and vibrant acidity predominant. This has developed beautifully since the last time tasted. It's paired perfectly with apple or pear fruit flan, or crème caramel.”
– Vic Harradine, Winecurrent,com, January, 2010
"From Ontario, one of my favourites is Château des Charmes 2006 Vidal Icewine at an affordable $25.95 per 200ml bottle. This Niagara-on-the-Lake beauty has a spicy, honeyed, baked apple, caramel nose along with a fairly viscous, backed apple puree flavour plus a lingering gently tropical caramel-tinged finish. It's the kind of wine you can have chilled with a foie gras appetizer, by itself or with cheese and/or dessert."
– Michael Vaughan, Vintage Destinations, January/February, 2009
"Yum! Doesn't get much better than this for Vidal Icewine. Voluptuous, round and luxurious. Drink: 2008-2012. 93 pts."
– Natalie MacLean, NatDecants, December, 2008
"With smells of apple, peach and honey, and a palate to match, this is an excellent example of how Vidal Icewine should be made. Factor in the lengthy finish that sticks around in the mouth long after you swallow - and you've got yourself the perfect dessert wine."
– Michael Pinkus, ontariowinereview.com, October, 2008
"The Bosc Family's superb touch with icewine continues. This wafts wonderful, complex aromas of papaya, apricot and honey on fresh bread, with an intriguing back note of butter-mint candy. Full-bodied, viscous, creamy and very sweet, yet pinned on precise, playful acidity and a lemon/peach finish. Excellent length. Poised and delicious. Enjoy now, but should hold through 2013. 93 pts."
– David Lawrason, Wine Access, June/July, 2008
"A delicate wine, with mushroom aromas and flavours and hints of clementine and fruit cocktail. Drink now through 2010. 88 pts. Very good; a wine with special qualities."
– Wine Spectator, May 15, 2008
"Always one of the best Vidal Icewines on the market! This vintage offers up an intense nose of peach, honey and apple as well as excellent length and just the right amount of acid. 91 pts."
– Tidings, April, 2008
Awards
Canadian Wine Awards, 2007 Gold
Sugar Content (25) Retail Price $25.95 / 200 ml.
2006 Savagnin Icewine, St. David's Bench Vineyard
Château des Charmes Savagnin Icewine, St. David's Bench Vineyard is a deliciously sweet nectar that exudes aromas of marma lade and lemon with a fine overall balance between fruit flavours, sweetness and acidity. Icewine is a gift of winter to be enjoyed on its own or served with dessert. 149 case produced. Harvested January 25, 2007.
Château des Charmes' renowned icewines have won numerous national and international awards including the International Wine and Spirit Competition Trophy in London, England where it was judged "Best Icewine Worldwide."
"This one’s for those who think they’ve seen it all when it comes to icewine – and I would have to put myself into that category as well – until now. This wine is made from the Savagnin grape, a curiosity in the wine world. It is grown mainly in a small corner of Eastern France called the Jura, and is the primary grape used in vin jaune. This one’s not cheap, but it’s an amazing elixir. It’s like caramel syrup, thick and opulent in the mouth with only 9% alcohol and a 27 on the sugar code. The nose is honeyed-apricots while the palate delivers so much more. Think liquefied crème brulee that coats the mouth, yet with a clean fresh acidity that cleans the palate instead of being all sticky. This really is a taste treat sensation like nothing you’ve ever tried. *****5 stars (out of 5). Outstanding.”
– Michael Pinkus, OntarioWineReview.com, April, 2010
“Savagnin is an obscure grape from the alpine Jura region of France, first planted in Niagara by Paul Bosc, who has occasionally made dry wine from it over the years. But this is the first Savagnin Icewine in Canada, a stunning wine. Sumptuous and exotic, with an incredible, complex nose of marmalade, mandarin, lemon, pine and sponge toffee all evenly proportioned. It's very thick, very sweet and opulent, with outstanding length. Best 2009 to 2014. 93 pts.”
– David Lawrason, Wine Access Buyer’s Guide, May 2009
"The first question that begs to be answered is : What is Savagnin? It is a rare grape, grown in the Jura region of France, that makes dry wines. The local specialty is Vin Jaune, a Sherry-style oxidized wine that can last upwards of 50 years. Back to Canada: the Bosc family originally made dry wines from this varietal, but has now decided to produce the first ever Icewine from this grape. Medium body; it offers good amounts of fruit and acid, more along the lines of a refined Riesling Icewine rather than an over-the-top Vidal. This unique wine will age wonderfully for many years to come, and is well worth the price. It is a wonderful discovery. Kudos! 91 pts.”
– Tidings, Spring, 2009
Sugar Content (27) Retail Price $75.00 / 375 ml
2007 Cabernet Franc Icewine, Estate Bottled
(V.Q.A Niagara-on-the-Lake)
Cabernet Franc has acclimatized extremely well to the Niagara Peninsula so it is a good candidate to make into Icewine. We tend these blocks of Cabernet Franc like the others carefully managing the yields and of course keeping the bunches clean by removing any berries at the first signs of breakdown. Then we wait. And in late January, when the temperature dropped to -13ºC we hand-harvested the bunches by the light of the moon. 473 cases produced. Harvested January 20, 2008.
