Ma Belle-Fille

Chardonnay

From the Estate Vineyard in Knights Valley, Sonoma County

'Ma Belle-Fille' was named by Sir Peter as a warm tribute to Emily Michael, his "Daughter-in-Law", and mother of the third generation of the family. Planted at the highest elevation on the estate, the marine influence on Ma Belle-Fille vineyard is greater, resulting in cooler daily temperatures in the summer and autumn months. Situated 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.

Vintage Notes

Following some rain in January and February, the remainder of the 2021 growing season was dry, and the soil profiles in our Knights Valley Estate vineyards were drier than normal. This contributed to a slightly earlier than normal budbreak and bloom. The drier conditions and earlier budbreak were followed by more variable weather during the Chardonnay blooming period, resulting in less fruit setting and low yields. Moderate summer temperatures allowed for a long, steady ripening period and ultimately yielded highly concentrated, expressive berries for the 2021 vintage. The Chardonnay harvest began on August 18 and was completed on September 20.

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's Tasting Notes

The 2021 ‘Ma Belle-Fille’ flashes light yellow and gold in the glass, with a stunning array of yellow spring flowers, honeysuckle, jasmine, and honey forming a highly fragrant nose supported with notes of fresh peach, vanilla cream, and marzipan. The soft entry leads to a rich, multilayered midpalate with great depth and concentration. This is a focused, precise wine with a remarkable length that promises to reward cellaring for a decade but can be enjoyed young.

Vintage Notes

Following some rain in January and February, the remainder of the 2021 growing season was dry, and the soil profiles in our Knights Valley Estate vineyards were drier than normal. This contributed to a slightly earlier than normal budbreak and bloom. The drier conditions and earlier budbreak were followed by more variable weather during the Chardonnay blooming period, resulting in less fruit setting and low yields. Moderate summer temperatures allowed for a long, steady ripening period and ultimately yielded highly concentrated, expressive berries for the 2021 vintage. The Chardonnay harvest began on August 18 and was completed on September 20.

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's Tasting Notes

The 2021 ‘Ma Belle-Fille’ flashes light yellow and gold in the glass, with a stunning array of yellow spring flowers, honeysuckle, jasmine, and honey forming a highly fragrant nose supported with notes of fresh peach, vanilla cream, and marzipan. The soft entry leads to a rich, multilayered midpalate with great depth and concentration. This is a focused, precise wine with a remarkable length that promises to reward cellaring for a decade but can be enjoyed young.

Vintage Notes

In 2020, we saw the first February with no rainfall in recorded history. The rains eventually arrived, with some particularly late storms occurring in May and even the very beginning of June. As a result, the fruit set was variable in our Chardonnay vineyards, which resulted in lower yields and high-quality fruit. Late-spring rainfall resulted in a good soil-moisture profile at the beginning of the growing season. For our Knights Valley Estate Chardonnay vineyards, 2020 was overall a cooler growing season punctuated with a series of heat spikes in August and September. The Chardonnay harvest spanned six weeks, with the first Ma Belle-Fille block harvested on August 19 and the last Belle Côte block coming in on September 23.

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's Tasting Notes

The brilliant, straw-gold 2020 ‘Ma Belle-Fille’ springs from the glass with a gorgeously vibrant nose of jasmine, orange blossom, vanilla custard, and acacia honey combined with a bouquet of yellow spring flowers. The palate begins with a creamy, rich entry showing hints of vanilla bean and nougat, followed by an intensely opulent, mineral-driven midpalate framed by hints of hazelnut and pear. The many layers of ‘Ma Belle-Fille’ culminate in a long, round, mouthwatering finish for this grand cru–level wine.

Vintage Notes

While the winter of 2019 was wet, with generous amounts of rainfall, the rocky, volcanic soil and subsoils of our estates were able to drain efficiently, releasing the excessive moisture content. From the physiological steps of budbreak to veraison, the temperatures were variable with some lows and highs. The subsequent long and quite mild summer was ideal for preserving freshness and finesse. The yields were average, but picking decisions and proper sorting made the critical difference in achieving wines of balance, ripeness, generosity, and elegance.

