2023 Belle Cote Chardonnay

Coming from the older vines of the estate, planted in 1990 with an east-facing exposition, the 2023 Chardonnay Belle Cote is a bright golden yellow color. It offers the most depth aromatically with notes of frangipane, smoky wet stones, white peach, salted pineapple, and vanilla. The palate is full-bodied and more opulent, yet it’s reigned-in and focused, with a long feel and a mouthwatering mineral persistence. The structure is built to last, with a pleasing note of bitter almond on the finish. Drink 2026-2040. 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.

The 2023 Chardonnay Belle Côte has slowly unfolding aromas of apple, mushroom and brown sugar, which give way to purer notes of grilled grapefruit, white peach, floral perfume and spice. The full-bodied palate is luxuriously satiny and wonderfully spicy! Its highly concentrated, mouth-coating flavors are balanced by bright acidity, and it has a very long finish. 2,038 cases were made.