Cuvée Indigéne

‘Cuvée Indigène’, a reference to indigenous yeast fermentation, is a top-barrel selection from the Belle Côte vineyard, blended with exceptional barrels from Ma Belle-Fille and La Carrière vineyards. With each vintage, the winemaker intends to capture a true expression of Chardonnay from the Knights Valley Estate, emphasizing the profile of select vineyard blocks.

Vintage Notes

The combination of a wet winter with significant rains in December through March and cool weather delayed budbreak nearly a month. Flowering and fruit set were also pushed back and the weather during the later flowering was favorable resulting in decent fruit set and slightly above average yields for the Chardonnay vineyards—a marked improvement over the record-low yielding 2022 vintage. The growing season was temperate without major heat spikes allowing the berries to hold onto their acidity which carried through into the wines. Harvest was almost a month later than normal with the last Belle Côte block coming in on November 2nd.

Winegrowing Notes

'Cuvée Indigène', a reference to indigenous yeast fermentations, is a top-barrel selection from exceptional barrels of Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille, and La Carrière vineyards. With each vintage, the winemaker captures a true expression of Chardonnay from the Knights Valley Estate, emphasizing the profile of select vineyard blocks. The 2023 bottling of 'Cuvée Indigène' is comprised of 23 selected barrels drawn from our Knights Valley estate.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2023 'Cuvée Indigène' leaps from the glass with an enticing mélange of white rose, jasmine, and yellow spring flowers with orange zest and vanilla bean accents. The rich, explosive entry and creamy mouthfeel lead to an intense, focused mid-palate with juicy acidity and exceptional drive. The substantial body and gras are defined by a chiseled, precise structure that continues through the lengthy, lingering finish. This is a classic vintage of 'Cuvée Indigène' to be enjoyed in its youth but will reward several years of careful cellaring.

Winegrowing Notes

'Cuvée Indigène', a reference to indigenous yeast fermentations, is a top-barrel selection from exceptional barrels of Belle Côte, Ma Belle-Fille, and La Carrière vineyards. With each vintage, the winemaker captures a true expression of Chardonnay from the Knights Valley Estate, emphasizing the profile of select vineyard blocks. The 2022 bottling of 'Cuvée Indigène' is comprised of 18 selected barrels drawn from our Knights Valley estate.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2022 'Cuvee Indigene' shimmers an alluring, soft yellow-gold in the glass as a symphony of lemon and orange blossoms, lime zest and yellow spring flowers announces the intent of this substantial wine. Hints of baking spices, vanilla bean, and lemon curd add to the complexity of the nose. The mouth-filling entry continues with a textured, highly focused, intense mid-palate of remarkable concentration and poise. The extremely long, mouthwatering finish provides a memorable coda to this seamless, complete Chardonnay.

Vintage Notes

Cuvée Indigène is blended from multiple estates vineyard blocks, all planted to the Old Wente Clone. The Wente family brought over the clone by hand in 1912 from delicate clippings obtained at the University of Montpellier in southeastern France. The clone gained recognition as the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the famed 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting. Characteristics of the clone include small berries in the bunches of fruit with thick skins, golden hay color, good mineral content, low sugar, and big, bright acidity with luscious citrus fruit flavors and sweet baking-spice notes.

Winegrowing Notes

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2021 ‘Cuvée Indigène’ soars from the glass with a medley of lemon blossom, jasmine, white rose, pear, candied lemon and orange peel. The intense entry leads to a mouth-watering, expressive mid-palate with great focus and structure. This lively, dense, superbly balanced Cuvée Indigène showcases ample gras, remarkable texture and tremendous length. Expansive yet precise, the 2021 ‘Cuvée Indigène’ will benefit from 15 years of 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 in the soil. 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 to preserve freshness and finesse. The yields were average, but picking decisions and proper sorting were critical to achieving wines of balance, ripeness, generosity, and elegance.

Winegrowing Notes

Cuvée Indigène’ is blended from multiple estates vineyard blocks, all planted to the Old Wente Clone. The Wente family brought over the clone by hand in 1912 from delicate clippings obtained at the University of Montpellier in southeastern France. The clone gained recognition as the 1973 Chateau Montelena Chardonnay won the famed 1976 Judgement of Paris tasting. Characteristics of the clone include small berries in the bunches of fruit with thick skins, golden hay color, good mineral content, low sugar, and big, bright acidity with luscious citrus fruit flavors and sweet baking-spice notes.

Winemaker's Tasting 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.

