• Order the following wine by the bottle(s) or case(s) for daily delivery to home, office or restaurant online from this link to Henry of Pelham – There is free delivery on 12 or more bottles in Ontario. Select ‘12 Bottles+’ at check out and allow up to 10 days for delivery or, order online then pick up bottle(s) or case(s) from the winery at 1469 Pelham Rd, St. Catharines ON. Here’s a map.

• The following sustainably grown 2020 Henry of Pelham ‘Estate – Old Vines’ Baco Noir was sourced from low-yielding vines—3.5 tons/acre—that were +20 years old with the largest portion being 36 years old—when harvested for this wine—shovel planted by the Speck brothers in 1984. The wine was matured in a combination of new and 1-2 year old American barriques then partially finished in 5000L oak foudres for a combined 12 months. This wine showcases one of the winery’s most popular grape varieties both domestically and internationally, as well as the fabulous 2020 VQA Ontario vintage.

92  

Henry of Pelham ‘Estate – Old Vines’ Baco Noir 2020

VQA Short Hills Bench $19.95 13.5% alcohol
Aromas of gamey notes and grilled savoury herbs mingle with black currant and dark plum. It’s absolutely delicious on the palate with juicy black cherry and black plum compote nicely juxtaposed to tangy acidity, soft ripe tannin and oodles of pizzazz throughout. The dazzling VQA 2020 vintage shines brightly in this Baco. Pick up a few while you still can. Serve with rack of lamb or grilled back ribs mopped with sweet and spicy barbecue sauce. (Vic Harradine)

• For daily home, office or restaurant delivery for the following two wines are sold at the winery only, order online from this link Malivoire Wine Company with FREE shipping on orders of $99 or more, or $20 credited next business day towards delivery outside Ontario and Québec. Phone 905-563-9253 Monday to Friday 10 am - 5 pm on weekdays and noon to 5 pm Saturday and Sunday for information and for locals to access curbside pickup instructions. Their retail shop is now open - 10 am - 5 pm on weekdays, and noon to 5 pm on Saturday and Sunday. There are guidelines due to COVID-19 that change often, best to phone or email first (the website has a space to type and is linked to their email).

• The following 2019 ‘Mottiar Vineyard’ Chardonnay was sourced from hand-harvested grapes at the Mottiar Vineyard on October 5, 2019 when sugar in the unfermented grapes averaged 21.3 ° Brix. Wild yeast was used to ferment 75% of the must while cultured yeast fermented the other 25%. After primary fermentation and partial malolactic conversion in older French oak puncheons, the wine remains in barrel for nine months on its lees until bottled July, 2020.

92 
Malivoire Wine ‘Mottiar Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2019
VQA Beamsville Bench $34.95 12.5% alcohol
Lightly yellow hued in the glass, aromas of spice interwoven with orchard fruit—peach and pear—along with lemon-lime notes waft delicately from the wine. The palate’s treated to a racy, lip-smacking surge of blood orange and peel marmalade adorned with lime-drizzled pear and minerality. It’s medium bodied with good texture and mouthfeel, good balance and persistent purity of fruit through the palate replays on the long finish and aftertaste. Pour with all manner of chicken, pork and veal or freshwater fish or mussels steamed in cream, leeks and white wine. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2020 Malivoire Wine ‘Wismer-Foxcroft Vineyard’ Gamay was sourced from 100% Gamay from the Foxcroft Vineyard, meticulously farmed by the Wismer family.

