Let’s begin the story of the new DQ winery with the name: the first people to make wine on the shores of Niagara were monks in 1670 and their superior’s name was Queylus … hence Domaine Queylus – any questions? Good, we’ll move on. This is also the first winery located in the area of West Lincoln, so there’s something else that makes this place special. Their winemaker is none other than Thomas Bachelder, so that might spark your interest a little further and so as you would expect the winery’s focus is Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, and the expression of those grapes from vineyard specific sites. The Reserve du Domaine is taken from the centre of both of their main vineyards (totalling 22.7 acres). The nose is all about richness of fruit: strawberry, black cherry and black raspberry, while the palate shows the balance of the vintage for Pinot Noir with dark fruit, but with finesse and elegance at its very core: strawberry, raspberry, spiced plum, Christmas spice and a little bit of pencil shavings helping to balance it out. Price: $45.00 – Rating: ****+