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The St. David's Bench Vineyard combines an excellent microclimate, the finest vitis vinifera grape varieties and advanced viticultural techniques to produce rich wines of concentration and superior varietal character.
Please note: Prices include bottle deposit
 2005 Chardonnay,
St. David's Bench Vineyard
(V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula)
Château des Charmes Chardonnay, St. David's Bench Vineyard is barrel fermented and aged "sur lie" for one year in new French oak barrels. The resulting wine is full-bodied, combining flavours of tropical fruit and melon in a concentrated, buttery style. This is an age worthy Chardonnay that will continue to develop for a few years in the bottle. 510 cases produced. Harvested September 19, 2005.
"Barrel fermented and aged on its lees in French oak for a year, here's an elegant, full-bodied, buttery Burgundian white with some bottle maturation, starting to strut its stuff. With butterscotch, brioche and white fruit aromas, silky on the palate, with tropical fruit and melon notes, and it will develop further. 91 pts."
– Frank Baldock's Wine Express, Fall, 2008
"A robust Chardonnay with ripe pear and toasty oak notes. Pair with: stuffed pork tenderloin, planked salmon. Drink: 2008-2012. 88 pts."
– Natalie MacLean, NatDecants, December, 2008
"This is a fine Chardonnay in a classic style. It combines intense and complex fruit flavours with a broad seam of clean acidity to make a delicious, mouth-watering wine. Enjoy it with chicken, pork or turkey. 4 ½ / 5 stars."
– Rod Phillips, Wine Pointer, rodphillipsonwine.com, September, 2008
Food Pairings
This wine is an exceptional match for any poultry, thick cream pasta, or rich seafood dish.
Sugar Content (0) Retail Price $19.95
2007 Sauvignon Blanc, St. David's Bench Vineyard
(V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula)
Château des Charmes Sauvignon Blanc, St. David's Bench Vineyard is smooth on the palate, exhibiting flavours of gooseberry and citrus fruit with an herbal note on the finish. A refreshing and easy drinking wine that is exceptional with food or as an aperitif. 3523 cases produced. Harvested September 23, 2007.
"Creamy, fresh, green gooseberry, lemon-citrus and lime zest, complex and intense, fine and poised. Smooth on the palate, with herb notes on the finish. Food friendly and a great aperitif. Exceptional, stylish and memorable. Recommended. 93 pts."
– Frank Baldock' s Wine Express, Winter, 2009
"A medium-bodied, refreshing with notes of gooseberry and citrus. Pair with: chicken in cream sauce, shellfish, brie cheese, chocolate mousse, sushi. 88 pts."
– Natalie MacLean, NatDecants, December, 2008
"This is brisk and tangy, just the sort of texture you need for freshly shucked oysters or for seafood and white fish you drizzle with lemon juice. The flavours are vibrant and well-defined, and it's medium weight and dry." – Rod Phillips, Ottawa Citizen, December, 2008
Food Pairings
This wine pairs very well with a number of dishes but makes an excellent match with herb chicken or cream pasta dishes.
Sugar Content (0) Retail Price $15.95
2007 Gewürztraminer, St. David's Bench Vineyard
(V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula)
Château des Charmes Gewürztraminer, St. David's Bench Vineyard has a light gold colour with an exotic bouquet of tropical fruits and lychee spice. Smooth and rich with a distinctive and complex finish. This wine is very rare and is produced only in exceptional vintages. 780 cases produced. Harvested September 19, 2007.
Food Pairings
Gewürztraminer is a perfect match with spicy stir fry and Asian food or on its own as an aperitif.
Sugar Content (1) Retail Price $19.95
2006 Viognier, St. David's Bench Vineyard
(V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula)
Château des Charmes Viognier, St. David's Bench Vineyard is a rare vitis vinifera variety that originated in the Rhone region of France. It is a smooth, medium bodied aromatic wine with complex melon and citrus flavours on the palate with peach and almond aromatics. 790 cases produced. Harvested September 22, 2006.
"A mouthful of juicy peach, nectarine and quince, enlivened by bright acidity. Floral and spice notes weave through the wine, leading to the mouthwatering finish. Drink now through 2009. 88 pts. Very good; a wine with special qualities."
– Wine Spectator, May 15, 2008
"With the warm weather and a thirst for fresh, intriguing white wines, you could confidently start with this intriguing Rhône varietal with its subtle melon, citrus, dried apricot and white peach aromatics and fine racy acidity for food friendliness. Recommended. 90 pts."
