2016 Chardonnay La Carriere

The 2016 Chardonnay la Carriere has a gorgeous nose of warm grapefruit, white peaches and lime blossoms with touches of lightly toasted bread, crushed almonds and chalk dust. The palate is medium to full-bodied, refreshing and lively with loads of mineral sparks coming through on the very long finish. 1,885 cases produced.

The 2016 Chardonnay La Carrière comes from volcanic ash soils which aren't too common in Knights Valley. It offers terrific notes of white peach, white flowers, oyster shell and undeniable minerality. Medium to full-bodied, pure, and elegant, it has beautifully integrated acidity, a silky, classic texture, and a great finish. This is mostly Hyde clone. Located north of Napa Valley, in the Knights Valley AVA of Sonoma, Peter Michael utilizes the incredible talent of Frenchman Nicolas Morlet (whose brother Luc runs Morlet Estate in Napa, and was previously the winemaker at Peter Michael). These classic, traditionally made wines certainly have an old world feel/style, yet never lose their California soul. They produce two brilliant Bordeaux Blanc look-alikes, a bevy of Chardonnays and Pinot Noirs, and three Bordeaux blends. It can be a complex lineup to wrap your head around, but the cuvees show singular characters and the quality is off the charts.

The 2016 Chardonnay La Carrière, from the steepest parcel on the estate, is bright, fresh and finely chiseled, with plenty of citrus peel, flowers, slate and crushed rock nuances. This is a decidedly restrained style for Peter Michael, and it works beautifully. The 2016 is tightly wound at this stage, but it will be gorgeous in another few years. There is a translucency to the 2016 that is super-appealing.