92 
Malivoire Wine ‘Wismer-Foxcroft Vineyard’ Gamay 2020
VQA Twenty Mile Bench $27.95 13.0% alcohol
Light ruby in the glass, aromas of dark cherry and blueberry mingle with good acidity, deft balance, and plenty of structure and a supple tannin underpinning. Maturing palate flavours reach out using pure ambrosia for bait—black currant and ripe juicy cherry interlace with dark bittersweet chocolate and plenty of tang and pizzazz. It finishes on an up note with ripe black currant and dark bittersweet chocolate both making an appearance on the finish and aftertaste. What’s not to like? Place in the frig for 20 minutes then pour with your favourite barbecue treat. (Vic Harradine)

• Purchase the following ten wines online by the case, for home, restaurant or office delivery from Meldville Wines, phone 905-563-6500 or email winemaker/owner Derek Barnett This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. If in the area, make an appointment and drop by Legends Estates Winery (Derek makes Meldville wines here) 4888 Ontario St. North, Beamsville ON, L0R 1B3 and pick up wine by the bottle(s) or case(s).
 
• Derek Barnett is synonymous with Lailey Vineyard. However, in 2015 Lailey was sold and Derek made the decision to move on. He had been at Lailey as a principal and the winemaker since 2001. He has been winemaker at Karlo Estates in Prince Edward County since leaving Lailey and now has launched his shiny-new virtual winery in Niagara – Meldville Wines. Remember the name, you’ll be hearing more from them—Derek’s many winemaking skills have certainly retained their elegant touch as seen in the wines below. 

• The following 2020 Meldville Wines ‘Muscat Bubble’ Sparkling Wine was made via the Charmat method from 100% Muscat Ottonel grapes that were sourced during the dazzling VQA Ontario vintage of 2020. The fruit was in pristine condition and was subjected to an almost perfect growing season and ideal harvest conditions. This is Meldville’s first release of a sparkling wine and it’s quite special.

93 
Meldville Wines ‘Muscat Bubble’ Sparkling Wine 2020
VQA Ontario $23.00 9.0% alcohol
Alluring, almost sexy aromas of exotic incense, floral notes, coconut and notions of rosewater on the nose. It delivers a gorgeous mousse on pouring along with off-dry palate flavours of lemon chiffon pie, poached pear and ripe apricot to the fore. It’s light on its feet with deft balance and persistent palate flavour through to the finish and aftertaste. This is just the bubbly to start off happy hour and it also pours well with spicy Asian appetizers. It punches well above its price and is worthy of a multiple purchase. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2020 Meldville Wines Cabernet Franc Rosé was sourced from cabernet franc grapes from the VQA sub-appellation of Lincoln Lakeshore, an area that’s known for its closeness to Lake Ontario and the benefit it receives from the cooling breezes that temper the heat in summer and the warmth provided during the cool seasons. This makes for an extended growing season that allows the fruit to ripen to near perfection.

93  
Meldville Wines Cabernet Franc Rosé 2020
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $20.00 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of floral notes, strawberry and red cherry provide segue to a delicious mouthful of ripe red plum, wild strawberry along with pie cherry tang and piquant, peppery spice. This has superb mouthfeel, texture and deftly balanced flavour from first to last drop. The finish lingers, you shouldn’t, this should sell pretty quickly given the price-quality proposition swinging well in your favour. Pour with all manner of deli platter or charcuterie board. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Meldville Wines ‘Fifth Edition – Derek Barnett’ Sauvignon Blanc was sourced from the Lizak Vineyard in the VQA sub-appellation of Lincoln Lakeshore, an area that’s known for its closeness to Lake Ontario and the benefit it receives from the cooling breezes that temper the heat in summer and the warmth provided during the cool seasons. This makes for an extended growing season that allows the fruit to ripen to near perfection virtually every year. There was two days of skin contact before being pressed and cold settled. It was fermented in stainless steel tanks with selected yeast and spent three months with lees contact and gentle stirring every few weeks.

