For a guy who claims not to like Chardonnay, it is odd for me to put two in one newsletter, especially when it entails me bumping one of my favourite grapes out of the selection spot, Cabernet Franc (next time). But the bump seems necessary because there is a very limited supply of this wine, so if you want to get your hands on it you have to hurry. This wine is made at a little winery north of Toronto in Stouffville by a gentleman name Mario Testa. Mario actually has his own little vineyard up there where he grew Chardonnay. Yes, I did say grew because recently Mario pulled out his Chardonnay (I’ll let him tell you why when you go up there or call to order your wine). It seems that there are only a few years left to try Mario is homegrown Chardonnay, and this is one of those years (there is still the ’08 and ’09 vintages to come and then it’s over). This is such an alluring wine, which was aged 12 months in re-coopered barrels. The nose is toasty, oaky, slightly buttery and a bit nutty, think buttered almonds here as you put the glass to your nose and breathe deep. Those smells translate to the tongue and add a lovely bit of apple fruit to the mix. It’s not often that you get to drink a Chardonnay grown in Stouffville, Ontario, and as of 2009 you won’t be able to anymore – so I suggest you give this one a try. As for the price, I think this wine is a real value selection, and we’ll give them an extra half star to prove it; though something tells me they would have received that half star if the wine was twenty bucks. Only 125 cases were made, only 60 remain. Price: $16.00 – Rating: ****½