These wines are masterpieces...see notes below!
...because there is no better way to experience the Niagara terroir with pin-point precision than through the wines of Thomas Bachelder.

...because of the 2020 Grimsby Hillside “Frontier Block” Chardo, my #3 wine of 2023 at 95pts. The winery is offering a special release of this wine, not available to the public!

…because this week you can discover two 95pts wines, three 94pts and a 93pts, from us at Carl’s Wine Club, and other critics have rated these wines even higher.

... because of the FREE SHIPPING on $200 or more, or a flat rate $20 shipping for less than that. So you can get tasting with these highly rated wines!
Carl's Wine Club

Order by Sunday March 31

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Carl's Top Picks for You...

6-Bottle Niagara Terroir Pack: $263.85 plus tax/dep

💖 92pts | 2021 Les Villages “Bench” Chardonnay | $34.95
💖 91pts | 2021 Les Villages “Bench” Pinot Noir | $34.95
💖 92pts | 2021 Les Villages “Niagara” Gamay | $25.95
🔥 94+pts | 2021 Wismer-Foxcroft “Parcelle Nord” Chardonnay | $60
🔥 94pts | 2021 Wismer-Parke “Wild West End” Pinot Noir | $75
🔥 94pts | 2021 Wismer-Foxcroft “33% Whole Cluster” Gamay | $33 

Bonus Picks!

🔥 95pts | Exclusive Release! | #3 Wine of the Year (2023) | 2020 Grimsby Hillside “Frontier Block” Chardonnay | $49.95
🔥 95pts | 2021 Lowrey Vineyard “Old Eastern Block” Pinot Noir | $75
🔥 93pts | 2020 Bai Xu “Vignes de 1981” Chardonnay | $49 

Shipping Info:

FREE SHIPPING for $200+!

Shipping $199or less: $20 flat rate shipping! BC AB SK MB ON QC PE NB NS NL YK NT

Bachelder ships using Canada Post. We can use other couriers if you prefer, please let us know in the order comments and we will arrange this - no problemo!

Wines are expected to arrive to your doorstep between April 5-19, 2024. 

We can always expedite or hold wines if you'll be away - just let us know!

Yes, you can mix & match the bottles, while supplies last.

Carl's Notes

2021 Bachelder “Les Villages Bench” Chardonnay
ON, VQA Niagara Escarpment
100% Chardonnay l Dry | 13.5% ABV
92pts Carl’s Wine Club | 92pts Rick VanSickle

Round, soft and creamy, this fantastically well-priced Chardonnay is a blend of the parcels at Saunders, Wingfield Ouest & Est, and Foxcroft Sud & Nord. With such acclaimed vineyard sites included, it’s no wonder the result is so impressive. The nose is expressive, rich and appealing with aromas of pear jelly, lemon curd, vanilla, and more than anything, a beautiful seashell minerality which brings a uniqueness to the profile. The palate is so satisfying, offering the perfect blend of fruitiness, with a back-bone of mostly orchard fruits and lemon, and so well balanced, with freshness, acidity and minerality. Formidable approachability and complexity for a wine under $35. This is just a glimpse of the MAGIC that’s in store with the more refined expressions of the single vineyards and “selection parcellaire” of the other Bachelder wines. (CWC, March 16, 2024).

Food pairing: BBQ grilled langoustine, maple glazed pork chop
Drink now until 2029
Winery price: $34.95 including tax/dep
2021 Bachelder “Les Villages - Bench” Pinot Noir
Ontario, VQA Niagara Peninsula
100% Pinot Noir | Dry | 13.0% ABV
91pts Carl's Wine Club| 92pts Nathalie Maclean

A great approach highlighting simplicity and purity. This is a wonderful expression of Niagara Escarpment Pinot Noir which was sourced from the single vineyards of Hanck, Wismer-Parke, Wismer-Parke Wild West End, Saunders and McNally. Complex aromas of violet, red fruits like raspberry, blue plum, cassis leaves and cedar are on full display while the palate is expressive and generous with flavours of ripe raspberry, wild strawberry, mocha, vanilla and fresh Provencal herbs. The finish is surprisingly long and delicate with just a kiss of clove and white pepper. I love the texture and the approachability of this wine, proving that you don’t need to break the bank to get your hands on a great bottle of Pinot Noir with personality. (CWC, March 20, 2024).