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 Indian summer allowed our Chardonnay to gradually reach perfect ripeness. The moderate temperatures permitted a gradual harvest, resulting in an elegant, bountiful vintage with classic flavors and excellent concentration.

Winegrowing Notes

Cuvée Indigène is the winemaker’s barrel selection focused on the power, finesse and nuance Chardonnay can display. The name translates to the ‘indigenous blend.’ In the early days of the winery, only a fraction of our production was fermented using the yeast occurring naturally on the grapes, with no commercial yeast. This time-consuming traditional method is now employed for all of our wines. The 2018 bottling of Cuvée Indigène is comprised of 22 selected barrels drawn from our Knights Valley estate.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2018 Cuvée Indigène leads with an intense and expressive nose of brioche, mineral, candied orange, mangosteen, peach blossom, lemon oil, yellow peach and dried apricot. Notes of toasted hazelnut, vanilla, meringue and subtle white truffle interact to complete a multi-layered and very intense bouquet. In the mouth, the texture is rich and creamy, displaying ample ‘gras’ balanced with a lingering mineral finish and bright acidity. Approachable now, the wine will reward several years of cellaring and continue to develop for two decades, much like its Burgundian cousins from Corton-Charlemagne.

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 and 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

Cuvée Indigène is the winemaker’s barrel selection focused on the power, finesse and nuance Chardonnay can display. The name translates to the ‘indigenous blend.’ In the early days of the winery, only a fraction of our production was fermented using the yeast occurring naturally on the grapes, with no commercial yeast. This time-consuming traditional method is now employed for all of our wines. The 2017 bottling of Cuvée Indigène is comprised of 22 selected barrels drawn from our Knights Valley estate.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Very intense and expressive on the nose with notes of brioche, mineral, peach blossom, candied orange, lemon oil, yellow peach and dried apricot. Accents of vanilla, toasted hazelnut, meringue and crème brûlée complete a multi-layered and intense bouquet. In the mouth, the texture is creamy and balanced with ample “gras” and a lingering perfumed and mineral finish. The 2017 Cuvée Indigène vintage will continue to express its potential for two decades like its Burgundian cousins from Corton-Charlemagne.

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

Cuvée Indigène is the winemaker’s barrel selection focused on the power, finesse and nuance Chardonnay can display. The name translates to the “indigenous blend.” In the early days of the winery, only a fraction of our production was fermented using the yeast occurring naturally on the grapes, with no commercial yeast. This time consuming traditional method is now employed for all of our wines. The 2016 bottling of Cuvée Indigène is comprised of 22 selected barrels drawn from our Knights Valley estate.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2016 Cuvée Indigène leads with an intense and expressive nose of brioche, mineral, peach blossom, candied orange, mangosteen, lemon oil, yellow peach and dried apricot. Notes of vanilla, toasted hazelnut, meringue and subtle white truffle interact to complete a multi-layered and very intense bouquet. In the mouth, the texture is ample and creamy, displaying ample “gras” and balanced with a lingering mineral finish. Approachable now, the wine will reward several years of cellaring and continue to develop for two decades, much like its Burgundian cousins from Corton-Charlemagne.

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

Cuvée Indigène is the winemaker’s barrel selection focused on the power, finesse and nuance that Chardonnay can display. The name translates to the “indigenous blend.” In the early days of the winery, only a fraction of our production was fermented using the yeast occurring naturally on the grapes, with no commercial yeast. This time consuming traditional method is now employed for all of our wines. The 2015 bottling of Cuvée Indigène is comprised of 23 selected barrels drawn from our Knights Valley estate.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Very intense and expressive on the nose with notes of brioche, mineral, peach blossom, candied orange, crème brûlée, lemon oil, yellow peach and dried apricot. Accents of vanilla, toasted hazelnut, meringue and subtle butterscotch complete a multi-layered and intense bouquet. The texture is creamy and balanced with ample “gras” and a lingering perfumed and mineral finish. The 2015 Cuvée Indigène vintage will continue to express its potential for two decades like its Burgundian cousins from Corton-Charlemagne.

