Description
From his very first visit to California in the 1970s Sir Peter Michael set about finding the perfect spot in which to make his mark on the vinous world. When he found the then-unplanted Sugarloaf Ranch in Knights Valley, he knew immediately that this was the spot and the first vintage was 1987. The rest, as they say, is history.
By combining the classic winemaking of the old world and the complexity afforded by Californian Mountain terroir, the unparalleled winemaking team has been graced by some of the finest names in winemaking history. Helen Turley, Mark Aubert and brothers Luc and Nicolas Morlet have all worked at Peter Michael in the past and continue to consult in the present. Nowadays, winemaking is led by Robert Fiore. The estate is going from strength to strength, producing some of the finest wines red and white wines made in California.
La Carrière, French for ‘the quarry,’ aptly describes this vineyard’s bowl shape and its tremendously rocky soils. Situated between 1,200 and 1,700 feet above sea level on steep mountain slopes exceeding forty percent in grade, the vineyard has ideal southern and southeastern exposures. The vineyard’s shallow rocky soils provide excellent drainage, low fertility and usually the lowest yields on the estate. La Carrière, with its concentrated ‘liquid minerality,’ effectively reflects its mountainous origin. It is located directly above the famous Les Pavots vineyard.
The 2022 Vintage
After an adequate amount of rain in December preceding the 2022 growing season, January and February were both dry which triggered a slightly early budbreak in the Chardonnay vineyards. An early spring frost tempered potential yields. During bloom the weather was highly variable, culminating in an early May storm that brought hail, snow, and rain which dramatically reduced fruit set and ultimately yields for all the Chardonnay blocks. A moderate July was followed by some heat spikes in August and record high temperatures during several days in early September, followed by a temperate last half of September. The Chardonnay harvest began on August 15th and was completed on October 4th.
The 2022 'La Carriere' soars from the glass with a generous bouquet of white roses, jasmine, and yellow spring flowers followed by notes of apricot and pear accented with hints of vanilla custard, pastry, and lemon curd. A lively entry leads to a rich, dense mid-palate showing great depth and ample gras. This highly structured La Carriere exhibits a juicy acidity with a creamy, plush mouthfeel and long finish and will age gracefully for more than a decade.
| 96-98 | Wine Advocate |
| 94 | Vinous |
96-98/100 Wine Advocate
I tasted the 2022 Chardonnay La Carrière from tank on the day of its bottling. It has an alluring delicacy on the nose with soft scents of peach, apricot, meringue, toasted bread and honeysuckle with nuances of roasted almonds and flint. The palate combines a bright spine of acidity with a satiny texture and expansive, layered stone fruit and spice layers, and it has a very long finish. 1,503 cases will be made, and the La Carrière will be released in February of 2024. – Erin Brooks