Pairings: veal scalopini, four cheese ravioli
Drink now until 2028
Winery price: $34.95 including tax & deposit
2021 Bachelder “Les Villages” Gamay Noir
Ontario, VQA Niagara Peninsula
100% Gamay | Dry | 12.5% ABV
92pts Carl's Wine Club | 91pts Rick VanSickle

A fantastic mix of approachability and complexity, where power meets finesse. A truly regional Gamay, Les Villages brings you to both sides of the Niagara peninsula with great vineyard sites included like “Wismer Foxcroft” and “Bator” on the Escarpment but also “Bai Xu” and “Willms” in Niagara-on-the-Lake. The nose delivers pure notes of violet, red cherry, blueberry and a hint of smokey cherry wood. The palate is rich and bright while flavours of dark cherry, ripe raspberry and stewed strawberry shine in an effortless combination of fruits and spices including a very long spicy finish. This wine surely punches way above its weight-class. (CWC, March 21,24).

Pairings: duck liver pate with cranberry jelly, crispy chicken burger with gouda cheese
Drink now until 2028
Winery price: $25.95 including tax & deposit
2021 Bachelder “Wismer Foxcroft – Parcelle Nord” Chardonnay
ON, Niagara, VQA Twenty Mile Bench
100% Chardonnay l Dry | 13.5% ABV
🔥 94+pts Carl’s Wine Club | 95pts Decanter Magazine

This Chardonnay is subtle, intricate and mysterious, including defined edges. And yet, the texture is very sumptuous and voluptuous. From a very special block of the of the Wismer-Foxcroft vineyard on the Twenty Mile Bench, the “Parcelle Nord” consistently produces one of the top Canadian Chardonnays, independently of the vintage. The nose offers aromas of zesty lime, sweet lemon and jasmine flower while the palate shines with a spectacular level of flinty minerality. The flavours are so well put together in a thoughtful sequence of orange tea, lime, lemon, white peach, hazelnut and sea ocean water, while the texture is linear but soft and sensual. The finish is so very long and offers white pepper, cardamom, cinnamon and a splendid saltiness that reminds me of a grand cru Burgundy. The crazy thing with this wine is I believe there is so much more to come. The crown jewel of the Niagara Escarpment. (CWC, December 12, 2023). 72 cases made.

Food pairing: grilled Coho salmon, burrata peach salad
Drink now until 2031
Winery price: $60.00 including tax/dep
2021 Bachelder “Wismer-Parke – Wild West End” Pinot Noir
Ontario, Niagara, VQA Twenty Mile Bench
100% Pinot Noir | Dry | 13.0% ABV
🔥 94pts Carl's Wine Club | 95pts Michael Godel (WineAlign) | 92pts Decanter Magazine

This wine is wild, rustic and juicy, expressing a super attractive and flamboyant personality. Rich in texture, powerful in terms of flavour definition, well balanced and juicy. There’s great acidity, pin-point minerality but also certainly a masterful concentration on the mid-palate. On the nose, aromas of wild flowers, grilled strawberry, pomegranate and a hint of cedar box. The tannins are soft, resolved and integrated which helps put an emphasis on softness and fluidity. The palate delivers flavours of ripe raspberry, plum, blueberry, red licorice, sweet tobacco leaves and a fantastic sequence of spices and caramel to close off the experience. This wine is ready to drink and approachable yet and will age gracefully for another 5 to 7 years. (CWC, March 09,24). 71 cases made.

