Picked up at auction the same time as the La Carriere chard bottles. The note for this one as far as behavior, is almost the same as the others.
Dark gold in the glass, little to no nose at cold temps. Needed a couple of hours in the glass to warm up and air out/fill out and develop some acidic backbone. Before that it was largely slightly woody, flat and with minimal flavors. I suspect it perhaps could have been a slightly heat damaged bottle but it did not arrive warm to my house in '22? It did improve from an 88 to a 90 after 3-4 hours of air but I'm finding with these PM chards, as with the Aubert, that holding them til they are 7-10 years of age just doesn't float my personal boat. To me they are so much better when under 5 years of age. Just my personal thing, I guess. I thought because they were more complex and costly, they would have greater longevity for my palate, but thus far I would say, no.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
My first bottle from this vintage and I was not disappointed. Notes of honeysuckle, citrus, with undercurrent of minerals and spice. Great mouthfeel with long satisfying finish.
Youthful gold, with toasty scents of flowers, herbs and honey. Tense in the mouth, with sweet peach, melon and lime. Minerally, with bright acidity, giving balance to the richness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Opened about an hour before dinner. Pear and melon on the nose with a hint of spring flowers. The palate was melon, pear and peach with just enough oak to keep it all in balance. The finish was moderate to long.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Split four ways, so not a lot of time to open up or contemplate. Citrus, stone and tropical fruit are all there. Fine balance, full body, just right oak and a long finish. Classic Peter Michael.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Have had 2 bottles in the past month. One was very good , well rounded Cali , top notch. Second was more tertiary , noticeably different, still good stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
Had as an aperitif wine during the week and last night popped the cork to finish the bottle. The nose is floral with a hint of oak. The palate is pear, melon, oak and a hint of citrus leading to a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
The aromas are so rich and laden with creamy notes. I get caramel and a light lemon with a nutty quality. The mid palette is all almond, pear fruit, and buttery. The finish has flavors of sweet cantaloupe, caramel and butterscotch.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
I love this style. Age has rounded everything out and it is ready for optimal drinking. New world style for sure without excessive oak. Medium bodied and delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
A random Wednesday evening, served with an excellent sea bass from Tekka market in Singapore. Beautiful gold medium Color. Attractive nose with pineapple, citrus, sweet Apple, clove, wood, smoke, butter, nuts. I had an initial slight touch of gasoline / nail polish (an indication of some light volatile acidity I am presuming). Med+ acidity, Med body, Med+ flavor intensity, Med+ to Long finish. Still quite high in acidity, toasted pineapple, tasting a lot of butter and nuts, cloves and smoke, Long lasting finish. This is very good, but I think I am having it too young. I could have mixed this with a chassagne or puligny if it were not missing some roundness. Structure still needs to fully integrate so I would recommend waiting a couple years to open this bottle and then maybe this will sort out. Pricey but if you look at prices in burgundy, all is relative.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Deep golden hue, much darker than Mayacamas of sane vintage. Nose of fresh dough, apple cobbler. Very soft in the mouth, tiers of vanilla, brioche, hazelnut and almond on the way to a long toasty finish. Ripe, round and a wonderfully buttery accompaniment to grilled lobster and roasted potatoes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
What difference does a year make - at least when it comes to Chardonnay? I admit to preferring my whites on the fresher side, so I was curious to compare a 2016 and 2017 Peter Michael Belle Cote.
The result? They were different in the ways you would predict: the 2017 was more steely and tight, while the 2016 was more creamy and round. Each was modern - i.e., warm fruit, toasty oak - with a minerally undertone and vibrant acidity. Still, I was surprised how different they were - it was obvious blind - making me think I should start drinking the 2016s (at least, for my palate, for this wine).
- 2016. Light yellow in color and medium in body, the wine offered open aromas of roasted pear, butterscotch, and toasted almond. The flavors were generous, with notes of cantaloupe, gooseberry, lemon meringue, toasted caramel, and vanillin, with a layered and creamy finish. 14.6% alcohol. 94 at the moment, though I plan to drink in the next year or so.
- 2017. Similarly light yellow in color and medium in body, the 2017 offered more steely aromas of saline, brioche, and vanilla bean. Lighter in the mouth than the 2016, the flavors are also more dilineated, with gorgeous notes of green apple, grapefruit, and fresh apricot, with a layered but more lively finish. 14.4% alcohol. 95 at the moment, with upside in another 6-12 months.
