Peter Michael 2021 Chardonnay Belle Côte Knights Valley 98 Points

Robert Parker 98 Points: “I tasted the 2021 Chardonnay Belle Côte as a finished tank sample the day before it was bottled. From vines planted in 1990, it was matured for 12 months in 40% new French oak. It offers lush aromas of baked apples and apricots, jasmine, biscuit, nutmeg and cream with spicy, floral nuances arising as it airs in the glass. The medium-bodied palate is satiny and expansive with streaks of flint and focused acidity to balance its generous fruit. Expressive and inviting, it’s a pleasure to drink now, yet the way it transforms in the glass suggests it will also develop positively in the cellar over the next decade or more.”

Winemaker Notes: “Intense orange blossom, lemon custard, and jasmine burst from the glass of the 2021 ‘Belle Cote.’ This highly aromatic bouquet continues with rose petal and lychee underlain by orange marmalade bass notes. The rich entry and dense mid-palate show the depth created by our oldest Chardonnay vines. Hints of orange peel, pastry, and lemon curd lead to a long, polished finish. ‘Belle Cote’ can be enjoyed in its exuberant youth or after decades of cellaring.”