91  
Meldville Wines ‘Fifth Edition – Derek Barnett’ Sauvignon Blanc 2019
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $20.00 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of gooseberry, savoury herbs and grassy notes abound. It races over the palate with a laser-like stream of tang and acidity expressed as lemon-lime juice soon joined by hints of white grapefruit and grilled pineapple. This is medium-bodied with good mouthfeel and plenty of tang and pizzazz. The finish and aftertaste are racy, but also showcase some less tangy Key lime and Meyer lemon flavours. Pour alongside line-caught freshwater fish or steamed crabs and mussels served with a generous squeeze of fresh lemon. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Meldville Wines ‘Barrel Select – Derek Barnett’ Syrah was fermented in small bins with hand punch downs 2-3 times daily and pressed off after 22 days of skin contact. It was aged in older barrels for 16 months before bottling. This is the first twist-cap wine from Derek Barnett and Meldville Wines.

94 
Meldville Wines ‘Barrel Select – Derek Barnett’ Syrah 2018
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $27.00 13.0% alcohol
This is oozing with alluring aromas—black currant, dark chocolate and crème de cassis are dominant along with savoury herbs. It envelops the palate with a medium-plus bodied, nicely textured wash of juicy black Bing cherry and ripe mulberry robed in peppery spice. It’s closer to being a premium Aussie shiraz than most Ontario syrah. It finishes balanced and bountiful with a lengthy finish and aftertaste. This is certainly worth a purchase. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Meldville Wines ‘Fourth Edition – Derek Barnett’ Chardonnay sourced grapes for this wine grown very close to the shores of Lake Ontario where light breezes off the lake tended to keep the intense heat and humidity at bay just a little bit. Grapes were harvested in great condition. They were crushed and destemmed before a gentle pressing. Juice was settled in tank before transfer to small 225L, 2nd- and 3rd-fill French oak barrels for fermentation. Ferment was slow in the cool environment of the barrel cellar giving bright, clean and fresh flavours. Malolactic ferment was completed after which the wine was allowed to rest on its lees, without stirring for 10 months. The wine was then bottled after minimal filtration.

91  
Meldville Wines ‘Fourth Edition – Derek Barnett’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $20.00 13.0% alcohol
Aged ten months in old French oak barrels before bottling, this fine offering opens with aromas of apple, spice, toasted brioche, a hint of caramel and a mineral note which replay, gently coating the nicely-textured palate. Dry, medium bodied and well-balanced, it finishes medium long with a pleasant suggestion of grapefruit pith appearing in the aftertaste. Enjoy with pan-seared rainbow trout. (Lisa Isabelle)

• The following 2018 Meldville Wines ‘Derek Barnett - Barrel Select’ Chardonnay was recently released. It was harvested by hand, whole-berry pressed with stems and cold settled before transfer to barrel. 100% barrel fermented in 2-3 year old barrels with selected yeast and completed malolactic ferment. It was aged in barrel and on fermentation lees for 20 months then lightly filtered before bottling.

94 
Meldville Wines ‘Derek Barnett - Barrel Select’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $26.00 13.0% alcohol
A brightly hued light-gold in the glass, aromas of caramel, vanilla and yeast abound on the nose. A stylish surge of yellow peach, pear and green apple dominate the palate flavours robed in vanilla and poached pear persisting through the lengthy, delectable finish and aftertaste. This is medium-weight with good structure and texture and plenty of flair and wonderful mouth-watering tang. Kudos to owner/winemaker Derek Barnett for not allowing this to become ‘oaky’. Give it a go with a festive turkey and all the fixings or steamed lobster dipped in clarified butter. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Meldville Wines ‘Derek Barnett – First Edition’ Riesling saw little intervention as do all ‘First Edition’ wines. They are crafted in a time-honoured manner allowing the vines to tell their own story. It has paid off in spades with this wine earning a Double-Gold award in the prestigious, most recent 2021 All Canadian Wine Championship. This was an ideal vintage year for Riesling with cooler temperatures allowing a slow ripening process that developed amazing flavours and kept the acid balanced without high sugar development. Following harvest the grapes were crushed, destemmed and pressed off immediately with minimal skin contact. Fermentation was slow keeping the flavours full and the wine pretty.

