Closson Chase was an early entry into the nacent Prince Edward County winery scene in the late 1990s and recently made an almost seamless transition from a former doyen of Ontario winemakers, Deborah Paskus, to the present winemaker, Keith Tyers, highly capable with focused vision on making fine wine, especially chardonnay and pinot noir, from what nature provides.

• Order the following wines by the case for daily office, home or restaurant delivery direct from the winery either by using this link Closson Chase, phone toll-free 1-888-201-2300 email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or pick them up from the winery 629 Closson Road, Hillier, Ontario K0K 2J0 – it’s an easy 2 or so hour drive, or less, from the GTA or Ottawa and environs - Here’s a map. Phone ahead 343-261-6465 for complimentary curbside pick-up or local delivery. They are now open 7 days a week from 11am to 5 pm.

• Louise Boutin, wine writer, accredited sommelier, wine educator and mentor and winecurrent.com contributor, chose the following three wines to taste, review and score from Closson Chase, one of the premium wineries in Prince Edward County.

• The following 2019 Closson Chase KJ Watson Pinot Gris was sourced from machine-harvested fruit in Niagara’s VQA appellation of Four Mile Creek. It was fermented in temperature-controlled stainless steel tanks and saw no oak,

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Closson Chase ‘KJ Watson’ Pinot Gris 2019
VQA Four Mile Creek $24.00 12.3% alcohol
Pear jam, sweet cantaloupe, honeysuckle and fresh ginger make-up the nose of this beautiful, dry pinot gris. Expect a delicious refreshing medium-light-bodied wash of ripe pear, peach and lemon zest flavours quickly caught up with raw almond, a pickled ginger note and a light chalky minerality persisting in the finish and aftertaste. This is your go-to white for gourmet sushi. (Louise Boutin)

• The following 2018 Closson Chase ‘The Brock’ Chardonnay was sourced from KJ Watson Vineyards in Niagara’s VQA appellation of Niagara River. Fruit was destemmed and pressed at 14° C in stainless steel tank with no malolactic conversion while 50% was barrel fermented in neutral barrels for 14 months with 100% malolactic conversion.

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Closson Chase ‘The Brock’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Niagara River $25.00 13.0% alcohol
Beautiful golden reflections in this finely crafted, cool-climate, hand-harvested chardonnay catch your eye. Ripe yellow fruit takes the lead on the aroma profile along with fresh fennel, crème brûlée and mineral notes. The palate is treated to delicious flavours of spicy peach, lemon curd and toasted almond getting along perfectly; salted caramel notes develop in the finish and delicious aftertaste. Pour alongside gourmet Mac’n Cheese or garlic shrimps over a bed of creamy gnocchi. (Louise Boutin)

• The following 2018 Closson Chase ‘South Clos’ Chardonnay was sourced from estate chardonnay vines in the VQA appellation of Prince Edward County. Fruit was whole-cluster pressed and 100% barrel fermented with 20% new barrels.

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Closson Chase ‘South Clos’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Prince Edward County $42.00 13.0% alcohol
Get your hands on one of these small-production wines—only 400 hundred cases bottled. This is cool-climate chardonnay at its best—yellow apple and pear, toasted brioche, camomile tea and zesty aromas open the door to a lovely feast of flavours—ripe pear, green pineapple, marzipan and mineral notes. A full malolactic conversion conveys a delicious creamy, yet airy mouthfeel, showcasing excellent depth and finesse. This medium-bodied beauty is worth every penny and has cellaring potential and it shines now alongside coquille St-Jacques. (Louise Boutin)

Vic Harradine, accredited sommelier, author and winecurrent.com publisher and contributor chose the following four wines from Closson Chase, one of the premium wineries in Prince Edward County, to taste, review and score.

• The following 2018 Closson Chase ‘Vineyard’ Chardonnay was sourced from estate, low-yielding—1.9 tonnes/acre—Prince Edward County vineyards. Fruit was whole-cluster pressed and 100% barrel fermented, less than 10% new. The wine underwent 100% malolactic fermentation.

