Point Rouge

Barrel Select Chardonnay

From the Estate Vineyard in Knights Valley, Sonoma County

‘Point Rouge’ (“Red Dot”) references the red sticker our winemaker places on the top Chardonnay barrels from a vintage. These barrels are singled out for their exceptional quality and potential for long-term aging in the bottle.

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

‘Point Rouge’ ("Red Dot”) references the red sticker our winemaker places on the top Chardonnay barrels from the vintage. These barrels are singled out for their exceptional quality and potential for long-term aging in the bottle. For the 2021 vintage, twelve barrels from Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille, and La Carrière vineyards were selected and blended in December 2022, creating the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The light gold 2021 ‘Point Rouge’ bursts from the glass with a symphony of spring flowers, orange peel, dried rose petals, lemon blossom, and jasmine with supporting notes of vanilla bean and baking spices. The creamy, rich, mouth-filling entry gives way to a full-bodied, intense midpalate with great weight and gras and seamlessly resolves to a round, lengthy finish. This is a balanced, powerful wine exhibiting sublime weightlessness and well-integrated acidity, which will reward extended cellaring.

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

‘Point Rouge’ (meaning “red dot”) references the red sticker our winemaker places on the top Chardonnay barrels from the vintage. These barrels are singled out for their exceptional quality and potential for long-term aging in the bottle. For the 2021 vintage, twelve barrels from Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille, and La Carrière vineyards were selected and blended in December 2022, creating the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The light gold 2021 ‘Point Rouge’ bursts from the glass with a symphony of spring flowers, orange peel, dried rose petals, lemon blossom, and jasmine with supporting notes of vanilla bean and baking spices. The creamy, rich, mouth-filling entry gives way to a full-bodied, intense midpalate with great weight and gras and seamlessly resolves to a round, lengthy finish. This is a balanced, powerful wine exhibiting a sublime weightlessness and well-integrated acidity, which will reward extended cellaring.

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

The name Point Rouge (“red dot”) references the red sticker our winemaker places on the top Chardonnay barrels from the vintage. These barrels are singled out for their exceptional quality and potential for long-term aging in the bottle. For the 2019 vintage, eleven barrels from Belle Côte and Ma Belle-Fille vineyards were selected and blended in December 2020, creating the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Light gold in color, the 2019 ‘Point Rouge’ exhibits a fabulous intensity and ripeness with expansive flavors, and a perfume of extraordinary spring florals and honeysuckle notes intermingled with orange marmalade, lemon oil, tangerine, and a touch of tropical passion fruit. Subtle toasty oak with hazelnut and jasmine flesh out this rich, concentrated Chardonnay with seamless texture sans couture. Full-bodied, silky, delineated, oily, and layered, ‘Point Rouge’ delivers waves of white fruits, stones, and spices along with a liquid minerality—a prominent characteristic of grand cru status. 2019 is a refined vintage, worthy of aging.

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 ideal 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

Point Rouge is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels are singled out for their exceptional quality and potential for long term aging in the bottle. Twelve barrels from the 2018 vintage were selected in the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2019 and contains barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, and Ma Belle-Fille.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Offering a vast array of complexity, richness and yet elegance, the 2018 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine. The nose is filled with aromas of Neroli, fresh pear and apple, orange rind, and honey. Seamless and rich in the mouth, expressing an opulent style with subtle notes of Mangosteen, nougat, brioche, jasmine, and white rose framed with oyster shell minerality. The wine offers a rare complexity—harmony as well as an extraordinary tactile persistence with the heavenly presence of rare Boronia flowers, alongside toasted hazelnut and almond. This masterpiece will gain even more complexity in 4-5 years and should continue to age gracefully for two decades or more.

