Henry of Pelham Estate Winery
We were proud to feature Henry of Pelham in December 2021.
As a family owned and operated winery, Henry of Pelham is dedicated to producing wines grown from the distinctive soils and climate of the Niagara Peninsula and most specifically the famous and well regarded Short Hills Bench. They are fiercely committed to consistently growing and making only the finest wines by focusing on constant improvements in their vineyards and winery, low yields and wines that have true elegance, finesse and age ability.
One thing unites every wine produced by Henry of Pelham: the land. The Speck family has lived on it for generations. And their vines have been putting down deep roots for decades. Every bottle captures this unique connection to their corner of Niagara. Not just good wine—beautiful wine.
Tasting Notes
ESTATE CHARDONNAY, 2019
Henry of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Short Hills Bench
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Estate Vineyards
Alcohol: 12.8%
Residual Sugar: 5.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,468
Appearance: Bright, straw colour.
Nose: Toasty, lightly spicy, apple bouquet with a forest floor note.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, apple flavour tinged with oak spice. Well-integrated oak. Long, fresh, lemony finish.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now.
Critic Rating: 91 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Chicken in pesto sauce, crab cakes with chipotle aioli, asparagus and mushroom frittata, mussels in light rosé sauce with basil, and roasted pork loin with sweet corn and squash.
BIN 106 LOST BOYS LIMITED EDITION BACO NOIR, 2020
Henry of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Ontario
Varietal: Baco Noir
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 11.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 479
Appearance: Opaque purple in colour.
Nose: Lightly cedary, spicy, blackberry nose with pencil lead and vanilla notes.
Palate: Medium- to full-bodied, dry, sour cherry and blackberry flavours carried on lively acidity.
Quality: Outstanding. Drinking well now, but will cellar for 3 – 4 years.
Critic Rating: 91.5 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Rack of lamb with rosemary, duck à l’orange, baked jalapeño poppers, roasted turkey with all the fixin’s, and ratatouille.
CHARDONNAY SPECK FAMILY RESERVE, 2020
Henry of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Short Hills Bench
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 1.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 204
Appearance: Light straw in colour.
Nose: Toasty, apple nose with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, elegant. Apple flavour with a lemony finish. Well-integrated oak.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now or through 2022.
Critic Rating: 91 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Smoked salmon salad with honey mustard dressing, grilled calamari with green mango, breaded veal with chorizo and sweet potato, chicken Dijon, and lentil pot pie.
CABERNET-MERLOT ESTATE, 2019
Henry of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Short Hills Bench
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon (42%), Cabernet Franc (38.5%), Merlot (19.5%)
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 1,058
Appearance: Ruby-purple in colour.
Nose: Cedary, red and blackcurrant bouquet with oak spice.
Palate: Medium-bodied, dry, savoury currant and cranberry flavours. Well-structured, nicely integrated oak with firm but pliant tannins.
Quality: Very Good+. Hold 1 – 2 years.
Critic Rating: 89 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Grilled ribeye with double-baked potato and creamed spinach, beef Wellington, mac and cheese with bacon, pizza with roasted vegetables, and braised chicken with sautéed onions and peppers.
RIESLING SPECK FAMILY RESERVE, 2019
Henry of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Short Hills Bench
Varietal: Riesling
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 9.8%
Residual Sugar: 15.4 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 257
Appearance: Clear, bright. Pale straw colour.
Nose: Green apple, stone fruit, lime, flint, white flowers, and hints of tropical fruit.
Palate: Medium acid, medium body. A touch off-dry. Zesty lemon, grapefruit, green apple, pear, honey, hint of minerality on the finish. Well-balanced.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points.
Food Pairing: Sesame chicken with ginger-lime dressing, poached halibut in soy sauce with orange zest, radish salad with pumpkin seeds, shrimp cocktail, and pulled pork sandwiches with cabbage slaw.
GAMAY ESTATE, 2019
Henry of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Short Hills Bench
Varietal: Gamay
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 7.6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 616
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Pale ruby core.
Nose: Red cherry, raspberry, green herbal note.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, light- to medium-bodied. Jammy red berry fruit, green herbs, and hints of smoke and black pepper spice.
Quality: Very Good+ / Outstanding. 89 – 90 points.
Food Pairing: Seared tuna with sesame green beans, pomegranate goat cheese arugula salad with candied pecans, honey garlic sausages with sautéed vegetables, beef stroganoff, and eggplant parmesan.