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's Tasting Notes

A bright, light straw color, ‘Ma Belle-Fille’ bursts from the glass with vine blossom, pure liquid minerals, nectarines, white flowers, creamed hazelnut, pastry elements, and Reinette apple. On the palate, noticeable layer upon layer of stone, minerals, grilled bread, and jasmine are accentuated with an oily, full-bodied concentration. The finish is complex and expansive with a purity of lingering lemon curd, vanilla bean, yellow flowers, and nougat with hints of cinnamon and pain d’épices. A classic example of ‘Ma Belle-Fille,’ perfectly balanced and structured to age gracefully.

Vintage Notes

The 2018 growing season began with abundant winter rainfall. Spring weather was cool and blooming, while delayed a bit, took place in almost perfect conditions resulting in a generous fruit set. The vines were vigorous thanks to the winter rains. Aggressive canopy management and fruit thinning brought the crop into optimal balance. Summer temperatures were moderate with no severe heat spikes. An extended summer allowed our Chardonnay to gradually reach perfect ripeness. The moderate temperatures permitted a gradual harvest, resulting in an elegant vintage with classic flavors and excellent concentration.

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's Tasting Notes

The 2018 Ma Belle-Fille expresses nuances and complexity of dough, jasmine, pineapple, fresh pear, pastry elements, golden apple and nectarine accentuated by elegant minerality. Generous on the palate, rich with a creamy texture and multilayered, the wine displays brioche, orange blossom, dry honey, almond, nougat, vanilla, and clove. A pure expression of the Terroir of Ma Belle-Fille—gourmand, elegant and mineral, the finish is slightly oily, classic and very long. The wine will age gracefully for two decades.

Vintage Notes

The 2017 growing season began with abundant rainfall, ending California’s long drought. Spring weather was cool but dry, resulting in an extended blooming period and some shatter. Vines were vigorous thanks to the winter rains. Aggressive canopy management and fruit thinning brought the crop into optimal balance. Warmer than normal conditions after veraison accelerated ripening and required careful irrigation to mitigate dehydration. A return of cooler conditions allowed our Chardonnay to gradually reach perfect ripeness. Picking was completed on September 28 with a slightly smaller than normal harvest, resulting in a forward, exotic vintage of Chardonnay with wines showing uncommon richness.

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's Tasting Notes

The 2017 Ma Belle-Fille is spectacularly intense, aromas of exotic fruits, guava, pineapple, and Monoi flowers, pastry elements, golden apple and nectarine, accented with oyster shell minerality. Generous in the mouth, rich and concentrated, the wine displays flavors of Williams pear, honey, dried almond, and orange rind with notes of gingerbread and a touch of mangosteen. In the mouth, the wine is tactile and gourmand with extreme purity. Layered and seductive, the finish is very long. The wine will age gracefully for a decade or more.

Vintage Notes

The near perfect 2016 growing season started with a warm February and early bud break. While California’s drought continued, rains were sufficient to meet the vineyard’s needs. Cool damp conditions at blooming resulted in a smaller than normal fruit set. After veraison, a single pass of green harvest brought the crop into optimal balance. Overall, the vintage was slightly cooler than average, with consistently warm and sunny conditions and only one heat spike. Moderate temperatures at harvest allowed gradual picking as each block achieved perfection, providing excellent flavor development and slightly lower potential alcohol. The vintage produced delicate, classically styled Chardonnays with crisp acidity and uncommon ageability.

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's Tasting Notes

Spectacular and intense, the 2016 Ma Belle-Fille boasts aromas of ripe peach, tangerine blossom, brioche-like pastry elements, golden apple and nectarine, accented with oyster shell minerality. Generous in the mouth, rich and concentrated, the wine displays flavors of Williams pear, honey, dried almond, chamomile, and orange rind with notes of gingerbread and a touch of exotic pineapple. In the mouth, the wine is tactile and gourmand with extreme purity. Layered and seductive, the finish is very long. The wine will age gracefully for a decade or more.