Food Pairings
This wine is an excellent accompaniment to simple but decadent desserts like New York cheesecake drizzled with a reduction of the Cab Franc Icewine and of course a glass of the wine on the side or a velvety chocolate fudge cake with a fresh strawberry compote between the layers.
“CdC’s first ever Franc Icewine is pure gold – cuvee gold that is, winning the top spot. It explodes with red fruits: strawberries, cherries and guava with a milk chocolate undercurrent. Full-bodied with an oh-so-long and seductive finale. Drink it with chocolate fondue or a plain cheesecake, as the wine will work as the fruit coulis. 92 pts.”
Tidings, July/August, 2010
Cuvée, February, 2010 – Gold Award
Sugar Content (24) Retail Price $75.00 / 375 ml.
2007 Late Harvest Riesling, Estate Bottled
(V.Q.A Niagara Peninsula)
Château des Charmes Late Harvest Riesling is a rich and flavourful dessert wine. Exuding aromas of citrus and tropical fruit, it is full and sweet on the palate with excellent balancing acidity. This estate bottled wine is excellent to drink now, but will continue to develop in the bottle for many years. 1597 cases produced. Harvested October 24, 2007.
“Fantastic value as a subtle Icewine understudy. This Gold Medallist from the 2009 Ontario Wine Awards was 100% stainless-steel fermented and aged using a yeast specifically matched to Riesling. Think apricots, marmalade and fresh lemons. Alone, over berries or with chocolate. 91pts. Exceptional, stylish and memorable.”
– Frank Baldock’s Wine Express, March, 2010
“An excellent dessert wine which will be great with a creamy blue cheese, like gorgonzola. Classic honey, ripe peach, pear and citrus aromas are toned by some mineral and petrol notes. It is medium-sweet, with rich flavours that are balanced beautifully by a seam of racy acidity. Very good to excellent length. Best 2010 to 2013.Very good quality and enjoyable to drink. 89 pts.”
– Steve Thurlow, Wine Access Buyer’s Guide, March, 2010
“Winner of a Gold Medal as Best Late Harvest Wine at the 2009 Ontario Wine Awards. Classic honeycomb, ripe peach, pear and mango dominate this delicious medium-sweet dessert wine. Its rich flavours are balanced beautifully by a seam of racy acidity. This long-finishing dessert wine is a great match for a cheese plate. My note: Absolutely perfect for when you don’t want the concentrated sweetness of Icewine but still want that peach and peach preserve essence! This is a wine to come back to again and again. Pair with: Beemster, blue cheese. 90 pts.”
– Natalie MacLean, Natalie MacLean.com, February, 2010
“Delicately sweet but balanced by vibrant acidity, this has attractive custard pear and baked apple flavours alongside some honeyed Riesling florality. Moderate finish.Very tasty indeed. 89 pts.”
– John Szabo, WineAlign.com, February, 2010
“Shows a heady array of petrol, minerals, peach-lemon marmalade and lanolin on the nose. The fun never stops with this medium sweet wine that delivers honeycomb, peach compote and tropical flavours. Fantastic! 4.5 stars / 5.”
– Rick VanSickle, Osprey Media, March, 2010
“A Gold Medal winner at the 2009 Ontario Wine Awards, this dessert wine is a fabulous expression of the vintage and the varietal. Luscious aromas of sweet tropical fruit—mangoes with a squirt of lime come to mind—ripe stone fruit and lemon delight pie. The flavours are consistent, with a honeyed texture that is well balanced with bright acidity. Sweet, but not too sweet, it’s harmonious with a beautiful heft. It’s a dream to sip with artisan cheese or a fruit tart. 4.5 stars./ 5."
– Susan Desjardins, Winecurrent.com, February, 2010
“A perpetual award winner (Ontario Wine Awards 2009 Gold). Expect peaches, apples, some orange marmalade, and later some apricots kick in. Great Riesling character, off-sweet. The winery suggests pairing it with any kind of chocolate.”
– Dean Tudor, Gothic Epicures Writing, February, 2010
“This sweetie delivers on both the nose and the palate: peach, sweet pear, mac apple and a slight petrol note. That petrol will be full throttle in the next 3-4 years, so I recommend drinking it sooner than later and why not, it's incredibly enjoyable right now. 4.5 stars / 5."
– Michael Pinkus, OntarioWineReview.com, January, 2010
Food Pairings
This wine is an excellent accompaniment to light desserts and creamy cheeses.
Awards
Ontario Wine Awards, 2010 – Gold
Ontario Wine Awards, 2009 – Gold
Sugar Content (10) Retail Price $21.95 / 375 ml.
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