2013 Peter Michael Winery Ma Belle-Fille Chardonnay, Knights Valley

Description

2013 Peter Michael Winery Ma Belle-Fille Chardonnay, Knights Valley

The 2013 Ma Belle-Fille is spectacularly intense, boasting aromas of ripe peach, white rose, tangerine blossom, golden apple, nectarine and pastry elements such as Napoleon cake, accented with oyster shell minerality. Generous in the mouth, rich and concentrated, the wine displays flavors of William pear, honey, dried almond, meringue, dry chamomile, orange rind and notes of baked Reinette apple. In the mouth, the wine is tactile and gourmand with extreme purity. Layered and seductive, the finish is very long. Ma Belle-Fille 2013 will age gracefully for two decades.

Critical Acclaim

98 James Suckling

This is very intense and creamy with light pie crust, apricot, lemon rind and peach pie. Full body and round texture from the phenolics. Very long. Some herb and iodine on the finish. Sneaks up on you! Wow.

94 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate

The 2013 Chardonnay Ma Belle Fille offers plenty of wet rocks, caramelized citrus, and again the apple blossom component — or is it apple butter? There is a lemon meringue character as well, not to mention brioche. It is definitely different than the other Chardonnays, and it certainly seems as though the Calera clone component comes across very differently.

92 Wine Spectator

Very trim and spicy, a touch raw and woody in texture, with a citrusy edge to the green apple, nectarine and white peach flavors, ending long and clean. Will benefit from some cellaring. Drink now through 2020.