Peter Michael Chardonnay Knights Valley Ma Belle-Fille 2008

A rich and deeply flavorful young white, brimming with layers of fig, apricot, honeysuckle and light toasty oak, hazelnut and nutmeg scents, finishing with a long, detailed, mouthcoating aftertaste. Drink now through 2008.

The 2002 Chardonnay Belle Cote (2,780 cases) is a big offering. Filled with pure tropical fruit characteristics, it is a full-bodied, exotic Chardonnay offering up tremendous notes of smoky hazelnuts as well as lychee nuts presented in a ripe, gorgeously balanced style with a decidedly California personality, but with more definition than most California Chardonnays of this size and intensity. It is made primarily from the old Wente clone of Chardonnay planted on clay-dominated soils. It is best drunk during its first 3-4 years of life.

The fourth vintage for this estate's Belle Cote Chardonnay, the 1999 was produced from three clones of Chardonnay (the Old Wente, Rued, and See). Most of the fermentation was by indigenous yeast, and the wine was aged in 53% new French oak prior to being bottled with neither fining nor filtration. It reveals gorgeous aromas and flavors of tropical fruits, lemon zest, pears, and minerals. This authoritatively rich, complex, elegant Chardonnay is medium-bodied, well-delineated, and beautifully concentrated, with exoctic floral and spice notes in addition to well-intrgrated oak. It should drink well for 4-5 years.

The biggest production of any of these cuvees is the 2003 Belle Cote (2,900 cases; 15% alcohol). Exotic lychee, pineapple, and marmalade notes (which suggest tremendous ripeness) along with a refined, sophisticated structure result in a sensational glass of full-bodied Chardonnay that is well-delineated for its size and power. This is pretty sensational stuff and has good availability.

A flashy, flamboyant style, loaded with ripe, rich pear and golden apple flavors and layers of spice and toasty oak. Yet for all its richness and depth, it turns elegant and restrained on the finish. Drink now through 2008.

From a north-facing vineyard, the 2003 Chardonnay Belle Côte possesses loads of tropical fruit characteristics along with hints of tangerines and lemon butter backed up by zesty acidity and a full-bodied, persistent finish. Consume this beauty over the next 4 or so years.

Medium green-tinged yellow. Compelling aromas of peach, rose petal, lichee and essen tial oils. Dense, rich and chewy, with compelling peachy sweetness thanks to an impression of lowish acidity. Wonderfully seamless chardonnay with strong extract. Finishes very long and subtle.