Pairings: slow roasted beef short ribs, venison and root vegetable stew
Drink now until 2031
Winery price: $75.00 including tax & deposit
2021 Bachelder “Wismer-Foxcroft" 33% Whole Cluster Gamay Noir
Ontario, Niagara, VQA Twenty Mile Bench
100% Gamay | Dry | 12.5% ABV
🔥 94pts Carl's Wine Club | 94pts Rick VanSickle

This is my very top-rated Canadian Gamay ever to date! This Wismer-Foxcroft Gamay is a force to be reckoned with, as it bursts from the glass with expressive aromas of wild raspberries, currants and plums, complemented by crushed violets, cinnamon and coriander. The textural depth and density are something to remember, with silky, almost creamy texture, yet contrasted perfectly by a core of mineral-laced red and blue fruits and lip-smacking acidity. The 2021 vintage is persistent, fantastically well-structured yet also unbelievably fresh and savoury, showing fine, firm tannins, along with lasting hints of red cherry, black cherry, plum, wild currant, mocha and olive. The complexity of this wine is completely out of the ordinary and the wild chalky finish will stick with you for a very long time… ABSOLUTELY WOW!!! (CWC, March 21,24).

Pairings: roasted maple ham, Easter turkey with stuffing
Drink now until 2030
Winery price: $33.00 including tax & deposit

Bonus Picks

2020 Bachelder “Grimsby Hillside – Frontier Block” Chardonnay
ON, Niagara, VQA Lincoln Lakeshore
100% Chardonnay l Dry (RS 2.0g/ltr) | 13.5% ABV
97pts David Lawrason (WineAlign) | 95pts Rick VanSickle
🔥 95pts Carl’s Wine Club | Exclusive Release! | #3 Wine of the Year 

Seductive and stunningly cerebral, this wine shows some of the greatest attributes and potential of the very sought-after Grimsby Hillside Vineyard, the crown jewel of the Lincoln Lakeshore sub-appellation. The Frontier Block is one of the three parcels of the vineyard showcased by Thomas Bachelder, and probably the one showing the most finesse and complexity. On the nose, you can expect citrus-like lemon zest, lemon meringue, orange blossom and a hint of floral components. The palate is soft, light on its feet and perfectly balanced with classic notes of lemon, lemon pie, apricot, yellow plum, caramel and almond cookie. For me, two things separate this wine from great to Greatness. First, the level of flinty and salty minerality is unparalleled, as is the way it’s spread across the palate. Second, the level of complexity is such that every step makes you think and reflect about the experience, making every moment absolutely unique. (CWC, Dec 1, 2023). 81 cases made.

Food pairing: seared scallops, steelhead trout filet
Drink now until 2032
Winery price: $49.95 including tax & deposit

NOTE: the new vintage of this wine was released at $60 - get your 2020 at the original $49.95 price this week only.
2021 Bachelder “Lowrey - Old Eastern Block” Pinot Noir
Ontario, Niagara, VQA St. David’s Bench
100% Pinot Noir | Dry | 12.0% ABV
🔥 95pts Carl's Wine Club

This is right in line with the spectacular 2019 vintage of this wine. Finesse, purity and complexity…and once again, one of the most impressive Pinot Noirs of the vintage. This very special 2 acre block of 35 year old vines on the St. David’s Bench delivers incredible minerality and “World Class” structure. On the nose, floral and herbal aromatics like dried violet, forest floor, wet rock and dried thyme but also some red fruit components like cranberry, strawberry and pomegranate. The palate is energetic and directional offering young feisty tannins and mouth-watering acidity. Flavours of wild raspberry, bright cherry, mint, black licorice and charcoal-like sensations are set in a perfect sequence before offering a top-level complexity on the spicy and mineral finish. This is truly a collector’s item. (CWC, March 09, 2024). 123 cases made.

