Results of the 2021 WineAlign National Wine Awards of Canada (The Nationals)
Pinot Noir
Category Overview by Judge Jacky Blisson, MW
Over the past thirty years, Pinot Noir has emerged as the red grape of choice for countless quality-focused Canadian vintners. It thrives in our cool climates and varied clay, limestone soils. Furthermore, Pinot Noir has a noble lineage and enjoys worldwide recognition. It is easy to see the appeal.
(Jump straight to the medal winners.)
The historic divide of fruit-driven styles from the Okanagan vs. restrained, taut Ontario Pinot Noir is a thing of the past. Our tasting revealed elegant, pure fruited Pinots from Vancouver Island, to Kelowna, the Naramata Bench, Prince Edward County, Niagara’s bench lands, and beyond.
Yet it is still early days in our journey toward mastering this notoriously finicky grape. Too many top tier bottlings still display lavish oak, overwhelming the grape’s inherent delicacy. Conversely, numerous lean, austere Pinot Noirs redolent with volatile acidity also plague the category.
In short, promising Canadian Pinot Noirs are cropping up from coast to coast but watch out for wide stylistic diversity.
Moraine 2019 Pinot Noir, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Rathjen Cellars 2018 Pinot Noir Saison Vineyard, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
50th Parallel 2019 Profile Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
CedarCreek 2018 Platinum Pinot Noir Clone 777, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Chain Reaction 2020 Pendulum Pinot Noir, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
EauVivre 2019 Pinot Noir, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Haywire 2019 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Kitsch 2019 5 Barrel Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Quails’ Gate 2019 Richard’s Block Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2018 Coyote Vineyard Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2019 Coyote Vineyard Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2019 Saddle Block Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Stanners 2019 Pinot Noir The Narrow Rows, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Therapy 2020 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
50th Parallel 2019 Unparalleled Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Arrowleaf 2018 Archive Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Arrowleaf 2019 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Broken Stone 2019 Estate Grown Pinot Noir, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Burrowing Owl 2018 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Closson Chase 2019 South Clos Pinot Noir, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Corcelettes 2019 Micro Lot Series Reserve Pinot Noir, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Fort Berens 2019 Pinot Noir, British Columbia
Fox & Archer 2018 Creekside Pinot Noir, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Fox & Archer 2018 Mountain Pinot Noir, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Fox & Archer 2019 3 Blocks Pinot Noir, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Fox & Archer 2019 Creekside Pinot Noir, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Foxtrot 2019 Estate Pinot Noir, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Foxtrot 2019 The Waltz Pinot Noir, British Columbia
Henry of Pelham 2019 Pinot Noir Speck Family Reserve, Short Hills Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Hidden Bench 2019 Pinot Noir, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Horseshoe Found 2018 Pinot Noir, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Huff Estates 2018 Pinot Noir Reserve, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Inniskillin Niagara 2018 Reserve Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Kacaba 2019 Select Series Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Kalala 2019 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
La Frenz 2019 Pinot Noir Desperation Hill Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
La Frenz 2019 Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Lake Breeze 2019 Okanagan Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Le Clos Jordanne 2018 Le Grand Clos Pinot Noir, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Leaning Post 2019 Pinot Noir Grimsby Hillside Vineyard, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Liquidity 2019 Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Little Engine 2019 Pinot Noir Gold, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Lunessence 2019 Pinot Noir Palo Solara, East Kelowna, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Malivoire 2019 Mottiar Pinot Noir, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Malivoire 2019 Small Lot Pinot Noir, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Marynissen 2019 Platinum Series Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Maverick 2020 Provenance Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Megalomaniac 2019 Sonofabitch Pinot Noir, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Meyer 2019 Micro Cuvée Pinot Noir McLean Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Meyer 2019 Pinot Noir McLean Creek Rd Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Mission Hill 2018 Legacy Collection Prospectus, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Mission Hill 2019 Reserve Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Monte Creek 2020 Ancient Waters Pinot Noir, British Columbia
Moraine 2018 Reserve Pinot Noir, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Nk’Mip Cellars 2020 Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Oak Bay 2019 Pinot Noir Reserve, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Oak Bay 2019 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Organized Crime 2019 Sacred Series Pinot Noir Tara Block, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Organized Crime 2020 Break-In Pinot Noir, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