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. IdealIndian 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

Cuvée Indigène is the winemaker’s barrel selection focused on the power, finesse and nuance that Chardonnay can display. The name translates to the “indigenous blend.” In the early days of the winery, only a fraction of our production was fermented using the yeast occurring naturally on the grapes, with no commercial yeast. This time consuming traditional method is now employed for all of our wines. The 2014 bottling of Cuvée Indigène is comprised of 14 selected barrels drawn from our Knights Valley estate.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

An intense and expressive nose of brioche, mineral, peach blossom, candied orange, mangosteen, lemon oil, yellow peach and dried apricot. Notes of vanilla, toasted hazelnut, meringue and subtle white truffle interact to complete a multi-layered and very intense bouquet. In the mouth, the texture is ample and creamy, displaying ample “gras” and balanced with a lingering mineral finish. The 2014 Cuvée Indigène will age and express its potential for two decades, much like its Burgundian cousins from Corton-Charlemagne.

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

Produced since 1988, Cuvée Indigène is the winemaker’s barrel selection focused on the power, finesse and nuance that Chardonnay can display. The name translates to the “indigenous blend.” In the early days of the winery, only a fraction of our production was fermented using the yeast occurring naturally on the grapes, with no commercial yeast. This time consuming traditional method is now employed for all of our wines. The 2013 bottling of Cuvée Indigène is comprised of 14 selected barrels drawn from our Knights Valley estate.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

A very intense and expressive nose of brioche, mineral, jasmine, candied orange, lemon oil, yellow peach and greengage interacts gracefully with vanilla, caramel and toasted hazelnut, meringue and subtle white truffle to form a multi-layered and intense bouquet. Very complex, creamy, ample texture of “gras” and balanced with a lingering perfumed and mineral finish. The 2013 Cuvée Indigène vintage will continue to express its potential for three decades, much like its Burgundian cousins from Corton-Charlemagne.

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

Produced since 1988, Cuvée Indigène is the winemaker’s barrel selection focused on the power, finesse and nuance that Chardonnay can display. The name translates to the “indigenous blend.” In the early days of the winery, only a fraction of our production was fermented using naturally occurring yeast, with no commercial yeast. This time consuming traditional method is now employed for all of our wines. This 2012 bottling is comprised of 18 selected barrels drawn from our Knights Valley estate.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

An intense and expressive nose of brioche, mineral, peach blossom, candied orange, lemon oil, yellow peach and dry apricot interacts gracefully with vanilla, toasted hazelnut, meringue and subtle white truffle in a multi-layered and very intense bouquet. Very complex, creamy, ample texture of “gras” and balanced with a lingering perfumed and mineral finish. The 2012 Cuvée Indigène will age and continue to express its potential for three decades, much like its Burgundian cousins from Corton-Charlemagne.

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

Produced every year since 1988, Cuvée Indigène is the winemaker’s barrel selection focused on the power, finesse and nuance that Chardonnay can display. The name translates to the “indigenous blend.” In the early days of the winery, only a fraction of our production was fermented using naturally occurring yeast, with no commercial yeast. This time consuming traditional method is now employed for all of our wines. This 2010 bottling is comprised of 10 selected barrels drawn from our Knights Valley estate.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Intense and expressive, with a nose of brioche, mineral, peach blossom, candied orange, lemon oil, yellow peach and dry apricot. Notes of vanilla, toasted hazelnut, meringue and subtle white truffle interact to complete a multi-layered and very intense bouquet. In the mouth, the texture is ample and creamy, displaying a lot of “gras” and balanced with a lingering mineral finish. The 2010 Cuvée Indigène will age and express its potential for three decades, much like its Burgundian cousins from Corton-Charlemagne.

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

Produced every year since 1988, Cuvée Indigène is the winemaker’s barrel selection focused on the power, finesse and nuance that Chardonnay can display. The name translates to the “indigenous blend.” In the early days of the winery, only a fraction of our production was fermented using the yeast occurring naturally on the grapes, with no commercial yeast. This time consuming traditional method is now employed for all of our wines. The 2009 bottling of Cuvée Indigène is comprised of 22 selected barrels drawn from the Alexander Mountain Estate and our own Belle Côte vineyard.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

A powerful and expressive nose with gorgeous aromas of brioche, peach blossom, candied orange, lemon oil, and dried apricot. Multiple layers of vanilla, toasted hazelnut, meringue and subtle white truffle create an intense bouquet. Texturally, the wine displays harmony and complexity with a creamy, balanced and lingering perfumed finish. This vintage of Cuvée Indigène will age and continue to express its potential for two decades, much like its Burgundian cousins from Corton-Charlemagne.

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. During barrel maturation, the 2008 wines displayed intensity and the promise of long aging potential.