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

Point Rouge is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels are singled out for their exceptional quality and potential for long term aging in the bottle. Twelve barrels from the 2017 vintage were gradually isolated in the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2018 and contains barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, and Ma Belle-Fille. The judicious assemblage benefited from extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Offering elegance, complexity and richness, the 2017 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine. The nose is filled with aromas of acacia blossom, ripe apple, citrus oils, orange rind, Williams pear, almond and honey. Seamless and rich in the mouth, notes of mangosteen, brioche, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, vanilla, spice cake and tangerine are framed with an oyster shell minerality. The wine offers a rare harmony as well as extraordinary tactile persistence. Already refined, the wine will gain even more complexity in 4-5 years and should continue to age gracefully for two decades.

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

Point Rouge is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels are singled out for their exceptional quality and potential for long term aging in the bottle. Twelve barrels from the 2016 vintage were gradually isolated in the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2017 and contains barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, and Ma Belle-Fille. The judicious assemblage benefited from extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Elegant, complex and rich, the 2016 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine. The nose is filled with aromas of vine blossom, ripe apple, citrus oils, orange rind, William pear, almond and acacia honey. Seamless and rich in the mouth, notes of mangosteen, brioche, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, vanilla, spice cake and white truffle are framed with an oyster shell minerality. The wine offers a rare harmony as well as extraordinary tactile persistence. Already refined, the wine will gain even more complexity in 4-5 years and should continue to age gracefully for three decades.

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

Point Rouge is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels are singled out for their exceptional quality and potential for long term aging in the bottle. Twelve barrels from the 2015 vintage were gradually isolated in the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2016 and contains barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, and Ma Belle-Fille. The judicious assemblage benefited from extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Offering elegance, complexity and richness, the 2015 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine. The nose is filled with aromas of apricot, ripe apple, citrus oils, orange rind, Williams pear, almond and acacia honey. Seamless and rich in the mouth, notes of nougat, greengage, orange marmalade, honeysuckle, spice cake, vanilla and white truffle are framed with an oyster shell minerality. The wine offers a rare harmony, as well as extraordinary tactile persistence. While already refined, the wine will gain even more complexity in 4-5 years and should continue to age gracefully for three decades.

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

Point Rouge, our consummate Chardonnay, is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels are singled out for their exceptional quality enhancement to the overall blend. Twelve barrels from the 2014 vintage were gradually isolated in the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2015, and contains barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, and Ma Belle-Fille. The judicious assemblage benefited from extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Elegant, complex and rich, the 2014 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine. The nose is filled with aromas of vine blossom, ripe apple, citrus oils, orange rind, William pear, almond and acacia honey. Seamless and rich in the mouth, notes of mangosteen, green gage, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, vanilla, spice cake and white truffle are framed with an oyster shell minerality. The wine offers a rare harmony as well as extraordinary tactile persistence. Already refined, the wine will gain even more complexity in 4-5 years and should continue to age gracefully for two decades.

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

Point Rouge, our consummate Chardonnay, is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels are singled out for their exceptional quality enhancement to the overall blend. Eight barrels from the 2013 vintage were gradually isolated in the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2014, and contains barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, and Ma Belle-Fille. The judicious assemblage benefited from extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Offering elegance, complexity and richness, the 2013 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine. The nose is filled with aromas of ripe apple, citrus oil, orange rind, William pear, almond and acacia honey. Seamless and rich in the mouth, notes of coconut, greengage, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, chestnut skin, vanilla and white truffle are framed with an oyster shell minerality. The wine offers a rare harmony, as well as extraordinary tactile persistence. Already refined, the wine will gain even more complexity in 4-5 years and should continue to age gracefully for three 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

Point Rouge, our consummate Chardonnay, is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels were singled out for their exceptional quality enhancement to the overall blend. 12 barrels from the 2012 vintage were gradually isolated in the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2013, and contains barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, and Ma Belle-Fille. The judicious assemblage benefited from extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Offering elegance, complexity and richness the 2012 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine. The nose is filled with aromas of ripe apple, citrus oils, orange rind, William pear, dried apricot and acacia honey. Seamless and rich in the mouth, notes of coconut, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, chestnut skin, vanilla and white truffle are framed with an oyster shell minerality. The wine offers a rare harmony as well as extraordinary tactile persistence. Already refined, the wine will gain even more complexity in 4-5 years and should continue to age gracefully for three decades.

