94 International Wine Cellar

Hazy yellow. Wild, intensely perfumed bouquet evokes citrus pith, poached pear, ginger and iodine, with a smoky overtone and emphatic spiciness. The iodinery minerality of this wine reminds me of uni! Deeply pitched citrus fruit and floral flavors are braced by tangy acidity and complemented by toasted nut and honey nuances. Clings with outstanding tenacity, leaving notes of smoky minerals and lemon zest behind. (ST) (5/2012)

93 Wine Advocate

The 2010 Chardonnay Ma Belle Fille (1,800 cases produced) was made from the Montrachet, Hyde, Hudson, and Calera clones. Tightly knit with a tannic structure, the 2010 offers up notes of tangerine oil, honeyed grapefruit and pineapple as well as a medium to full-bodied mouthfeel. (12/2013)

92 Vinous

There is plenty of near and medium-term appeal in the 2010 Chardonnay Ma Belle-Fille. Along with the Mon Plaisir, the Belle-Fille, is among the most overt of the Peter Michael Chardonnays. Pears, almonds, marzipan, pastry and white flowers flesh out beautifully in the glass. The style is seamless, creamy and expressive. (AG) (7/2013)

92 Wine Spectator

Rich and full-bodied, with intense peach, fig, nectarine and honeysuckle flavors that have a raw, pithy texture now. The fruit gains the upper hand, even if the finish rambles rather than soothes. (JL) (7/2012)

Vintage Notes

Overall, the 2010 vintage was very mild resulting in a small production of beautiful fruit. Unusually late spring rains delayed bud break by almost a full month. Temperatures remained moderate, but steady throughout the summer with ripening proceeding at a very gradual pace. Extensive canopy management and crop thinning by our vineyard team insured proper maturation of the fruit. The late start to the growing season resulted in a late harvest. However, a welcome burst of heat in early September pushed the grapes to their optimal ripeness. Picking proceeded quickly, beginning in late September and into mid October. Flavors and acidity remained bright and balanced, yielding a small but intense and elegant 2010 vintage of Chardonnay.

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 2010 Ma Belle-Fille is exceptionally intense, boasting aromas of nectarine, ripe peach, tangerine blossom, dried apricot, and, golden apple accented with wet stone-like minerality, brioche and peony flower notes. Generous on the palate, rich and concentrated, the wine displays deep 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.