92 
Meldville Wines ‘Derek Barnett – First Edition’ Riesling 2019
VQA Niagara Peninsula $22.00 11.0% alcohol (Licensee $18.57 before HST and deposit)
Notions of petrol, minerality and yellow plum aromas on the nose are precursors to a balanced-on-a-pin and mouth-watering stream of pure ambrosia with plenty of tang and mouth-watering acidity decorated with lime cordial, pineapple and pomelo. This is slightly off-dry with flair, elegance and plenty of mouth-watering tang. Pour with baked and maple syrup glazed, bone-in ham, dotted with cloves. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2018 Meldville Wines ‘Derek Barnett – Third Edition’ Pinot Noir will be released in October, 2021. The grapes were hand-harvested from Wagner Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake then fermented in small bins with punch down by hand 2-3 times daily. The fermentation was started with wild yeast and finished with selected yeast while the final 20% was pressed off after 18 days of skin contact. The malolactic ferment completed in barrel. The wine then spent 17 months in barrel, all French oak and 2-3 year old barrels. It was bottled after a coarse filtration. This vineyard always produces lighter colour with quite intense flavour.

92 
Meldville Wines ‘Derek Barnett – Third Edition’ Pinot Noir 2018
VQA Niagara Peninsula $27.00 12.5% alcohol
It’s quite lightly hued in the glass, although there are lifted aromas of peppery spice, red currant and cherry/berry fruit. It delivers more of the same on the palate with flavours of ripe red plum and Montmorency cherry intertwined with grilled savoury herbs and plenty of tang and acidity. This is medium-weight with good balance and plenty of persistent purity of fruit, good structure and a dry, lengthy finish and aftertaste. Pour alongside home-smoked duck breasts on a bed of olive-oiled arugula and mango chutney. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Meldville Wines ‘Derek Barnett’ Pinot Grigio is a lighter-styled wine with a nice rich texture and a very reasonable price. After being asked by numerous restaurants if I would make one, here it is. This is all stainless steel fermented, aged on lees for 3 months, cool fermented at 14 °C with 110 cases produced.’ Derek Barnett.

90  
Meldville Wines ‘Derek Barnett’ Pinot Grigio 2019
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $17.50 12.0% alcohol
Delicate aromas of floral notes, tropical fruit and citrus notes waft easily from the glass preceding a surge of delightful flavours, balanced and bountiful—honey-drizzled poached pear joined by lemon curd and plenty of tang and pizzazz make this desirable and versatile with food. It’s light on its feet, but not lacking in flavour or mouthfeel. Give this a go as an aperitif to get the gastric juices flowing or with all manner of pan-seared freshwater fish or steamed mussels.

• The following 2016 Meldville Wines ‘Derek Barnett – Third Edition’ Cabernet Franc was sourced from grapes that were in excellent condition with small ripe berries with amazing flavours Fruit was destemmed and gently crushed and transferred to one tonne bins for fermentation using ambient yeasts to begin fermentation then later was finished up with select yeasts. Manual punch downs daily extracted colour, tannin and flavours. The wine was pressed off and settled for a few days before being barreled down. Malolactic fermentation was completed in barrel. The wine was matured for 15 months in older French and American oak barrels before racking into stainless steel tank. It was lightly filtered before bottling.

92 
Meldville Wines ‘Derek Barnett – Third Edition’ Cabernet Franc 2016
VQA Lincoln Lakeshore $27.00 13.5% alcohol
Ontario cabernet franc shines in all its splendor in this wine from skilled winemaker Derek Barnett’s own label. A complex nose—ripe black fruit, anise, tobacco and charred green bell pepper—set the table for palate-bathing flavours of ripe dark cherry, blackberry, bright raspberry and bay leaf wrapped in noticeable, acceptable polished tannin. There’s 15 months of French old-barrel maturation in this medium-full bodied beauty and it will only get better with a few more years of cellaring or pour now after two hours of aeration/decant. Pour alongside grilled gourmet sausage or stuffed eggplant. (Louise Boutin)