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

Point Rouge, our consummate Chardonnay, is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels were singled out for their exceptional quality enhancement to the overall blend. Six barrels from the 2010 vintage were gradually isolated in the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2011, and contains barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, and Ma Belle-Fille. The judicious assemblage benefited from extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Elegant, complex and rich, the 2010 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine. The nose is filled with aromas of ripe apple, citrus oils, orange rind, William pear, dried apricot and candied pineapple. Seamless and rich in the mouth, notes of coconut, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, chestnut skin, vanilla and white truffle are framed with a wet stone-like minerality. The wine offers a rare harmony as well as extraordinary tactile persistence. Already refined, the wine will gain even more complexity in 4-5 years and should continue to age gracefully for three decades.

Vintage Notes

The 2009 vintage started uneventfully, with no spring frosts and later than usual rainfall. As the growing season progressed, there were very few heat spikes, curtailing canopy development and reducing the need for irrigation. Bloom occurred during consistently warm sunny days which extended late into summer, allowing for optimal maturity. These perfect 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

Point Rouge, our consummate Chardonnay, is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage: singled out for their exceptional quality enhancement to the overall blend. Twelve barrels from the 2009 vintage were gradually isolated in the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2010, and contains barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille and the Alexander Mountain Estate. The judicious assemblage benefited from extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Offering elegance, complexity and richness, the 2009 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine. Aromas of ripe apple, citrus oils, orange rind, William pear, dried apricot, candied pineapple and acacia fill the glass. The mouth is seamless and rich with notes of coconut, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, vanilla and white truffle. With a wet stone-like minerality, the framework of this wine offers a rare harmony as well as extraordinary tactile persistence. Already refined, the wine will gain even more complexity in 4-5 years and should continue to age gracefully for two decades.

Vintage Notes

A warm dry winter resulted in early bud break. Spring frosts coupled with 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. As the fruit developed, we observed naturally small yields. During maturation, hand thinning trimmed the crop to ensure even ripening. The warm days and low yields accelerated maturation. The Chardonnay harvest started slightly early in late August and continued to September 25. In the barrel, the 2008 wines displayed intensity and the promise of long aging potential.

Winegrowing Notes

Point Rouge, our consummate Chardonnay, is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels were singled out for their exceptional quality enhancement to the overall blend. Twelve barrels from the 2008 vintage were gradually isolated in the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2009, and contains barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille and the Alexander Mountain Estate. The judicious assemblage benefited from extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Elegant, complex and rich, the 2008 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine. The nose is filled with aromas of ripe apple, citrus oils, orange rind, William pear, dried apricot and candied pineapple. Seamless and rich in the mouth, notes of coconut, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, chestnut skin, vanilla and white truffle are framed with a wet stone-like minerality. The wine offers a rare harmony as well as extraordinary tactile persistence. Already refined, the wine will gain even more complexity in 4-5 years and should continue to age gracefully for two decades.

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 ageing potential.

Winegrowing Notes

Point Rouge, our consummate Chardonnay, is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels were singled out for their exceptional quality enhancement to the overall blend. Twelve barrels from the 2007 vintage were gradually isolated in the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2008, and contains barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Cote, Ma Belle-Fille and the Alexander Mountain Estate. The judicious assemblage benefited from extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Offering elegance, complexity and richness, the 2007 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine. The nose is filled with aromas of ripe apple, citrus oils, orange rind, William pear, dried apricot, candied pineapple and acacia. Seamless and rich in the mouth, notes of coconut, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, chestnut skin, vanilla and white truffle are framed with a wet stone-like minerality. The wine offers a rare harmony as well as extraordinary tactile persistence. Already refined, the wine will gain even more complexity in 4-5 years and should continue to age gracefully for two decades.

