Peter Michael Winery 2024 "Belle Côte" Chardonnay Knights Valley 750ml

"Belle Côte" is French for "beautiful slope," and Sir Peter Michael himself chose the name in tribute to a famous ski run in Courchevel, France. It's a fitting name for the oldest of Peter Michael Winery's four Knights Valley Estate Chardonnay vineyards — planted in 1990 by the legendary Helen Turley, these vines now carry 34 years of accumulated character, sitting at 1,700 to 1,800 feet on volcanic-origin rhyolite soil, with a southeastern exposure and a natural border of trees along the western edge that shelters the vines from the hottest part of the afternoon sun. That combination of elevation and shelter creates a genuinely cool microclimate, extending the growing season and forcing slow, unhurried ripening — Belle Côte is consistently the last of Peter Michael's Chardonnay vineyards to finish, often picked into October, two to three weeks later than most Chardonnay grown elsewhere in Napa and Sonoma.

Production follows Peter Michael's exacting house standard across the board: 100% natural fermentation using native yeast, 100% barrel fermentation in French oak from hand-selected artisan coopers, and twelve months of aging on the lees with weekly bâtonnage to build texture and depth. The winery's own account of the 2024 vintage describes "a profusion of orange blossom, rose oil, orange zest and lemon drop candy with accents of yellow spring flowers and cinnamon," calling the wine "a pure aromatic expression of its inimitable terroir and thirty-four-year-old vines," with "a rich, viscous entry" leading to "a full-bodied, structured mid-palate and long, intense finish" — "the 2024 'Belle Côte' showcases both power and poise, a true stunner."

Vinous awarded 94 Points, describing "a very pretty mid-weight offering" with "scents of apricot, peach, orange blossom, white flowers and a kiss of French oak," noting "bright mineral undertones lend energy as they shape the mid-palate and finish," and calling Belle Côte "the most delicate and ethereal of the Peter Michael Chardonnays." Wine Spectator matched that with 94 Points: "elegant and succulent, showcasing ripe melon, nectarine and apricot flavors that are fleshy and juicy on a light, silky frame," with "details of wildflower honey, lemon confit and spices including cardamom, nutmeg and white pepper" adding real complexity, alongside "notes of lemon verbena, lime leaf and sweetgrass," recommending a drinking window from now through 2039. This is genuinely serious California Chardonnay — mountain-grown, cool-climate, and built from the estate's oldest, most character-driven vines.

Origins & Craftsmanship

Peter Michael Winery farms four Knights Valley Estate Chardonnay vineyards in Sonoma County, of which Belle Côte is the oldest, planted in 1990 by the legendary vineyard consultant Helen Turley. The vineyard sits at 1,700 to 1,800 feet on volcanic-origin rhyolite soil, with a southeastern exposure and a western border of native trees that shelters the vines from the hottest part of the afternoon sun. This combination of high elevation and natural shading creates an unusually cool microclimate, extending the growing season and slowing fruit ripening — Belle Côte consistently ripens last among Peter Michael's Chardonnay blocks, often picked into October, two to three weeks later than most Napa and Sonoma Chardonnay vineyards.

The 2024 vintage is 100% Chardonnay, vinified using 100% naturally occurring native yeast fermentation and 100% barrel fermentation in French oak sourced from select artisan coopers. The wine is then aged sur lies for twelve months with weekly bâtonnage, a technique that stirs the lees regularly to build additional texture, richness, and complexity in the finished wine.

Critics Reviews

Vinous — 94 Points:
"The 2024 Chardonnay Belle Côte is a very pretty mid-weight offering from Peter Michael. It offers up scents of apricot, peach, orange blossom, white flowers and a kiss of French oak. Bright mineral undertones lend energy as they shape the mid-palate and finish. The Belle Côte is the most delicate and ethereal of the Peter Michael Chardonnays. Even so, I would give it a few years in bottle."

Wine Spectator — 94 Points:
"Elegant and succulent, showcasing ripe melon, nectarine and apricot flavors that are fleshy and juicy on a light, silky frame. Details of wildflower honey, lemon confit and spices including cardamom, nutmeg and white pepper add complexity, as do notes of lemon verbena, lime leaf and sweetgrass. Drink now through 2039."

Peter Michael Winery (official tasting notes):
"With a profusion of orange blossom, rose oil, orange zest and lemon drop candy with accents of yellow spring flowers and cinnamon, the 2024 'Belle Côte' is a pure aromatic expression of its inimitable terroir and thirty-four-year-old vines. The rich, viscous entry leads to a full-bodied, structured mid-palate and long, intense finish. The 2024 'Belle Côte' showcases both power and poise, a true stunner."

Tasting Profile

Nose
A profusion of orange blossom and rose oil leads, joined by orange zest and lemon drop candy, with accents of yellow spring flowers and cinnamon. Apricot, peach, and white flowers add further layers, alongside a kiss of French oak.

Palate
A rich, viscous entry leads into a full-bodied, structured mid-palate, showing ripe melon, nectarine, and apricot flavors that are fleshy and juicy on a light, silky frame. Wildflower honey, lemon confit, cardamom, nutmeg, and white pepper add genuine complexity, alongside lemon verbena, lime leaf, and sweetgrass.

Finish
Long and intense, closing with real power and poise — bright mineral undertones carry through, giving the wine genuine energy and structure well beyond what its delicate, ethereal aromatics might initially suggest.

Quick Overview

Food Pairings

• Roast chicken or Dungeness crab
• Lobster or scallops
• Creamy risotto
• Soft-ripened cheeses