Vintage Notes

The winter was dry, with only 75% of normal rainfall, continuing four years of drought. Unseasonably warm temperatures accelerated bud break by three to four weeks. While May brought welcomed rain, the cool moist conditions extended the blooming period and led to an uneven fruit set. The crop was small, and hand thinning to ensure even maturation reduced the yields further. Steady warm temperatures dominated the remainder of the growing season providing ideal ripening conditions. No doubt affected by the drought, juice yields were the lowest ever for our estate Chardonnay. Flavors and acidity remained exceptionally bright, balanced and concentrated, resulting in a very small but intense and elegant 2015 vintage.

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's Tasting Notes

The 2015 Ma Belle-Fille is spectacularly intense, boasting aromas of ripe peach, tangerine blossom, brioche-like pastry elements, golden apple and nectarine, accented with oyster shell minerality. Generous in the mouth, rich and concentrated, the wine displays flavors of Williams pear, honey, greengage, dried almond, chamomile, orange rind and notes of baked Reinette apple. In the mouth, the wine is tactile and gourmand with extreme purity. Layered and seductive, the finish is very long. The wine will age gracefully for more than a decade.

Vintage Notes

The winter was dry with only 70% of normal rainfall, continuing three years of drought. Unseasonably warm temperatures in early spring accelerated bud break by four weeks. The growing season benefited from moderate temperatures. However, early use of drip irrigation was critical for the health of the vines. Only one pass of thinning was required to achieve a balanced crop load. Ideal Indian summer conditions allowed us to calmly harvest each block as it achieved optimal ripeness. Yields were higher than average, but due to dehydration the skins and the pulps of the berries were thicker than normal, resulting in low juice yields at the press, and exceptional concentration in the wines.

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's Tasting Notes

Spectacular and intense, the 2014 Ma Belle-Fille boasts aromas of ripe peach, white rose, tangerine blossom, pastry elements such as Napoleon cake, golden apple and nectarine, accented with oyster shell minerality, brioche. Elegant in the mouth, rich and concentrated, the wine displays flavors of William pear, honey, greengage dried almond, mangosteen, dry chamomile, orange rind and notes of baked Reinette apple. In the mouth, the wine is tactile and gourmand with extreme purity. Layered and seductive, the finish is very long. The wine will age gracefully for more than a decade.

Vintage Notes

The 2013 growing season began with a dry spring and mild temperatures, as did the previous vintage. In early May, two days of violent winds damaged our Chardonnay vineyards. This resulted in uneven bloom and set, despite the otherwise ideal weather conditions. The vineyard crew carefully repruned the vines and executed multiple passes of green harvest. The already small crop was further reduced to one cluster per shoot, bringing the vines back into balance and ensuring the quality of the harvest. From veraison through picking, the vines enjoyed ideal ripening conditions. A long Indian summer allowed the fruit to reach perfect maturity and contributed to the exceptional quality of this small vintage.

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's Tasting Notes

The 2013 Ma Belle-Fille is spectacularly intense, boasting aromas of ripe peach,white rose, tangerine blossom, golden apple, nectarine and pastry elements such as Napoleon cake, accented with oyster shell minerality. 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 and gourmand with extreme purity. Layered and seductive, the finish is very long. Ma Belle-Fille 2013 will age gracefully for two decades.

Vintage Notes

Classic and well-balanced only begins to explain the beauty of the 2012 vintage. Conditions were optimal with ideal spring bud break, even flowering and fruit set, and plenty of warm, long summer days. A few small heat spikes in September and October brought great concentration and color to the fruit. A long Indian summer of mild temperatures and sunny days was an important factor in the ripening process. We thinned the crop rigorously, keeping only the most perfect clusters. The vineyard crew was able to harvest when the fruit had reached perfect balance and ripeness levels. The 2012 Chardonnay vintage displays exceptional structure and quality.

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's Tasting Notes

The 2012 Ma Belle-Fille is spectacularly intense, boasting aromas of ripe peach, tangerine blossom, pastry element such as a Napoleon cake, golden apple and nectarine, accented with oyster shell minerality and brioche. 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. Ma Belle-Fille 2012 will age gracefully for two decades.

