- 100% Chardonnay
- Sourced from the La Carrière “The Quarry” Vineyard at Peter Michael’s Estate
- Knights Valley AVA, Sonoma County
- Planted in 1994
- Rocky, volcanic-origin rhyolite soils
- South-Southeast exposure
- 1,200-1,700 ft, elevation
- 100% native yeast
- 100% barrel fermented in 100% French oak
- Aged 12 months in French oak sur lies with weekly bâtonnage
- 14.3% abv
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2018
Country:
United States
Region:
California
Appellation:
Knights Valley
Variety:
Chardonnay
Color:
White
Farming Practice:
Sustainable
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | US-PMW-32-18 | 12/750ml |
Resources
Press & Reviews
James Suckling
Score
98
Date
2022-02-03
"Aromas of honeysuckle, lemon curd, dried pineapple, matchstick and toasted hazelnut. It,s medium-to full-bodied with crisp acidity and seamless layers of fruit and flint. Great energy and intensity here. Drink or hold."
Wine Advocate
Score
97+
Date
2021-02-04
"La Carriere is situated at an elevation of around 1,200-1,700 feet with a rocky, shallow, volcanic soil that gives low fertility and is among the lowest yields of all the Peter Michael vineyards. The vineyard is planted to Dijon and Hyde (Old Wente) clone selections. This 2018 Chardonnay la Carriere starts off very citrusy, leaping from the glass with notes of fresh limes and grapefruit, before coming through with alluring honey-drizzled peaches, fresh ginger and preserved kumquat notes. The medium to full-bodied palate is super-intense with beautiful tension lighting up a shimmering palate of citrus and mineral layers, finishing long and steely. 2,642 cases were made."
Wine Spectator
Score
94
Date
2020-01-01
"Sleek and powerful, with crunchy acidity backing the concentrated white fruit and berry flavors, filled with minerally richness. Hints of dried thyme show on the svelte finish, which offers toasty and buttery accents. Drink now through 2026. 2,642 cases made."
Vinous
Score
93
Date
2020-01-01
"The 2018 Chardonnay La CarriŠre is delicate, fresh and nuanced, with lovely floral top notes. Hints of apricot, orange peel, orchard fruit, marzipan, mint and light butter notes grace this mid-weight, super-refined Chardonnay from Peter Michael. Bright underpinnings of salinity add energy, while floral notes reappear on the finish."
REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES
2023
Wine Advocate
Score
93-96
Date
2025-03-20
"I tasted the 2023 Chardonnay La CarriŠre from tank just before it was bottled. It has inviting aromas of guava, peach, panna cotta, well-integrated new oak spices and top notes of Meyer lemon. The palate is satiny and mouth coating with luxuriously ripe, layered, spicy flavors. It,s balanced by vibrant acidity that adds focus to its generous flavors, and it has a very long, nuanced finish. A total of 2,478 cases were made, and the wine will be released in April of 2025."
2022
Wine Advocate
Score
96-98
Date
2024-02-29
"I tasted the 2022 Chardonnay La CarriŠre from tank on the day of its bottling. It has an alluring delicacy on the nose with soft scents of peach, apricot, meringue, toasted bread and honeysuckle with nuances of roasted almonds and flint. The palate combines a bright spine of acidity with a satiny texture and expansive, layered stone fruit and spice layers, and it has a very long finish. 1,503 cases will be made, and the La CarriŠre will be released in February of 2024. -Erin Brooks"
2022
Wine Spectator
Score
96
Date
2024-05-01
"A stunning, lovely mix of marzipan and nougat, with notes of orange sherbet, lemon blossoms, salted toffee and peach preserves on an elegant, supple and smooth frame, with fresh acidity. Grace notes of lemon balm and lemon thyme, plus a touch of vetiver, add to the aromatic appeal and complexity. Drink now through 2037. From California.—M.W."
2022
Vinous
Score
94
Date
2024-07-15
"The 2022 Chardonnay La Carrière is a deep, potent wine with real phenolic intensity. The low yields of the vintage are evident in this decidedly rich, structured Chardonnay. I would cellar the 2022 for at least a few years, as it is quite the powerhouse at this early stage. Hints of apricot, chamomile, lemon peel and white flowers fill out the layers nicely."
2021
James Suckling
Score
98
Date
2024-02-22
"Subtle and fresh with sliced apple, lemon curd and oyster shell aromas that follow through to a full body with a tight and focus palate of lemon pie, crushed stone and bitter lemons at the end. Some lemongrass. Flavorful, tangy and intense in the finish. Seashells at the end. From 30-year-old vines, mostly Wente, Hyde and some Dijon clones. Give this three to four years of bottle age. Best after 2027."
2021
Vinous
Score
95
Date
2023-06-01
2019
Vinous
Score
95
Date
2022-01-07