These are both lovely Chardonnays, but the 2016 showed its (relative) age more than I expected. I’ve had 2016 and 2017 wines that tasted remarkably similar (e.g., Maxem, Kistler), so this could be the producer or the vineyard or whatever. I report; you decide; but I, for one, plan to drink up!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Incredible wine. Such exceptional brightness and acidity that the quite pronounced vanilla and smokiness is wonderfully balanced. Every mouthful is a delight. I actually paired this with lamb steak with salad and roast onions and the wine was easily strong enough for this to work beautifully.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No
/ Comment
Tasted at Skurnik Grand Portfolio tasting in NYC and poured by Nicolas Morlet, winemaker. This wine was similar to the La Carriere bottling but a good deal oakier. I did not record the % of new French oak it was aged in but I suspect it was relatively high. Liked this less than the La Carriere.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No
/ Comment
9/24/2023 - Mneumeier Likes this wine: 91 Points
Great.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
7/9/2023 - Mark1npt Likes this wine: 90 Points
Picked up at auction the same time as the La Carriere chard bottles. The note for this one as far as behavior, is almost the same as the others.
Dark gold in the glass, little to no nose at cold temps. Needed a couple of hours in the glass to warm up and air out/fill out and develop some acidic backbone. Before that it was largely slightly woody, flat and with minimal flavors. I suspect it perhaps could have been a slightly heat damaged bottle but it did not arrive warm to my house in '22? It did improve from an 88 to a 90 after 3-4 hours of air but I'm finding with these PM chards, as with the Aubert, that holding them til they are 7-10 years of age just doesn't float my personal boat. To me they are so much better when under 5 years of age. Just my personal thing, I guess. I thought because they were more complex and costly, they would have greater longevity for my palate, but thus far I would say, no.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
3/7/2023 - spendergast Likes this wine: 96 Points
My first bottle from this vintage and I was not disappointed. Notes of honeysuckle, citrus, with undercurrent of minerals and spice. Great mouthfeel with long satisfying finish.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comments (3)
1/29/2023 - gkrueger wrote: 95 Points
Had this bottle at Luca in Grand Caymans. Excellent bottle. BTW this restaurant has an amazing wine cellar/list.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
12/4/2022 - peterk Likes this wine:
Awesome! Lots of life ahead of this beauty!
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
10/3/2022 - P.A. Cross wrote:
Youthful gold, with toasty scents of flowers, herbs and honey. Tense in the mouth, with sweet peach, melon and lime. Minerally, with bright acidity, giving balance to the richness.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
9/25/2022 - Winedad53 wrote: 96 Points
Low acidity, well balanced. Butter, brioche, honey and balsa, touch of meringue,not a sharp edge anywhere. Finish of 30 seconds.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
8/20/2022 - markcic Likes this wine: 93 Points
Opened about an hour before dinner. Pear and melon on the nose with a hint of spring flowers. The palate was melon, pear and peach with just enough oak to keep it all in balance. The finish was moderate to long.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
6/18/2022 - gmbdds wrote: 93 Points
Split four ways, so not a lot of time to open up or contemplate. Citrus, stone and tropical fruit are all there. Fine balance, full body, just right oak and a long finish. Classic Peter Michael.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/17/2022 - jsebiri wrote:
Have had 2 bottles in the past month. One was very good , well rounded Cali , top notch. Second was more tertiary , noticeably different, still good stuff.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/13/2021 - markcic Likes this wine: 93 Points
Had as an aperitif wine during the week and last night popped the cork to finish the bottle. The nose is floral with a hint of oak. The palate is pear, melon, oak and a hint of citrus leading to a long finish.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
11/5/2021 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Similar to prior note after a 1 hour SO, better on day 2 with creamy lemon; outstanding, drink or hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/6/2021 - tomoem Likes this wine: 94 Points
The aromas are so rich and laden with creamy notes. I get caramel and a light lemon with a nutty quality. The mid palette is all almond, pear fruit, and buttery. The finish has flavors of sweet cantaloupe, caramel and butterscotch.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/30/2021 - joraesque wrote:
Just broke my last bottle; couldn't taste it, but the concrete floor smels of lots of new French oak...