– Frank Baldock, Wine Express, Summer, 2008
"Melon aromas with some tropical fruit and a lot of swirling citrus. Nice mouth feel and tangy-fruity on the palate. A delightful white with grip and vibrancy."
– Rick VanSickle, Toronto Sun, July, 2008
"Highly aromatic and redolent of peach, marzipan, apricot blossom all in a restrained and elegant bouquet. The palate is bold and full-bodied with generous alcohol (13.5 percent), fine-tuned acidity and a long finish with no detectable oak. This makes a nice alternative to Chardonnay able to stand up to rich winter fare. 4 stars."
– John Szabo, Vines, January/February, 2008
T"his 2006 edition has a wonderfully ripe nose of green apple and peach. The taste follows the nose, but adds traces of citrus and tart pineapple core to this delicate unoaked wine. Best described as steely with a good mouthfilling finish & .you could trek down to the winery and pick yourself up some for summer."
– Michael Pinkus, Grape Guy, www.ontariowinereview.com, April, 2008
Food Pairings
Perfect as an aperitif or matched with seafood pasta, sushi, grilled fish or chicken.
Awards
Canadian Wine Awards, 2008 Bronze
Sugar Content (0) Retail Price $25.95
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."
“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 Gamay Droit, St. David's Bench Vineyard
(V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula)
In 1982, Château des Charmes' founder Paul-Michel Bosc, while conducting pioneering clonal selection research at his vineyard in Niagara-on-the-Lake, noticed a single Gamay Noir vine that exhibited some interesting and unique characteristics. Most noticeably, the vine shoots grew in an upright ("droit") position. Propagation of this single vine began immediately and culminated almost two decades later in the granting of international Plant Breeder's Rights to Château des Charmes. "Canada's first vinifera" was born. Gamay Droit produces grapes that ripen on average about ten days later than Gamay Noir with higher sugar levels and greater colouring matters. The result is a red wine with more body, alcohol and flavour concentration. 2484 cases produced. Harvested September 29, 30, 2007.
"I call it the greatest Canadian wine & it's the only true 100% Canadian vinifera red that exists but beyond that, it's a wonderful wine...it's a brilliant Sunday dinner wine too and in terms of Sunday dinner, it goes with absolutely any food you can think of. A vibrant red wine for just about every palette.. and at a great price point. This is good now and over the next 3-5 years. To bring out the brilliance and fruitiness, chill it down in the fridge for 40 minutes."
– Konrad Ejbich, CBC Radio One, 91.5, Ontario Today, January 30, 2009
"This could be the best example yet from Château des Charmes. The 2007 Gamay is brimming with ripe fruit and red berry flavours in a youthful, exuberant, fresh and highly inviting style. The palate is juicy and silky, with super fine, fully ripe tannins, fresh acidity and lingering berry flavours that beg for additional sips. A delicious effort that is drinking beautifully now, slightly chilled, though it will sit comfortably in the cellar for 2 to 4 years for a more mature expression. 88 pts."
– John Szabo, Wine Access Buyer's Guide, January, 2009
"Wow! This is really delicious gamay from the super 2007 Ontario harvest. Look for flavours that are bright and complex, a smooth texture and a winning balance. It's an excellent choice when you're serving red meats. 13 per cent alcohol."
– Rod Phillips, Ottawa Citizen, December, 2008
"A peppery, robust number loaded with delicious blackberries and black plums. Great balance and smooth texture. Pair with: Rare prime rib, beef stew, Chinese egg rolls, asparagus, dark chocolate truffles. 91 pts."
– Natalie MacLean, Nat Decants, December, 2008
"From St. David's Bench VQA in Niagara, this supple savoury medium-full-bodied red is tailor-made for turkey with a sage-or giblet-flavoured stuffing. Fairly intense with a white pepper, wild berry flavour, it's full of character. Its lasting finish has hints of sweetness that balance and round out its firm grip."
– Margaret Swaine, National Post, December, 2008
"I'm going to tell you two things about this wine you might not believe. 1) the wine is unoaked and 2) the wine was left on the skins for 14 days. I tell you this because the smells and flavours smell and taste oak influenced and the colour is deep and dark. The nose is full of cherry and raspberry typical for Gamay, but there is also a touch of cinnamon, clove and allspice. The palate is big, with ripe tannins, big cherry flavours, peppery nuances, and a black cherry finish with great acidity that keeps you coming back for more. Round and soft, yet still with a big presence in the mouth, if that is at all possible to wrap your head around. This might be an indelicate description but I heard it and liked it, so I'm going to use it here: this is one kick-ass wine."
