Nose
The wild honey aromas and flavors we found present in the fruit continue to define this wine. E
Palate
Exotic tropical fruits, including mango and papaya, hazelnut, apricot, crème brûlée, vanilla, and sweet French oak all contribute to the astounding complexity of the 2008 Tardif. Not cloying or syrupy in any way, this wine is a magical nectar that pairs perfectly with crème brûlée.
Winemaking
Chardonnay, one of the world's noble varietals, enjoys a particularly diverse lifestyle in our “heart-of-Cabernet-country” estate in Oakville. Extending his deft hand beyond the extraordinary Salon Chardonnay (a dead ringer for old world Burgundy...with hints of Chablis), winemaker Chris Phelps leaves a small bit of chardonnay fruit on the vine past harvest hoping for conditions conducive to the onset of the noble rot. The remarkable result is bottled in extremely limited quantities as the wine Tardif (French for late), our luscious and impossibly delicious Late Harvest Chardonnay.
