Pearl Morissette, Niagara
AOCs: Twenty Mile Beach VQA, Creek Shore VQA (Niagara Peninsula)
Varieties: Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chardonnay, Riesling
Viticulture: Organic
Size: 11.4 hectares
Terroir: Clay, Loam, Silt, Limestone, Iron, Sand
New York Time's Eric Asimov on Pearl Morisette: From Ontario, Cool-Climate Wines of Beauty and Vision
Varieties: Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Gamay, Chardonnay, Riesling
Viticulture: Organic
Size: 11.4 hectares
Terroir: Clay, Loam, Silt, Limestone, Iron, Sand
New York Time's Eric Asimov on Pearl Morisette: From Ontario, Cool-Climate Wines of Beauty and Vision
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Francois Morissette is making the most exciting wines in Canada that we know of in his small corner of Ontario. They are uncompromising wines of terroir that easily transcend the boundaries of the Niagara Peninsula; in his words, “I don’t make wine for Ontario, I make wine for the world."
Francois’ career in wine began in his early 20s when he spent a year working for Domaine Alain Gras in Saint-Romain, learning about the traditional winemaking methods of the region. Once he moved back to Quebec, he worked towards becoming a sommelier and spent the rest of the 1990s building some of the most ambitious wine lists in both Quebec and Ontario. In 2000, the call of the vines was to loud to ignore and he moved back to France to pursue winemaking full-time, working for some of the most famous producers in the Côte d’Or including Frédéric Mugnier in Chambolle-Musigny, Christian Gouges of Domaine Henri Gouges in Nuits-Saint-Georges and Domaine Roulot in Meursault. After 7 years in Burgundy, he returned to Canada with an eye to make his own wine using the knowledge he gained abroad, and it wasn’t long before he found a partner (Mel Pearl, a developer in Toronto) with whom to make it all happen.
The estate now owns two vineyards: the 19th Street Vineyard in the Twenty Mile Beach VQA and the home vineyard which is next to the winery, that is part of the Creek Shore VQA: both farmed organically, though not certified. Francois also runs a small negoce project with other likeminded growers in the area. When harvesting (which is done in multiple passes by hand), Francois pays keen attention to the ripeness levels of the grapes as he views this as the key to achieving perfect balance in the finished wine.
In the cellar, vinifications are done in a wide variety of different vessels ranging from cement tank, to barrique, to cement egg. Fining and filtration is frowned upon, and sulfur is only used in minuscule doses, if at all. Francois makes a range of different wines form his estate.
Francois’ career in wine began in his early 20s when he spent a year working for Domaine Alain Gras in Saint-Romain, learning about the traditional winemaking methods of the region. Once he moved back to Quebec, he worked towards becoming a sommelier and spent the rest of the 1990s building some of the most ambitious wine lists in both Quebec and Ontario. In 2000, the call of the vines was to loud to ignore and he moved back to France to pursue winemaking full-time, working for some of the most famous producers in the Côte d’Or including Frédéric Mugnier in Chambolle-Musigny, Christian Gouges of Domaine Henri Gouges in Nuits-Saint-Georges and Domaine Roulot in Meursault. After 7 years in Burgundy, he returned to Canada with an eye to make his own wine using the knowledge he gained abroad, and it wasn’t long before he found a partner (Mel Pearl, a developer in Toronto) with whom to make it all happen.
The estate now owns two vineyards: the 19th Street Vineyard in the Twenty Mile Beach VQA and the home vineyard which is next to the winery, that is part of the Creek Shore VQA: both farmed organically, though not certified. Francois also runs a small negoce project with other likeminded growers in the area. When harvesting (which is done in multiple passes by hand), Francois pays keen attention to the ripeness levels of the grapes as he views this as the key to achieving perfect balance in the finished wine.
In the cellar, vinifications are done in a wide variety of different vessels ranging from cement tank, to barrique, to cement egg. Fining and filtration is frowned upon, and sulfur is only used in minuscule doses, if at all. Francois makes a range of different wines form his estate.