– Michael Pinkus, OntarioWineReview.com, November, 2008
Food Pairings
Pairs well with tomato sauce pasta dishes, red meats and barbecued foods.
Sugar Content (0) Retail Price $16.95.
2005 Cabernet Sauvignon, St. David's Bench Vineyard
(V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula)
Château des Charmes Cabernet Sauvignon, St. David's Bench Vineyard undergoes temperature controlled fermentation and is aged for one year in French oak barrels. The resulting wine has a deep ruby colour and a bouquet of cassis and bell pepper. It is full bodied and complex, possessing classic varietal flavours. This wine is ready to drink now, but will continue to develop in the bottle for 5-10 years. 491 cases produced. Harveted September 29, 2005.
"Minty, red cherry and mulberry aromas drift off the glass of this well-structured gem. Look for expressive and concentrated flavours of ripe black cherries dipped in dark chocolate along with kirsch liqueur and spice box delivered alongside perceptible tannin and a moderating spine of mouth-watering tang. The finish is particularly lengthy and deftly balanced. Drink now to 2018 alongside a prime cut of beef, grilled rare to medium rare. 4 ½ / 5 stars."
– Vic Harradine, Vines, November/December, 2008
"A delicious and robust red with excellent structure and finish. Aromas of blackberries and cassis. Aged one year in French oak. Pair with: steak, stew, venison, hamburgers.
Drink: 2008-2014. 89 pts."
– Natalie MacLean, NatDecants, December, 2008
"BBQ-ready with an attractive dark chocolate, spicy raspberry and cassis flavour profile, medium weight and with a lovely fresh berry core. Midweight and food friendly at 13% alcohol and only 491 cases produced, like all the Bosc wines, using sustainable agricultural methods to let the wines shine through in the glass , as they say. Recommended. 92 pts."
– Frank Baldock, Wine Express, Summer, 2008
"This is deeply coloured, powerful, chunky cabernet sauvignon. Very ripe smoky, charry, chocolate barrel induced flavours with earthy, dried straw notes. Very full bodied, dense and youthfully tannic. Very good to excellent length."
– David Lawrason, winerytohome.com, July, 2007
Food Pairing
This wine is an excellent match for any red meat or pasta dish.
Sugar Content (0) Retail Price $25.95.
2005 Merlot, St. David's Bench Vineyard (SOLD OUT)
(V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula)
Château des Charmes Merlot, St. David's Bench Vineyard undergoes temperature-controlled fermentation and is aged for one year in French oak barrels. It has a purplish ruby colour and a bouquet of black cherry and dark chocolate. It is a rich, full-bodied wine tasting of cherry and cassis with a silky finish. This wine is very ageworthy and will continue to develop for 5-10 years after bottling. 359 cases produced. Harvested September 23, 2005.
Food Pairings
This wine is an excellent match for any red meat or pasta dish.
Sugar Content (0) Retail Price $27.95.
2005 Cabernet Franc, St. David's Bench Vineyard
(V.Q.A. Niagara Peninsula)
Château des Charmes Cabernet Franc, St. David's Bench Vineyard undergoes temperature controlled fermentation and is aged for one year in French oak barrels. It is a ruby coloured, complex wine with flavours of raspberry and pipe tobacco. Although this wine is ready to drink, it will continue to develop in the bottle for five to 10 years. 750 cases produced. Harvested September 30, 2005.
"A soon as I smelled this blind I was transported instantly to that small piece of land on the St. David's Bench, year after year CdC picks some of the best CF in the country. The classy wet clay and mineral flavours will satisfy serious Grand Cru St. Emilion fans at less than half the price. This baby is just a baby. So be patient. When: 2012+, decanted, served in your best crystal stems while listening to a Bach cello suite. 90 pts."
– CityBites, May/June, 2009
"Look for a tightly wound nose with intriguing clay-mineral notes mixed with light herbs, fresh violet, vanilla bean and abundant fresh black fruit. Dry, firm, highly concentrated, full-bodied red with complexity this is built to last. Give this solid mouthful of wine at least 3 to 5 years to come around and hold another decade. 92 pts."
– John Szabo, Wine Access, June/July, 2008
Food Pairings
This wine is an excellent match for any red meat or pasta dish.
Sugar Content (0) Retail Price $25.95.
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