When it comes to growing grapes there is no place in Ontario like South Bay, or anywhere for that matter. In fact you’d hardly believe you were in Ontario were you to stand in St. Catherine’s Vineyard, especially after the harvest and through the late fall weather months. Grapes work hard here, toughen up and find resilience. They make important, erudite and artistically fiscal chardonnay. Varietal vines that deal in the rhythms of this place are architects of energy and Huff’s are loaded with the stuff. Usually about 70 per cent barrel-aged (30 per cent new) and it shows with crème caramel, glazed pineapple and preserved lemon. The South Bay acidity never wavers, takes control and then a bite out of the insides of the mouth. Any chardonnay that bites back like this should be one to call a friend. Tough love and tension are so very P.E.C. and expressly South Bay. Huff merely takes heed, does what needs and in 2019 crafts an ideal example of chardonnay. Drink 2022-2026. Tasted June 2021.

This could well be the best chardonnay in memory from Huff Estate’s relatively warm South Bay Vineyard (in PEC terms, that is) with vines approaching 20 years. There’s no obtrusive wood influence (70% aged in wood, of which about one-third was new), with well-measured, white orchard fruit-flavours, fresh oatmeal and yeast flavours mixing in. Acids are in line, and there’s an appealing salinity/sapidity on the back end and lovely balance. Length and depth are very good to excellent. Drink or better yet hold a year or two. Tasted June 2021.

Huff’s South Bay Chardonnay has been a County leader for years. The vines in the southernmost part of PEC are now hitting 20 years of age. This is a very fine, delicate chardonnay with classic County minerality. The nose is very complex with subtle peach, hazelnut, toast and vanillin from 15 months in French oak. It is lean, just a bit tart with mouth-watering stoniness and some bitterness on the finish. The length is excellent. Tasted June 2021