Vintage Notes

The 2011 growing season started with a cool wet spring. While our vineyards did not experience any frost, the temperatures delayed bud break. Windy conditions during bloom reduced the size of the crop. The weather from fruit set through harvest stayed even, cool and mild. This coupled with ample spring rains allowed us to dry farm in this vintage. To ensure proper ripening, we thinned the crop further and managed the canopy meticulously. Harvest occurred one month later than usual, but under ideal weather conditions. We picked the grapes with full flavor development and at a lower than average sugar content. The yields were very low, but the resulting wines are flavorful and elegant, exuding precision and balance.

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's Tasting Notes

This wine shows spectacular intensity, packed with aromas of peach, tangerine blossom, dried apricot, golden apple and nectarine, accented with wet stone-like minerality, brioche and peony flower notes. Rich and concentrated, the wine displays deep flavors of William pear, honey, almond, meringue, dry chamomile, orange rind and notes of baked Reinette apple. In the mouth, the wine is tactile and extremely pure. Layered and seductive, the finish is very long. The 2011 Ma Belle-Fille is enjoyable now and will continue to develop for seven-plus years

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's 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.

Vintage Notes

The lack of spring frosts coupled with later than usual rainfall made for an uneventful start to the 2009 vintage. As the growing season progressed, there were very few heat spikes, reducing the need for drip irrigation. Bloom occurred during consistently warm, sunny days, which extended late into the summer, allowing for optimal maturity. These perfect weather conditions allowed us to calmly pick the Chardonnay at the peak of ripeness during the last two weeks of September. As a result, the 2009 wines are very intense and complex with a pronounced bouquet of blossoms, fruit and minerals. 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's Tasting Notes

The 2009 Ma Belle-Fille shows spectacular intensity, packed with aromas of ripe peach, tangerine blossom, dried apricot, golden apple and nectarine, accented with wet stone-like minerality, brioche and lily flower notes. Rich and concentrated in the mouth, 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

Vintage Notes

A warm dry winter resulted in early bud break. Spring frosts coupled with unseasonably strong winds in May caused some damage in our highest altitude blocks. This necessitated repruning to balance the vines. Bloom occurred in ideal conditions with warm sunny days and light breezy conditions. As the fruit developed, we observed naturally small yields. During maturation, hand thinning trimmed the crop to ensure even ripening. The warm sunny days combined with the low yields accelerated the maturation process. The Chardonnay harvest started slightly early in late August and continued to September 25. In the barrel, the wines displayed intensity and the promise of long 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's Tasting Notes

The 2008 Ma Belle-Fille is spectacularly intense, boasting aromas of nectarine and Mirabelle plum, 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.

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's 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.

Vintage Notes

Winter and spring were very wet, with some hail and snow. A late spring cold snap resulted in slight frost damage, but did not affect the quality of the harvest. Bud break, bloom and set occurred a bit late but very evenly. The weather was nearly ideal from May through harvest. While there was one sharp heat spike in July, diligent attention by the vineyard staff avoided any crop damage. As the fruit matured, hand thinning carefully trimmed the yields to a moderately low level, allowing a pure expression of terroir. Our high mountainside location kept our vines above the September fog that affected many coastal locations, sparing us the Botrytis issues that damaged the Chardonnay harvest in lower lying areas

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 its fruit to mature earliest of all the Peter Michael vineyards.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

2006 marks the fifth vintage of Ma Belle-Fille. The wine is spectacularly intense, boasting aromas of citrus oils, tangerine blossom, dried apricot, golden apple, nectarine, accented with wet stone-like minerality, brioche and acacia. Rich, concentrated and generous in the mouth, the wine displays flavors of William pear, honey, dried almond, meringue, dry chamomile, orange rind and notes of baked Reinette apple. The finish is seductively layered and very long.

Vintage Notes

The 2005 growing season began as a study in wildly unpredictable weather patterns. However, the legacy of 2005 will be its perfect ripening conditions. Winter and spring were beset with heavy rain. We saw hail in mid-May, only to yield to more rain just as bloom was upon us, resulting in some shatter for the Chardonnay. Just as every conceivable weather fluctuation had challenged the vines, we finally welcomed sunny and warm conditions. And it remained, giving us an extended and ideal ripening season. Conditions remained virtually perfect and resulted in a trouble-free harvest yielding great concentrated flavors with vibrant acidity for the white varietals.