CUVÉE CATHARINE BRUT, NV
Henry of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Niagara Peninsula
Varietals: Chardonnay (70-80%), Pinot Noir (20-30%)
Vineyard: Estate Vineyards
Alcohol: 12%
Residual Sugar: 9.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 3,596
Appearance: Pale straw colour. Active, tiny bubbles.
Nose: Lightly toasty, apple and lemon-zest nose with a fragrant white blossom lift.
Palate: Light-bodied, crisply dry, green apple and lemon flavours with a suggestion of oak. Sustains well on the palate.
Quality: Outstanding. Drink now, but will cellar well for 2 – 3 years.
Critic Rating: 92 points – Tony Aspler
Food Pairing: Angel-hair pasta with fennel and clams, caviar on toast points with sour cream, oysters on the half-shell, tandoori kebabs, and strawberry and cream cheese turnovers.
BACO NOIR SPECK FAMILY RESERVE, 2019
Henry of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineTasting notes written by Tony Aspler.
Geographical Indication: VQA Ontario
Varietal: Baco Noir
Vineyard: Estate Vineyard
Alcohol: 13.5%
Residual Sugar: 13.3 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 2,526
Appearance: Dense purple in colour.
Nose: Lightly cedary, spicy, blackberry, tobacco and new leather on the nose with a floral top note.
Palate: Full-bodied, dry, richly extracted blackberry and blackcurrant flavours, beautifully balanced, ripe tannins and zesty acidity.
Quality: Outstanding. Their best yet! Drink now or through 2023.
Critic Rating: 92 points – Tony Aspler
Awards:
Food Pairing: Honey barbecued back ribs with baked beans, venison stew, grilled turkey burgers with caramelized onions, penne with artichoke hearts and parmesan cream, and aged cheddar sourdough bread.
CUVÉE CATHARINE ESTATE BLANC DE BLANC 'CARTE BLANCHE', 2016
Henry of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Short Hills Bench
Varietal: Chardonnay
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 12.5%
Residual Sugar: 6.7 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 427
Appearance: Clear. Bright. Pale straw colour. Active, tiny bubbles.
Nose: Green apple, pear, lemon, hints of baked bread.
Palate: Medium acid, light-bodied. Green apple, lemon, toast, and minerality. Well-balanced, elegant, and complex.
Quality: Outstanding. 92 points.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Curried chicken salad with toasted pecans, avocado and tuna tapas, cream of wild mushroom soup, pork loin with apricot glaze, and filet of sole in butter sauce.
PINOT NOIR SPECK FAMILY RESERVE, 2019
Henry of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Short Hills Bench
Varietal: Pinot Noir
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13%
Residual Sugar: 6.6 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 501
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Pale ruby colour.
Nose: Red cherry, redcurrant, blackberry, white pepper. Green herbal note.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Dry. Cherry, cranberry, plum, green herbs. Hints of earth, vanilla, and oak spice. Well-integrated oak.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Drink now or hold 1 – 2 years.
Awards:
Food Pairing: Chinese dim sum, smoked pork loin with peach chutney, seared duck breast with redcurrant sauce, creamy pea soup, and smoky cedar-grilled salmon with roasted peppers and wild rice.
CABERNET-MERLOT SPECK FAMILY RESERVE, 2019
Henry of Pelham, Niagara Peninsula Buy this wineGeographical Indication: VQA Short Hills Bench
Varietals: Cabernet Sauvignon (46.5%), Cabernet Franc (38.5%), Merlot (15%)
Vineyard: Estate vineyard
Alcohol: 13.2%
Residual Sugar: 3.2 g/L
Volume: 750mL
Cases Produced: 972
Appearance: Bright. Semi-opaque. Ruby colour.
Nose: Blackberry, blackcurrant, plum, violets, licorice, hints of black pepper.
Palate: Medium acid, medium tannin, medium body. Dry. Plum, blackcurrant, green pepper, earthy, black pepper, and a touch of smoke.
Quality: Outstanding. 90 points. Decant well and enjoy now or hold for 2-3 years.
Food Pairing: Roasted goose with pecan purée, red wine-braised lamb shanks, linguini with bolognese sauce, smoky black bean burgers with grilled mushrooms, and Turkish Seftali kebabs.