2019 Peter Michael Cuvée Indigène Knights Valley

WA97-99+ Cuvee Indigene is a top barrel selection of the Belle Cote vineyard with some fruit from Ma Belle Fille and Mon Plaisir. Winemaking consultant Luc Morlet mentioned that this label is intended to capture the richer side of Chardonnay each vintage, emphasized by the majority use of Old Wente clone. This wine gets 15 months in barrel—a bit longer aging than the other wines. A barrel sample, the nose of this 2019 Chardonnay Cuvee Indigene is youthfully shy, needing a good amount of swirling to coax out an impressive array of citrus and savory scents: lime blossoms, pink grapefruit, lemongrass, shaved almonds and lightly browned toast with hints of wet pebbles and candied ginger. The medium to full-bodied palate has fantastic grace and sophistication, revealing beautifully intertwined citrus, savory and mineral layers with a lively line and silken texture, finishing with great length and depth. Stunning. 531 cases were made.
Estate Notes:The 2019 ‘Cuvée Indigène’ leads with an expressive nose of minerals, lively jasmine, and orange blossom, along with hints of baking spice and stone fruit accents of peach and apricot. Notes of toasted almonds, crème brûlée, and vanilla meld with oyster shell and sweet tones of honey and marmalade. In the mouth, the texture is rich and creamy, displaying ample structure with exceptional balance through to a seamless, lingering finish reminiscent of the great wines of Corton-Charlemagne. 100% naturally fermented using indigenous yeast 100% barrel fermented in 100% French oak from select artisan coopers Barrel-aged sur lies fifteen months with weekly bâtonnage.