Winegrowing Notes

Produced every year since 1988, Cuvée Indigène is the winemaker’s barrel selection focused on the power, finesse and nuance that Chardonnay can display. The name translates to the “indigenous blend.” In the early days of the winery, only a fraction of our production was fermented using the yeast occurring naturally on the grapes, with no commercial yeast. This time consuming traditional method is now employed for all of our wines. The 2008 bottling of Cuvée Indigène is comprised of 22 selected barrels drawn from the Alexander Mountain Estate and our own Belle Côte vineyard.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Intense and expressive, with a nose of brioche, mineral, peach blossom, candied orange, lemon oil, yellow peach and dry apricot. Notes of vanilla, toasted hazelnut, meringue and subtle white truffle interact to complete a multi-layered and very intense bouquet. In the mouth, the texture is ample and creamy, displaying a lot of “gras” and balanced with a lingering mineral finish. The 2008 Cuvée Indigène will age and express its potential for two decades, much like its Burgundian cousins from Corton-Charlemagne.

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.

Winegrowing Notes

Produced every year since 1988, Cuvée Indigène is a winemaker’s barrel selection focused on the power that Chardonnay can display along with finesse and nuance. The name translates as “indigenous blend” and harkens back to the early days of Peter Michael Winery. Then only a fraction of our production was fermented using the yeast occurring naturally on the grapes, as opposed to commercially cultured yeast. This time consuming traditional method is now employed for all of our wines. The 2007 bottling of Cuvée Indigène is comprised of 22 selected barrels drawn from the Alexander Mountain Estate and our own Belle Côte vineyard.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

A very intense and expressive nose of brioche, peach blossom, candied orange, lemon oil, yellow peaches and dry apricot, interacts gracefully with vanilla, toasted hazelnut, meringue and subtle white truffle to form a multi-layered and very intense bouquet. Very complex, creamy, ample texture, a lot of “gras” and balanced with a lingering perfumed finish. This vintage of Cuvée Indigène will age and continue to express its potential for two decades, much like its Burgundian cousins from Corton-Charlemagne.

Vintage Notes

Winter and spring were very wet, with hail and snow. A late spring cold snap caused slight frost damage, but did not affect quality. Bud break, bloom and set occurred a bit late but evenly. The weather was nearly ideal for fruit development after May. 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 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, sparing us the Botrytis issues that damaged the Chardonnay in lower areas.

Winegrowing Notes

Cuvée Indigène exemplifies our efforts to capture the pure essence of a vineyard through the use of indigenous fermentation. This creates a focused and seamless wine, one that shows off the vineyard’s mountain terroir. Fermenting the wine this way also takes 3 to 4 times longer than the conventional method of adding commercially cultured yeast. This long, slow barrel fermentation creates optimal conditions for the development of complex aromas and flavors and imparts a distinct silky texture and long finish.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Aromas of candied orange, lemon drop, ripe yellow peaches, apricot, dry fig, subtle white truffle and Mirabelle plum interact with touches of vanilla and elements of meringue and crème-brûlée to form this remarkable multi-layered and intense bouquet. Complexity, richness, ample “gras” and concentration characterize the palate of this spectacular edition of Cuvée Indigène, promising to age gracefully.

Vintage Notes

The 2005 growing season began with wildly unpredictable weather. However, its legacy 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 con- ceivable weather fluctuation had challenged the vines, we finally welcomed sunny and warm conditions that 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

Cuvee Indigene exemplifies our efforts to capture the pure es­ sence of a vineyard through the use of indigenous fermentation. This creates a focused and seamless wine, one that shows off the vineyard's mountain terroir. Fermenting the wine this way also takes 3 to 4 times longer than the conventional method of adding commercially cultured yeast. This long, slow barrel fermentation creates optimal conditions for the development of complex aro­ mas and flavors and imparts a distinct silky texture and long finish.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Aromas of candied orange, lemon drop, yellow peaches, dry apricot, dry fig, subtle white truffle and Mirabelle plum interact with touches of vanilla and elements of meringue and creme­ brulee to form this remarkable multi-layered and intense bouquet. Complexity, richness, ample "gras" and concentration characterize the palate of this spectacular edition of Cuvee Jndigene, which promises to age gracefully for at least a decade.

Vintage Notes

Persistent heavy rains characterized winter 2004, giving way to a sustained heat spell 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 vineyards 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 tempera­ tures in the 90s harvest began early: in late August, and culminated midway through October.