O’Rourke’s Peak Cellars 2019 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Rivière du Chêne 2017 La Cantina Pinot Noir, Vallée d’Oka, Quebec
Rockway Vineyards 2018 Pinot Noir Canal East, Ontario
Rockway Vineyards 2018 Pinot Noir Canal West, Ontario
SpearHead 2018 Saddle Block Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2019 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Stag’s Hollow 2019 Pinot Noir Stag’s Hollow Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tawse 2019 Growers Blend Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tawse 2019 Pinot Noir Quarry Road Vineyard, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
The View 2019 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Thirty Bench 2019 Small Lot Pinot Noir, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Unsworth 2019 Pinot Noir, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Westcott 2019 Estate Pinot Noir, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Wild Goose 2019 Pinot Noir Sumac Slope, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
50th Parallel 2019 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Arterra 2018 Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Blue Grouse 2019 Quill Pinot Noir, British Columbia
Cave Spring 2019 Pinot Noir, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Cloudsley Cellars 2018 Pinot Noir Parke Vineyard, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Cloudsley Cellars 2018 Pinot Noir, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Corcelettes 2020 Pinot Noir, Similkameen Valley, British Columbia
Dirty Laundry 2019 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Domaine Queylus 2018 La Grande Réserve Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Domaine Queylus 2019 Limited Edition Mountainview Vineyard Pinot Noir, Lincoln Lakeshore, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Fielding 2019 Pinot Noir, St. David’s Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Flat Rock Cellars 2017 Nature Pinot Noir, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Flat Rock Cellars 2017 Nurture Pinot Noir, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Flat Rock Cellars 2020 Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Four Shadows 2019 Pinot Noir, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
G. Marquis 2020 The Silver Line Pinot Noir, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Garry Oaks 2017 Estate Pinot Noir, Salt Spring Island, British Columbia
Georgian Hills 2018 Wild & Inspired Pinot Noir Wismer Cuesta, Ontario
Giant Head 2018 Pinot Noir Reserve, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Haywire 2020 Pinot Noir Secrest Mountain Vineyard, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Hidden Bench 2018 Felseck Vineyard Pinot Noir, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Hidden Bench 2018 Rosomel Pinot Noir Rosomel Vineyard, Beamsville Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Jackson-Triggs Estate Winery 2019 Grand Reserve Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Karlo Estates 2018 Pinot Noir Estate, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Lake Breeze 2019 Cellar Series Aura, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Leaning Post 2019 Pinot Noir, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Lighthall 2019 Les Jumeaux Pinot Noir, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Magnotta 2020 Venture Series Pinot Noir, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Meyer 2019 Old Block Pinot Noir McLean Creek Vineyard, Okanagan Falls, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Mirabel 2019 Pinot Noir Reserve, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Niagara College 2019 Dean’s List Pinot Noir, Niagara-on-the-Lake, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Nk’Mip Cellars 2019 Qwam Qwmt Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Pelee Island 2018 Pinot Noir Reserve VQA, Lake Erie North Shore, Ontario
Quails’ Gate 2019 Dijon Clone Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Quails’ Gate 2019 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Red Rooster 2018 Rare Bird Series Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Roche Wines 2019 Pinot Noir Texture, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Rosehall Run 2019 JCR Pinot Noir Rosehall Vineyard, Prince Edward County, Ontario
Rosehall Run 2020 Pinot Noir, Ontario
See Ya Later Ranch 2019 Legacy Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
See Ya Later Ranch 2020 Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2018 Cuvée Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2018 Golden Retreat Vineyard Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
SpearHead 2019 Cuvée Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Stoneboat 2019 Pinot House Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Summerhill 2019 Organic Pinot Noir, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Tawse 2019 Pinot Noir Tintern Road, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Tightrope 2018 Pinot Noir Fleet Road, Naramata Bench, Okanagan Valley, British Columbia
Trius 2019 Showcase Pinot Noir Clark Farm, Four Mile Creek, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Unsworth 2019 Pinot Noir Saison Vineyard, Cowichan Valley, Vancouver Island, British Columbia
Westcott 2018 Estate Pinot Noir, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Westcott 2018 Reserve Pinot Noir, Vinemount Ridge, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Westcott 2019 Butlers’ Grant Carolyn’s Block Pinot Noir, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
Westcott 2019 Butlers’ Grant Old Vines Pinot Noir, Twenty Mile Bench, Niagara Peninsula, Ontario
