2021 Peter Michael 'La Carriere' Chardonnay Knights Valley California USA
$179.99 USD
Winemaker Notes
The steep and rugged terrain of the La Carrière vineyard produces fruit with a significant concentration of flavor and aroma. Typically, this wine offers a lean, citrus-like fruit profile of our four single vineyard Chardonnays, along with a vivid minerality that evokes nuances of sea salt and wet stones.
La Carrière is named for the steep, rocky, and shallow soils at the high elevation and the vineyard’s distinctive bowl-shaped top section.
Vintage Notes
The drier conditions and earlier budbreak were followed by more variable weather during the Chardonnay blooming period resulting in less fruit setting and low yields. Moderate summer temperatures allowed for a long, steady ripening period and ultimately highly-concentrated, expressive berries for the 2021 vintage. The Chardonnay harvest began on August 18th and completed on September 20th.
Tasting Notes
As the oldest of the four Peter Michael Winery estate Chardonnay blocks, Belle Côte exemplifies the consistent quality of Chardonnay these mountain vineyards produce. Due to the naturally cool climate of the site’s high elevation, and mitigated exposure to the hot afternoon sun by its southeastern exposure and a stand of trees on its western border, the vines are allowed to slowly ripen. The growing season for Belle Côte typically extends into October, two to three weeks longer than most Chardonnay vineyards in Napa and Sonoma Counties.
Press
Rated 95-97 Points Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
I tasted the 2021 Chardonnay La Carrière as a finished tank sample the day before it was bottled. It comes from vines planted in 1994 on volcanic soils and was matured for 12 months in about 40% new French oak. It opens soft and creamy on the nose, gaining in intensity as it blossoms to scents of matchstick, saline, Meyer lemons and wafts of lemongrass. The medium-bodied palate has a satiny texture and focused acidity to support its expansive, perfumed fruit, and its classy new oak character is already well integrated. I love this juxtaposition of concentrated flavor and shimmery, energetic acidity. 2,128 cases were made. This will be released in February 2023.