Winegrowing Notes

Cuvee Indigene exemplifies our efforts to capture the pure es­ sence of a vineyard through the use of indigenous fermentation. This creates a focused and seamless wine, one that shows off the vineyard's mountain terroir. Fermenting the wine this way also takes 3 to 4 times longer than the conventional method of adding commercially cultured yeast.This long, slow barrel fermentation creates optimal conditions for the development of complex aro­ mas and flavors and imparts a distinct silky texture and long finish.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Aromas of candied orange, lemon drop, dry apricot, dry fig and Mirabelle plum, interact with touches of vanilla and elements of meringue and creme-brulee to form this remarkable multi-lay­ered and intense bouquet. Complexity, richness, "lots of gras" and concentration characterize the palate of this spectacular edition of Cuvee Indigene, promising 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

Cuvée Indigène exemplifies our efforts to capture the pure essence of a vineyard through the use of indigenous fermentation. This creates a focused and seamless wine, one that shows off the vineyard’s mountain terroir. Fermenting the wine this way also takes 3 to 4 times longer than the conventional method of adding commercially cultured yeast. This long, slow barrel fermentation creates optimal conditions for the development of complex aromas and flavors and imparts a distinct silky texture and long finish.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Aromas of candied orange, lemon drop, dry apricot, dry fig and Mirabelle plum, interact with touches of vanilla and exotic elements such as mango, coconut and pineapple to form this remarkable multi-layered and intense bouquet. Complexity, richness and concentration characterize the palate of this dramatic edition of Cuvée Indigène, promised to age gracefully for at least 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 tempered by great air circulation thanks to the vineyard's lofty elevation. A final flush of heat over Labor Day weekend brought the fruit to optimal ripeness.

Winegrowing Notes

Cuvee Indigene exemplifies our efforts to capture the pure essence of a vineyard through the use of indigenous fermentation.This creates a focused and seamless wine, one that shows off the vineyard's mountain terroir. Fermenting the wine this way also takes 3 to 4 times longer than the conventional method of adding commercially cultured yeast. This long, slow barrel fermentation creates optimal conditions for the development of complex aromas and flavors and imparts a distinct silky texture and long finish.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Aromas of candied orange, lemon drop, dry apricot, dry fig and Mirabelle plum interact with touches of vanilla, mango, coconut and pineapple to form a multi-layered and intense bouquet. Great viscosity, richness and concentration characterize the palate. This Cuvee Indigene promises to age gracefully for at least a decade.

Vintage Notes

Cuvee Indigene exemplifies our efforts to capture the person­ality and pure essence of a vineyard through the use of natural indigenous fermentations. Indigenous fermentations retain the purity of the fruit, accentuate the wine's perfume and yield a framed, seemless wine. Using classic Burgundian winemaking techniques, only indige­ nous yeasts present on the grapes were used to ferment this wine. Fermenting the wine this way takes 3 to 4 times longer than the conventional method of adding commercially cultured yeasts. This long, slow barrel fermentation creates optimal conditions for the development of complex aromas and flavors and imparts a distinct silky texture and long finish.

Winegrowing Notes

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Fermented with native yeasts indigenous to the vineyard, Cuvee Indigene is indicative of its Alexander Mountain terroir. The wine expresses essences of orange blossom with honeyed pineap­ple. Candied pears and a hint of dry apricot, mingle with the smooth exotic flavor of lemon creme brulee. Notes of vanilla and oak lead to a rich finish.Enjoyable now. Can be cellared three to four years.

Vintage Notes

The use of indigenous fermentation in the low yielding 1998 vintage really brings out the perfume and extract of this wine. Cuvee lndigene exemplifies our efforts to capture the pure essence of a vineyard through the use of indigenous fermentation to highlight the purity of the fruit. This creates a focused and seamless wine, one that shows off the vineyard's mountain terroir. Using classic Burgundian winemaking techniques, only indigenous yeasts present on the grapes were used to ferment this wine. Fermenting the wine this way takes 3 to 4 times longer than the conventional method of adding commercially cultured yeasts. This long, slow barrel fermentation creates optimal conditions for the development of complex aromas and flavors and imparts a distinct silky texture and long finish.

Winegrowing Notes

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 1998 Cuvee lndigene shows a classic nose with its intense perfume of candied apricots and citrus skin. Deeply aromatic, it also displays a complex myriad of brioche, hazelnut and mango intermingled with notes of mineral and clove. Extracted fruit flavors fill the palate, balanced by French oak tones of toast and smoke. Its purity and persistent length complement the wine's richness. This cuvee will evolve in the bottle another 4 to 6 years from release.