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The Chardonnay “Metis” is sourced from 2 different parcels of younger vines that are grown in sandy, stony soils and the other in red clay soils rich in iron. Fermented and aged in a combination of neutral barriques and demi-muid, and SO2 is added only at bottling (25ppm total).
Chardonnay “Dix Neuvième” is from the 19th Street Vineyard, planted in 1999, from vines planted in loam soils over limestone. This cuvée makes use of demi-muid, new barrique, and cement egg for fermentation and élevage. Very low SO2.
Riesling "Cuvée Sputnik" is from a parcel of young vines planted in sandy soils very close to Lake Ontario. Fermented in a combination of stainless steel tank and foudre before being racked into concrete tanks for élevage.
Riesling “Black Ball” is sourced from the same vineyard as the Dix Neuvième, and is fermented and aged entirely in concrete egg. Francois allows this to go through malolactic fermentation, making for a very textural take on Riesling.
“Cuvée Roselana" is a deep, dark, and savory rosé made from young-vine Pinot Noir and Gamay. Francois makes very little of this amazing wine.
“Mon Unique” is made from 100% Gamay planted in heavy red clay soils. Whole-cluster fermentation in open-top vats and cement tanks before pressing and racking back to cement tank for élevage.
Metis Rouge is made from Cabernet Franc from two different parcels with clay and loam soils. A younger, fresher wine, it is fermented and aged in neutral demi-muid.
Francois' Pinot Noir "Jeunes Vignes" is sourced from a parcel of vines planted in 2010. The grapes are fermented whole-cluster in open-top, wooden and cement vats, before being pressed back into cement. With only 20ppm total SO2, this is the serious glou glou you have been looking for.
“Madeline” is the most important wine made by Francois. Made from Cabernet Franc from the 19th Street Vineyards, the oldest vines at the estate, it is deep, serious, and structured. Partially destemmed before traditional maceration and pressing; fermented and aged in neutral barrique and cement egg. This has the stuffing to stand up to any of the classic wines from the Loire Valley. Francois thinks this has the potential to be incredibly age-worthy, and we would have to agree.
Producer Website
Chardonnay “Dix Neuvième” is from the 19th Street Vineyard, planted in 1999, from vines planted in loam soils over limestone. This cuvée makes use of demi-muid, new barrique, and cement egg for fermentation and élevage. Very low SO2.
Riesling "Cuvée Sputnik" is from a parcel of young vines planted in sandy soils very close to Lake Ontario. Fermented in a combination of stainless steel tank and foudre before being racked into concrete tanks for élevage.
Riesling “Black Ball” is sourced from the same vineyard as the Dix Neuvième, and is fermented and aged entirely in concrete egg. Francois allows this to go through malolactic fermentation, making for a very textural take on Riesling.
“Cuvée Roselana" is a deep, dark, and savory rosé made from young-vine Pinot Noir and Gamay. Francois makes very little of this amazing wine.
“Mon Unique” is made from 100% Gamay planted in heavy red clay soils. Whole-cluster fermentation in open-top vats and cement tanks before pressing and racking back to cement tank for élevage.
Metis Rouge is made from Cabernet Franc from two different parcels with clay and loam soils. A younger, fresher wine, it is fermented and aged in neutral demi-muid.
Francois' Pinot Noir "Jeunes Vignes" is sourced from a parcel of vines planted in 2010. The grapes are fermented whole-cluster in open-top, wooden and cement vats, before being pressed back into cement. With only 20ppm total SO2, this is the serious glou glou you have been looking for.
“Madeline” is the most important wine made by Francois. Made from Cabernet Franc from the 19th Street Vineyards, the oldest vines at the estate, it is deep, serious, and structured. Partially destemmed before traditional maceration and pressing; fermented and aged in neutral barrique and cement egg. This has the stuffing to stand up to any of the classic wines from the Loire Valley. Francois thinks this has the potential to be incredibly age-worthy, and we would have to agree.
Producer Website