There is a tantalizing displacement in the nose of the LHW '04. The late harvest character of the chardonnay takes that grape's tropical notes to new places altogether. Then gew?rztraminer adds lychee and rose petal. The combination is decadent! Lemony on the attack, the mid-palate shows straw, pears and warm honey. This is a fresher, lighter style of late harvest. Indeed, the LHW '04 serves equally well as an aperitif (served very cold) and a dessert wine (served a little warmer). Alcohol is 12%; residual sugar is 5%.

The Late Harvest White 2004 blends gew?rztraminer (51%) and chardonnay (49%) from the Clover Vineyard (2100 feet asl), one of the highest sites in the Applegate. Brix at harvest was 28. South-facing and sunlit in high summer for 15 hours, this vineyard commonly sees diurnal variation of 50 degrees in season. The result is a bracing acidity in the fruit leading to a balanced and elegant wine. It pairs beautifully with savory starters.