Pairings: stuffed mushroom, roasted quail with mushroom sauce
Drink between 2026 and 2032
Winery price: $75.00 including tax & deposit
2020 Bachelder “Bai Xu – Vignes de 1981” Chardonnay
Ontario, Niagara, VQA Four Mile Creek
100% Chardonnay | Dry (RS 2.3 g/L) | 13.5% ABV
🔥 93pts Carl's Wine Club | 93pts Rick VanSickle

This is a seductive blend of richness, texture, tropical fruits and minerality showing the broad spectrum of the hot and long 2020 vintage. After undergoing a 100% natural fermentation, this gracious wine, from 42 year old vines, spent 20 months in slightly used and neutral French oak barrels. The nose offers discrete and distinctive aromas of ripe lemon, golden pear, ripe peach and a hint of jasmine flowers. On the palate, the wine is big but balanced, where the bright acidity keeps the tropical flavours from being invasive and heavy. A front palate filled with lemon curd, white peach, pineapple and yellow apple leads us to the mid-palate: soft, layered and incredibly deep with white flowers like chamomile, a good dose of salinity and even a hint of fresh herbs. The finish is long and complex reminding me of great bottles from the Russian River Valley in Sonoma, California. 30 minutes of decanting is suggested prior serving. (CWC, 9/2/23). 119 cases made.

Pairings: bouillabaisse, Moroccan chicken thighs
Drink now until 2028
Winery price: $49.00 including tax & deposit

Why I Chose Bachelder

We got off a long and complicated post-pandemic flight and we were exhausted. It was late, and yet Thomas insisted that we stop by, however late it is - it was no trouble for him.

Little did we know, Thomas had about 18 bottles of his current releases ready for us to taste, at the 'Batcave.'

That was Summer of 2022, and that very night, we tasted through all of Bacheler's wines. I discovered what turned out to be my #2 wine tasted in 2022. In 2023, one of Bachelder's wines made it to my #3 Wine of the Year out of over 1200 Canadian wines tasted.

Thomas’ wines are not just delicious. They have soul, and they are poetic. They're full of passion that delivers the Niagara terroir in the purest way possible.

Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Gamay. That's it!

Thomas' wines have topped wine lists by Jancis Robinson, Decanter, the New York Times and more.

I hope you can join us to discover a legendary wine selection from a legendary Canadian winemaker.

Cheers,
Carl

PS Here's what others are saying...
“…Bachelder is evidently on a monk’s errand to map out the escarpment with Burgundian-like precision.”
John Szabo, MS, from WineAlign

"Thomas Bachelder is one of the most talented winemakers in Canada, and his pinot noir ranks alongside the best of Burgundy."
Will Lyons, London (UK) Sunday Times

"Besides being supremely likeable, Bachelder's a wine genius and any visit with him is an amazing learning experience!"
Ian d'Agata, International wine writer, author and wine judge

About the Winemaker

Winemaker Ryan De Witte
Photo Credit: Rick VanCycle

Thomas was born and raised in Montreal, and trained in winemaking in Burgundy. He spent time making wines in Oregon, then Burgundy, then back to Orgeon, and finally moving to Niagara to help start Le Clos Jordanne.

Thomas and his wife Mary then embarked an ambitious project they called Bachelder: to make cool climate Chardonnay in the three places they know intimately (concurrently): Burgundy, Oregon and Niagara.

As it turned out, the wines from Niagara became most sought-after, and today Bachelder exclusively makes terroir-driven wines from select vineyards across Niagara.

A word from Thomas & Mary:

Our goal is to help discover, quantify, and name the terroirs of Niagara – to map them, one by one, and to deliver their energy and their purity of spirit to your glass.

We’re inspired by our spiritual home – Burgundy – where the grapes we love (Pinot Noir, Chardonnay, Gamay Noir) originally evolved, where even the tiniest of vineyards are kept scrupulously apart in the winery, and then put separately, lovingly, obsessively into small, individual bottlings.

Our goal is to “keep out of the way” and let the best parcels and the most harmonious barrels come forward to liberate and define small patches of Niagara land.

It takes a long time to discover terroirs. But the journey has its rewards.

Join us: become part of today’s growing local Terroir movement that is defining our lands in real-time.

Pull some corks and dream of the vineyards from which these wines come!

Santé! Cheers!

Thomas and Mary 
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