Tantalus "Bear" Chardonnay 2025
Product details
| Management number | 253524267 | Release Date | 2026/10/24 | List Price | CA$15.60 | Model Number | 253524267 | ||
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This vibrant white wine originates from Canada, specifically the cool-climate, east-facing slopes of East Kelowna in British Columbia’s Okanagan Valley. Crafted by Tantalus Vineyards—one of the nation’s premier destination estates for pristine, high-acid vinifera varieties—the "Bear" Chardonnay is named as an affectionate nod to proprietor Eric Savics' eldest son, Eric Jr.
While the estate’s flagship Chardonnay leans into deep structure and extended barrel aging, the "Bear" bottling is purposely envisioned as a highly approachable, energetic, and fruit-driven expression. It highlights the pure, crisp, and mineral-lined personality of the grape without heavy, masking wood influences.
Wine Description
The Tantalus Bear Chardonnay 2025 is a beautifully focused, linear, and texturally engaging cool-climate white wine that seamlessly balances zesty citrus energy with a delicate, fine-lees creaminess.
Appearance: Pours a beautiful, luminous pale gold with bright straw reflections.
Nose: Highly lifted and instantly aromatic. The bouquet opens with refreshing top notes of lemon pith, fresh sea breeze, and crisp Granny Smith apple, followed closely by subtle, complex layers of orange zest and white rose.
Palate: Bright, precise, and layered. The entry delivers a juicy wave of fresh peach, lemon cream, and orchard fruit, intertwined with a distinct, mouthwatering mineral salinity. The mid-palate possesses an incredibly pleasing, slightly chalky yet rounded texture that balances the wine's vibrant, cool-climate energy.
Technical Details: 100% Chardonnay. For the 2025 vintage, the wine returned to its roots as a 100% estate-grown blend utilizing premium clones 76, 95, and 548. Harvested between September 20 and October 3, the grapes were gently whole-bunch pressed and fermented completely wild (using ambient yeasts). Winemaker David Paterson utilized a thoughtful combination of neutral French oak barriques (29%), puncheons (37%), and stainless steel tanks (33%) to preserve maximum freshness. The wine spent several months aging on its fermentation lees, undergoing a partial malolactic fermentation (approximately 50–60%) to soften the edge. It sits at a refreshing 12.9% ABV and is bone-dry with just 0.21 g/L of residual sugar.
Food Pairing
Because of its crisp, linear focus and delicate mineral finish, this Chardonnay is incredibly versatile at the dinner table. It is an elite match for fresh seafood and shellfish, pairing beautifully with Dungeness crab dipped in butter, pan-seared halibut, or fresh oysters on the half-shell. Its lively acidity easily cuts through rich, comforting textures like a warm chicken pot pie, mushroom risotto, or pasta tossed in a light lemon-cream sauce. For a cheese course, pour it alongside mild, soft options like a creamy Brie or goat cheese.
Vintage & Cellaring
The 2025 growing season allowed Tantalus to capture an incredibly clean, expressive "first flavor window" of their estate vines, locking in gorgeous aromatics and signature Okanagan acidity. While it has the balance and structural integrity to hold or develop light nuttiness in the cellar over the next 2 to 3 years, the Bear Chardonnay is consciously crafted for pure, immediate, youthful enjoyment.
Bestseller ranking
Canada White
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