96 Wine Advocate

Another brilliant effort is the 2007 Chardonnay Ma Belle Fille. Filled with notes of pineapples, honeyed melons, nectarines, and white currants, it reveals more toasty oak than its siblings as well as a smoky, roasted nut character. This full-bodied, utterly profound Chardonnay could easily pass for a Batard-Montrachet from France. (RP) (2/2010)

95 Wine Spectator

Deliciously complex, with a rich, elegant, layered presentation of citrus-infused green apple, spice and toasty oak. Subtle honeydew melon flavors emerge on the finish. *Wine Spectator Top 100 of 2009* (JL) (6/2009)

93 International Wine Cellar

Deep, smoky aromas of pear skin, peach pit, iodine and anise, with a strong floral overtone. Sweet tangerine and pear flavors stain the palate and pick up salty minerality on the back end. Becomes richer with air, taking on pit fruit and toasted grain qualities and finishing with impressive grip and mineral thrust. (ST) (6/2009)

Vintage Notes

The 2007 growing season began dry. Bud break, bloom and set occurred a bit early and very evenly. The weather was ideal for fruit development from May through harvest, with warm days and cool nights. This contrast of day and night temperatures is ideal for the biosynthesis of the aroma and phenolic compounds. These perfect weather conditions allowed us to calmly pick the Chardonnay at the peak of ripeness. As a result, the 2007 wines are very intense and complex with a pronounced bouquet of blossoms, fruit and mineral. The length of the wines is impressively lingering and perfumed, promising excellent aging potential

Winegrowing Notes

At the highest elevation on the estate, the marine influence on Ma Belle-Fille is greater, resulting in cooler daily temperatures in the summer and autumn months. Situated far above the summer fog ceiling and exposed to the southeast, the vineyard receives the very first rays of sunshine each morning and remains sunny all day long. This full exposure combined with cooler temperatures causes the fruit to mature earlier than the rest of our estate.

Winemaker Tasting Notes

The 2007 Ma Belle-Fille is spectacularly intense, boasting aromas of ripe peach, tangerine blossom, dried apricot, golden apple and nectarine, accented with wet stone-like minerality, brioche and lily flower notes. 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, gourmand and extremely pure. Layered and seductive, the finish is very long.

About Peter Michael Winery

In 1982, after a six year search, Sir Peter Michael and Lady Michael purchased 630 acres of volcanic ridges on the western face of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley. Drawing inspiration from the great wineries of Burgundy and Bordeaux, the family hired like-minded viticulturists and winemakers to help them create terroir-driven wines that would stand the test of time. Peter Michael Winery Winery produces 15 different bottlings: 3 Cabernet blends, 4 Pinot Noirs, 2 blends of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, and 6 Chardonnays. With the exception of our two barrel selection Chardonnays, all of these wines are vineyard specific.

Under the direction of vineyard manager Javier Avina, the estate vineyards are farmed by hand in a low-impact, sustainable manner, relying heavily on organic techniques that include some biodynamic practices. Cover crops control erosion, feed the soil and provide a habitat for beneficial insects; eliminating the need for chemical pesticides. Tilling, spraying and mowing are accomplished with tractors. All other operations are done entirely by hand. These include: pruning, suckering, shoot positioning, hedging, crop thinning and harvest. All harvesting is done into 20-pound fruit lugs to insure that the fruit arrives at the winery in pristine condition.