97pts Wine Advocate
The 2021 Chardonnay Belle Côte is bursting with gregarious scents of candied peaches and apricot, roasted almonds, matchstick, spring honey and glossy yet integrated new oak spices. The palate is silky and bright despite its deep core of ripe, youthfully coiled fruit, and it has a long, flinty finish. It unfolds and changes with time in the glass, and with all that concentration and freshness it's a great candidate for extended cellaring.
93pts Wine Spectator
This has an impressive presence while still showing plenty of finesse to the apricot pastry, vanilla cream and orange blossom flavors, with details of nutmeg, crisp citrus and marzipan on the finish.
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.
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
History
In 1982 Sir Peter and Lady Margaret Michael built the Peter Michael Winery on a square mile of rocky volcanic ridges that form the western face of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California. The estate vineyards rest on steep hillsides ranging in elevation from 1100 to nearly 2000 feet. Of the nearly 600 estate acres, only about 20% are planted to grapes. Peter Michael Winery is best known for single-vineyard and estate grown Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and a Cabernet Sauvignon cuvee of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Cabernet Franc. The Peter Michael Winery remains true to its commitment to growing classic grape varieties in small mountain vineyards in order to produce great wines using classical winemaking techniques. Given this covenant to the product, only a limited quantity will ever be available.
