Flat Rock Cellars The Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2021

Flat Rock Cellars The Rusty Shed Chardonnay 2021 is an exceptional Canadian Chardonnay that demonstrates why Ontario has become one of the world’s most exciting regions for cool-climate wine. This elegant white wine combines great finesse, beautiful minerality, and impressive complexity with a depth typically associated with the finest wines from Burgundy. If you’re looking for an exclusive Chardonnay with aging potential, The Rusty Shed is an obvious choice.

The wine is made from 100% Chardonnay from two select Burgundy clones, grown on Flat Rock Cellars’ finest plots on the Niagara Escarpment. All grapes are hand-harvested and hand-sorted before being gently pressed. Fermentation takes place in French oak barrels, after which the wine ages sur lie alongside the fine yeast lees. This imparts a silky-smooth texture, extra depth, and great complexity, while the oak elegantly complements the wine’s fresh fruit without overpowering it.

The 2021 vintage delivers a Chardonnay with a beautiful balance between ripe fruit, lively acidity, and a refined minerality. The wine can be enjoyed now, but it is also designed to develop even greater elegance and complexity through many years of bottle aging.

Tasting Notes

In the glass, the wine appears light golden with delicate green hues. The nose opens with aromas of lemon, lime, ripe green apples, pear, and white peach. These are followed by elegant notes of brioche, toasted hazelnuts, butter, vanilla, and a hint of toast from the barrel aging, while chalky mineral tones add freshness and depth.

The palate is full-bodied, creamy, and harmonious, with precise acidity that lends the wine energy and elegance. The ripe fruit is perfectly balanced by subtle oak spices and a lovely minerality. The finish is long, complex, and refined, with nuances of citrus, baked apples, toasted nuts, and a hint of toast.

Flat Rock Cellars The Rusty Shed Chardonnay is an excellent pairing for lobster, scallops, grilled fish, shellfish, white meat poultry, creamy pasta dishes, mushroom dishes, and aged hard cheeses.

The Winery’s History

Flat Rock Cellars was founded in 1999 by Ed Madronich in the Niagara region of Ontario. The winery is located on the Niagara Escarpment, where limestone soils and a cool climate create optimal conditions for Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Riesling, and Gewürztraminer. The combination of long growing seasons and significant temperature differences between day and night yields grapes with intense aromas, lovely acidity, and great elegance.

Today, the winery is run by Ed Madronich alongside his son, Ed Madronich Jr., and winemaker Dave Sheppard. Together, they cultivate approximately 80 acres of vineyards with a focus on sustainability, hand-harvesting, and uncompromising quality. Flat Rock Cellars is considered one of Canada’s absolute leading producers and has earned international recognition, particularly for its Chardonnay and Pinot Noir.

• Type: White wine
• Country: Canada
• Region: Ontario
• Producer: Flat Rock Cellars
• Wine: The Rusty Shed Chardonnay
• Vintage: 2021
• Grapes: 100% Chardonnay
• Aging: Fermented in French oak barrels and aged sur lie
• Serving temperature: 10–12 °C
• Pairs well with: Fish, shellfish, lobster, scallops, white meat poultry, creamy pasta dishes, mushroom dishes, and aged cheeses
• Volume: 75 cl
• Contains: Sulfites
• Alcohol: 12.5%