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comments (1)
4/6/2021 - UFGators Likes this wine: 94 Points
I love this style. Age has rounded everything out and it is ready for optimal drinking. New world style for sure without excessive oak. Medium bodied and delicious.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
1/20/2021 - bram_epicurien Likes this wine: 92 Points
A random Wednesday evening, served with an excellent sea bass from Tekka market in Singapore. Beautiful gold medium Color. Attractive nose with pineapple, citrus, sweet Apple, clove, wood, smoke, butter, nuts. I had an initial slight touch of gasoline / nail polish (an indication of some light volatile acidity I am presuming). Med+ acidity, Med body, Med+ flavor intensity, Med+ to Long finish. Still quite high in acidity, toasted pineapple, tasting a lot of butter and nuts, cloves and smoke, Long lasting finish. This is very good, but I think I am having it too young. I could have mixed this with a chassagne or puligny if it were not missing some roundness. Structure still needs to fully integrate so I would recommend waiting a couple years to open this bottle and then maybe this will sort out. Pricey but if you look at prices in burgundy, all is relative.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/13/2020 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 97 Points
Similar to prior note after a splash double decant, better on day 2 with creamy lemon & pear; outstanding, drink or hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
9/5/2020 - Winedad53 wrote: 95 Points
Deep golden hue, much darker than Mayacamas of sane vintage. Nose of fresh dough, apple cobbler. Very soft in the mouth, tiers of vanilla, brioche, hazelnut and almond on the way to a long toasty finish. Ripe, round and a wonderfully buttery accompaniment to grilled lobster and roasted potatoes.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
5/18/2020 - msuwine wrote: 94 Points
What difference does a year make - at least when it comes to Chardonnay? I admit to preferring my whites on the fresher side, so I was curious to compare a 2016 and 2017 Peter Michael Belle Cote.
The result? They were different in the ways you would predict: the 2017 was more steely and tight, while the 2016 was more creamy and round. Each was modern - i.e., warm fruit, toasty oak - with a minerally undertone and vibrant acidity. Still, I was surprised how different they were - it was obvious blind - making me think I should start drinking the 2016s (at least, for my palate, for this wine).
- 2016. Light yellow in color and medium in body, the wine offered open aromas of roasted pear, butterscotch, and toasted almond. The flavors were generous, with notes of cantaloupe, gooseberry, lemon meringue, toasted caramel, and vanillin, with a layered and creamy finish. 14.6% alcohol. 94 at the moment, though I plan to drink in the next year or so.
- 2017. Similarly light yellow in color and medium in body, the 2017 offered more steely aromas of saline, brioche, and vanilla bean. Lighter in the mouth than the 2016, the flavors are also more dilineated, with gorgeous notes of green apple, grapefruit, and fresh apricot, with a layered but more lively finish. 14.4% alcohol. 95 at the moment, with upside in another 6-12 months.
These are both lovely Chardonnays, but the 2016 showed its (relative) age more than I expected. I’ve had 2016 and 2017 wines that tasted remarkably similar (e.g., Maxem, Kistler), so this could be the producer or the vineyard or whatever. I report; you decide; but I, for one, plan to drink up!
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
10/14/2019 - jsmorris707 Likes this wine: 96 Points
Splash, double decant, med. gold, lemon, pear & pineapple; outstanding drink or preferably hold
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
8/12/2019 - mikemboutiquewines wrote: 95 Points
Very well done. Not "over the top buttery". Would definitely buy again!
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
4/20/2019 - joraesque wrote: 92 Points
Was drinking well after 2 hours.
91-93
2 people found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
12/24/2018 - DonDon wrote: 96 Points
Incredible wine. Such exceptional brightness and acidity that the quite pronounced vanilla and smokiness is wonderfully balanced. Every mouthful is a delight. I actually paired this with lamb steak with salad and roast onions and the wine was easily strong enough for this to work beautifully.
1 person found this helpful, do you? Yes - No / Comment
7/19/2018 - dlcass Likes this wine: 95 Points
Delicious wine. Fairly round. Expessive nose of mascarpone, quince; some minerality. Round mouthfeel. 94-95 score.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment
3/5/2018 - oldwines wrote: 90 Points
Tasted at Skurnik Grand Portfolio tasting in NYC and poured by Nicolas Morlet, winemaker. This wine was similar to the La Carriere bottling but a good deal oakier. I did not record the % of new French oak it was aged in but I suspect it was relatively high. Liked this less than the La Carriere.
Do you find this review helpful? Yes - No / Comment