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. Hand thinning trimmed the yields to a moderate level. Our high mountainside location kept our vines above the September fog that affected the coast, sparing us the Botrytis issues that damaged the Chardonnay harvest in lower lying areas.

Winegrowing Notes

Point Rouge, our consummate Chardonnay, is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels were singled out for their exceptional quality and how they enhanced the overall blend. From the 2006 vintage, 10 barrels were gradually isolated from the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2007, and is comprised of 10 barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille and the Alexander Mountain Estate. The judicious assemblage benefited from an extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2006 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine, offering a unique combination of elegance, complexity, and richness. The nose is redolent of golden delicious apple, citrus oils, orange rind, William pear, acacia, and candied pineapple accented by notes of wet stone, coconut, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, chestnut skin, vanilla, and white truffle. Seamless and rich, the palate offers a rare harmony of the components as well as extraordinary tactile persistence. Already extremely refined, the wine will gain even more complexity in 3-4 years and should continue to age gracefully.

Vintage Notes

The 2005 growing season began as a study in wildly unpredictable weather patterns. However, the legacy of 2005 will be it’s 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 welcomed sunny and warm conditions that gave 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

Point Rouge, our consummate Chardonnay, is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels were singled out for their exceptional quality and how they enhanced the overall blend. From the 2005 vintage, 14 barrels were gradually isolated from the cellar. The final cuvée was completed in December 2006 and is comprised of 13 barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille and the Alexander Mountain Estate. The judicious assemblage benefited from an extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2005 Point Rouge is an exceptional wine, offering a subtle symbiosis of richness, complexity and elegance. The nose is redolent of orange rind, citrus oils, golden delicious apple, William pear, acacia, and candied pineapple accented by notes of wet stone, coconut, crème brûlée, honeysuckle, chestnut skin, vanilla, and white truffle. Multi-dimensional, rich and seamless, the palate offers a rare harmony of the different components as well as an extraordinary persistence. Already extremely refined, the 2005 Point Rouge will gain even more complexity in 3-4 years and should continue to age gracefully after that.

Vintage Notes

Persistent heavy rains characterized winter 2004, giving way to sustained heat midway through March.This induced an rly-to-normal bud break for our Chardonnay. As the spring rains ceased 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. Following 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

Point Rouge, our consummate Chardonnay, is our winemaker's selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage.These barrels were singled out for their exceptional quality and how they enhanced the overall blend. From the 2004 vintage, 14 barrels were gradually isolated from the original 360 barrels produced.The final cuvee was completed in December 2005 and is com­ prised of 13 barrels from the vineyards of La Carriere, Belle Cote, Ma Belle-Fille and the Alexander Mountain Estate. The judicious assemblage benefited from an extended 'sur lies' maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

This pinnacle Chardonnay of an exceptional vintage is extraordi­ narily defined, offering a symbiosis of richness, complexity and elegance. Orange rind, citrus oils, golden delicious apple, William pear, acacia, candied pineapple and wet stone notes create, with hints of honeysuckle, creme bnllee, chestnut skin, white truille and coconut, an extremely refined and already complex bouguet. The palate offers a rare harmony of the components as well as an extraordinary persistence. 2004 Point Rouge will gain even more complexity in 3-4 years and then continue to age gracefully.

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

Point Rouge, our consummate Chardonnay, is our winemaker’s selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. These barrels were singled out for their exceptional quality and how they enhanced the overall blend. From the 2003 vintage, 14 barrels from the vineyards of La Carrière, Belle-Côte, Ma Belle-Fille and the Alexander Mountain Estate were gradually isolated from the original 360. The cuvée was completed in December 2004 and benefited from an extended ‘sur lies’ maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The pinnacle Chardonnay of an exceptional vintage, the 2003 Point Rouge offers a subtle symbiosis of richness, complexity and elegance. Orange rind, citrus oils, golden delicious apple, William pear, acacia, candied pineapple and wet stone notes create, with hints of honeysuckle, crème brulée, chestnut skin, white truffle and coconut, a refi ned and already complex bouquet. Rich and seamless, the palate offers a rare harmony of its components and an extraordinary persistence. This wine will gain even more complexity in 3-4 years and should age gracefully for a decade.

