Full Review

Chateau Chantal

Chateau Chantal
2020 Estate Ice Wine, Old Mission Peninsula

Pair this wine with:
Dessert

Category: Ice Wine

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.5% RS: 13.6%
93 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$90

Chateau Chantal
2020 Estate Ice Wine, Old Mission Peninsula

Pair this wine with:
Dessert

Category: Ice Wine

Date Tasted:
Country: USA
Alcohol: 14.5% RS: 13.6%
Yellow straw color. Aromas and flavors of candied pineapple and pineapple blossom, elderflower, jasmine, and honeysuckle, baked pear, and apricot and tangerine with a syrupy, tart, sweet full body and a smooth, interesting, long finish with elements of candied flowers and pineapple, baked apple, and apricot syrup and lemon juice. Grab the bleu cheese with the fruit and nut platter; this is a wonderful dessert wine in the finest European tradition.

Tasting Info

Wine Glass Style: Fruity
Aroma Aroma: candied pineapple and pineapple blossom, elderflower, jasmine, and honeysuckle, baked pear, and apricot and tangerine
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with elements of candied flowers and pineapple, baked apple, and apricot syrup and lemon juice
Sweetness Sweetness: Sweet
Enjoy Enjoy: Now-3 years with food
Recipes Pairing: Strawberry Shortcake, Creme Brulee, Mixed Berries
Bottom Line Bottom Line: Grab the bleu cheese with the fruit and nut platter; this is a wonderful dessert wine in the finest European tradition.

The Producer

Chateau Chantal

The Producer
15900 Rue De Vin
Traverse City, MI 49686
USA
1 231-223-4110

Ice Wine

Wine Glass Dessert.jpg
Serve in a Copita
Ice Wine is a dessert wine that is made from frozen grapes that are harvested very late, anywhere from December to early March. At peak, these frozen grapes have at harvest, a water content in which 80% remains as frozen crystals. Fermentation takes months to complete.

Ice wine is made from white and red grapes, primarily Riesling as well as Vidal, while Cabernet Franc is the leading red variety. Most examples of ice wine are still, but there are also sparkling versions produced.

Canada is a major producer of Ice Wine, most notably in the Niagara Peninsula in Ontario and the Okanagan Valley in British Columbia. Residual sugar is quite high (about 150 grams per liter, similar to Sauternes from France), but since the acidity is usually high, ice wines do not taste overly sweet.

Ideal consumption time is from eight to ten years; these are best enjoyed on their own or with blue cheeses.