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 its fruit to mature earliest of all the Peter Michael vineyards.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

2005 marks the fourth vintage of Ma Belle-Fille. The wine is spectacularly intense, boasts aromas of citrus oils, tangerine blossom, dried apricot, apple skins, accented with wet stone-like minerality, brioche and acacia. Rich, concentrated and generous in the mouth, the wine displays additional flavors of William pear, dried almond, meringue and orange rind with notes of baked Reinette apple. The finish is seductively layered and very long.

Vintage Notes

Persistent heavy rains characterized Winter 2004, giv­ing way to notes of sustained heat midway through March. This induced an early-to-normal bud break for our Chardonnay. As the spring rains ceased for the season a second heat spike resulted in some of the earliest bloom the Peter Michael Winery had ever witnessed: some in late April. The bloom period was sunny and warm throughout May and resulted in great berry set. Follow- ing a hot, dry summer we entered the final stages of ripening at a consistent, steady and even pace. Because of sustained tempera­tures in the 90s harvest began early: in late August, and culminated midway through October.

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 the autumn months. Situated far up 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 tem­ peratures creates some unique conditions for ripening the fruit. Maturation is reached earliest here among all of the Peter Michael vineyards.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Spectacularly rich and intense, this vintage of Ma Belle-Fille boasts aromas of citrus oils, orange, dry apricot, apple skins, wet stone and brioche intermixed with notes of acacia. The mouth is rich, concentrated and very generous, displaying additional flavors of baked Reinette apple, meringue and orange rind. The finish is layered, rich, seductive and very long.

Vintage Notes

Bud break came early for Chardonnay in 2003: the first week of March. Cold, stormy weather extended bud break into April. Though berry set was excellent, bloom was especially long, causing some irregular ripening patterns later in the season. By the end of June, the vineyard crew began hand thinning the crop to ensure even quality. The summer weather was consistent and warm, permitting a long and controlled harvest through September and the beginning of October.

Winegrowing Notes

At the highest elevation on the estate, the greater infl uence on Ma Belle-Fille of the marine breeze results 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 fi rst rays of sunshine each morning and remains sunny all day long. This full insolation combined with cooler temperatures creates unique conditions for the ripening of the fruit: maturation is reached earliest among all of the PMW vineyards.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Rich and intense, this second release vintage of Ma Belle-Fille boasts aromas of citrus oils, orange blossoms, dry apricot, apple skins, wet stone and brioche intermixed with such exotic tropical fruits as guava and ripened pineapple, and an hint of dry chamomile. The mouth is rich, concentrated and very generous, displaying additional fl avors of baked Reinette apple, meringue and orange rind. The finish is layered, rich, seductive and very long.

Vintage Notes

A mild and fairly dry Spring ushered in a healthy start for the vines in 2002. An even bloom and fruit-set provided an above average crop size which allowed crop thinning as the season dictated. Several heat spikes during the summer were balanced by the cool marine breezes that wash over our estate's high elevation vineyards. A final flush of heat over Labor Day weekend brought the fruit to optimal ripeness.

Winegrowing Notes

At the highest elevation on the estate, the influence on Ma Belle-Fille from the marine breeze is greater resulting in cooler daily temperatures in the summer and the autumn months. Situated far up 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 insolation combined with cooler temperatures creates some unique conditions for the ripening of the fruit. The maturation is reached at the earliest among all of the estate vineyards. The picking of its fruit rings in the harvest season.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Rich and intense, this inaugural vintage of Ma Belle-Fille boasts aromas of citrus oils, orange blossoms, dry apricot, apple skins, lily of the valley, wet stone and brioche intermixed with such exotic tropical fruits as guava and ripened pineapple, and a hint of fern and earthiness. The mouth is rich, concentrated and very generous, displaying additional flavors of baked Reinette apple, walnut and pain grille. The overall richness of Ma Belle-Fille presages a long ageing potential.

Ma Belle-Fille Vineyard

Highest elevation, full exposure, marine influence, earliest ripening Chardonnay fruit.