The 2021 Chardonnay Belle Côte is a wine of tremendous density and power. Orchard fruit, Drinking dried pear, graphite, anise and dried flowers infuse the 2021 with tremendous flavor complexity. Readers will find an intensely mineral, savory Chardonnay with the fruit pushed into the background. Belle Côte is the original Chardonnay planting at Peter Michael.

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. 2,159 cases were made.

From the oldest Chardonnay vines on the property, planted in 1990, the 2021 Chardonnay Belle-Cote pours a medium yellow and has an expressive perfume of wildflowers, wet stone, and white peach. Full-bodied, this floral profile is just as pronounced and long on the palate, with a soft, silky texture and ripe notes of melon, honeysuckle, and honeyed lemon. Long and attractive, it can be enjoyed 2024-2034.

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. Drink now. 2,159 cases made.