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Closson Chase ‘Vineyard’ Chardonnay 2018
VQA Prince Edward County $33.00 13.3% alcohol
Aromas of baking spice, roasted nuts and sharp minerality precede a glorious, medium-bodied, creamy-smooth gusher of ripe pit fruit, baked apple and lemon pie filling blanketing the palate with excellent acidity and plenty of complexity, depth and pizzazz. It finishes balanced, lengthy and lip-smacking delicious. Versatile at the table, this pours well alongside steamed lobster dipped in drawn butter, pan-seared or grilled fish or seafood, or roast chicken or turkey. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2019 Closson Chase ‘KJ Watson Vineyards’ Rosé was sourced from 100% pinot noir fruit in the VQA sub-appellation of Niagara River, under the ‘Niagara Peninsula’ VQA appellation. The Niagara River enjoys a long growing and ripening season, a huge bonus, especially for red grapes, in this cool-climate region. Fruit was whole-cluster soaked 36 hours destemmed and pressed. It underwent controlled temperature, cool fermentation of 14° C in stainless steel tank for 10 days then settled on its lees in the tank for 60 days. It saw no oak. This is certified ‘vegan’ by VegeCert.

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Closson Chase ‘KJ Watson Vineyards’ Rosé 2019
VQA Niagara River $24.00 13.0% alcohol
Aromas of fresh-picked strawberry, cherry and roses abound on the nose of this 100% pinot noir rosé. It bathes the palate with an off-dry river of sweet cherry and Tangelo orange flavours decorated with mixed spice and excellent citrus tang on the clean finish. This is fine for sipping on its own and makes a great table mate with spicy Asian cuisine like Tikka Masala. Serve wine chilled. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2017 Closson Chase ‘Grande Cuvée’ Chardonnay was sourced from hand-harvested, estate vineyards—50% Churchside/50% South Clos—with a meagre yield of 1.8 tonnes per acre. It fermented in a large oak fermenter then spent 16 months in French oak, 40% new. Less than 100 cases were bottled. Drink now to 2026 with careful cellaring.

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Closson Chase ‘Grande Cuvée’ Chardonnay 2017
VQA Prince Edward County $95.00 13.3% alcohol
Buttered toast and spiced, baked apple mingle with toasty/flinty aromas on the nose in the first bottling of this premium, flagship chardonnay. It envelops the palate with a surge of flavour with ripe peach and Mirabelle plum interwoven with tang-laden lemon curd and sharp green apple. This is medium-plus bodied with generous mouthfeel and a lengthy finish and aftertaste replaying palate flavours. This wine showcases deft balance, persistent purity of fruit, good depth, complexity and ability to age to 2026 with careful cellaring. Kudos to winemaker, Keith Tyers, for this stunning cool-climate chardonnay. (Vic Harradine)

• The following 2017 Closson Chase ‘Grande Cuvée’ Pinot Noir was sourced from hand-picked, estate vineyards—60% Churchside/40% South Clos—with a very low yield of 1.8 tonnes/acre. It fermented in a large oak fermenter then spent 18 months in French oak, 40% new then bottled unfiltered. Less than 125 cases were produced. Drink now to 2026 with careful cellaring.

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Closson Chase ‘Grande Cuvée’ Pinot Noir 2017
VQA Prince Edward County $90.00 12.5% alcohol
Aromas of beetroot, mixed spice and rose petals introduce a tang-infused wash of palate flavours—ripe red cherry and allspice interlaced with passionfruit and wisps of tannin. This is light-medium weight with good acidity, plenty of pizzazz, structure and versatility at the table. It finishes crisp, dry and mouth-watering adding on earthy/mushroom notes. It’s well poured with smoked duck breasts or a festive bird with all the fixings. (Vic Harradine)