2022 Chardonnay Cuvee Indigene

Composed as a barrel selection, with half from Ma Belle Fille and the rest roughly equal parts La Carriere and Belle Côte, the 2022 Chardonnay Cuvee Indigene spent 15 months in oak. There’s more nuanced, luxurious spice on the nose, with a polished feel to its aromas of lemon balm, honeyed apples, and fresh flowers. Full-bodied, it also has good richness, a weightless feel, and a long, decadent finish. Supple and rich, it will need another year or more to come into its full spectrum and will drink well over the next 15 years. Sir Peter Michael founded his eponymous winery in 1982, inspired by the wine of Chateau Montelena, which led him to California. In 2020, Robert Fiore took the helm as winemaker, while former winemaker Luc Morlet remains as a consultant. Robert studied at the Colorado School of Mines, which led him to a career in environmental geophysics before finding his path into the world of wine. He went on to UC Davis to study Viticulture and Enology. Most recently, Robert was a member of the winemaking team at Continuum in Napa. Vineyard manager Javier Avina has championed the land since 1991. Each of the sites are steep hillsides in Knights Valley that modulate with varied exposition and soils. Sir Peter’s son Paul and his wife Emily oversee the management of the winery today.