How do you follow up the honour of being named White Wine of the year at two competitions (Ontario Wine Awards and Artevino)? By producing an equally impressive Chardonnay from a better Chardonnay year. Frederic Picard’s 2007 South Bay Chardonnay picked up a few Ontario honouors and is now sold out, but it’s follow up, 2008, is just as, if not even more impressive. Aged 12-14 months in French oak the nose has vanilla, hazelnut, butter and baked apple; while the palate brings the hazelnut to the fore with a touch of burnt vanilla. But its not all barrel notes across the tongue, mac apple courses thru the mouth while there’s nice green apple-like acidity on the finish. This 2008 version is delicate and pretty as opposed to the full and assertive nature of its 2007 predecessor - both are delicious wines in their own right, but this one just might be a hair better. Price: $29.95 – Rating: ****½ (plus a hair)