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 tlnal Hush of heat over Labor Day weekend brought the fruit to optimal ripeness and completed a truly exceptional vintage.

Winegrowing Notes

Point Rouge, our rarest Chardonnay, is our winemaker's selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. Through tasting and blending trials these special barrels were singled out because of their exceptional quality and how they enhanced the overall blend. From the 2002 vintage, 16 barrels were gradually isolated from the original 230 barrels produced. The final cuvee was completed in December 2003 and is comprised of 11 barrels from the vineyards of La Carriere, Belle-Cote and the Alexander Mountain Estate. The judicious assemblage benefited from an extended 'sur lies' maturation.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2002 Point Rouge is truly extraordinary and defined, offering richness, complexity and elegance. Orange rind, citrus oils, marmalade, Golden Delicious apple, William pear, acacia, candied pineapple and wet stone notes create, with hints of honeysuckle, caramel, chestnut skin, white truffle and coconut, an extremely refined and already complex bouquet. Multi-dimensional, rich and seamless on the palate and an extraordinary persistence. 2002 Point Rouge will gain even more complexity in 3-4 years and should age gracefully for at least a decade.

Vintage Notes

Point Rouge, our rarest Chardonnay, is our winemaker's selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. Through tasting and blending trials these special barrels were singled out because of their exceptional quality and how they enhanced the overall blend. From the 2001 vintage, 16 barrels were gradua1ly isolated from the original 230 barrels produced. The final cuvee was completed in December 2002 and is comprised of 12 barrels from the vineyards of La Carriere, Belle-Cote and the Alexander Mountain Estate. The judicious assemblage benefited from an extended 'sur lies' maturation.

Winegrowing Notes

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The Point Rouge is the pinnacle of the Peter Michael family of Chardonnay. The wine is continually evolving offering a seemingly endless supply of aromas. It expresses harmonious and complex elements which alternate between apricot, orange, citrus, honeysuckle and an extraordinary minerality. The palate is multi­ layered as well, carrying all of the aromas from the bouquet and adding hints of almond and vanilla. It is exceptionally expansive and round lingering on the palette, affording an impressively long finish. The Point Rouge already displays its complexity, but will continue to develop even more nuances over time.

Vintage Notes

Point Rouge, our rarest Chardonnay, is our winemaker's selection of the absolute top barrels from the entire vintage. In 1998 the winemaker selected six barrels, all of which came from a single block of old vines on Alexander Mountain Estate, formerly known as Gauer Ranch, high above Alexander Valley. These selected barrels are aged an additional three months sur lies for enhanced richness and flavor. The vineyard block, known as "Upper Barn" is renowned for its low yielding vines and intense fruit, attributes of its parentage - the "Old Wente" clone. Using this as the foundation for quality, Point Rouge exemplifies our most complex and concentrated wine from the cellar, a wine that is homage to its terroir. 1998 was a cool and low yielding vintage for this vineyard. Classic Burgundian vinification and extended barrel aging yielded a wine with bright acidity, great extract and persistent length.

Winegrowing Notes

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The hallmark of Point Rouge is its rich balance of texture, elegance and length on the palate. An expansive, aromatic wine suffused with layers of dried apricots, hazelnuts and lemon-lime. Hints of pineapple with a mineral tone. On the palate, layered richness and focused extracted fruit. Given its concentration of flavor, structure and acidity, we expect this wine to evolve in the bottle for 5-6 years from release.

Belle Côte Vineyard

Thicker soils; cooler via elevation, easterly exposure and trees on western border, slow ripening, longer growing season.