Peter Michael Winery Chardonnay La Carriere 2021 (750ML)

98 JS / 95 WA / 95+ WI / 95 WS / 95 VM / 94 JD

Subtle and fresh with sliced apple, lemon curd and oyster shell aromas that follow through to a full body with a tight and focus palate of lemon pie, crushed stone and bitter lemons at the end. Some lemongrass. Flavorful, tangy and intense in the finish. Seashells at the end. From 30-year-old vines, mostly Wente, Hyde and some Dijon clones. Give this three to four years of bottle age. Best after 2027.-James Suckling

The 2021 Chardonnay La Carrière has pure, precise scents of white peach, meringue, matchstick and honeyed undertones. Silky, mouth-coating and seamless, it has incredibly pure, concentrated apricot and honey flavors and a long, flinty finish. Despite its generosity (you could drink it now if you wanted to), it should mature gracefully in bottle over the next decade. 2,128 cases produced.—Erin Brooks, The Wine Advocate

The 2021 La Carriere rolls out of the glass with evocative scents of chalk dust, shaved almonds, and baking bread, giving way to a gorgeous core of fresh pears, white peaches, and lime blossoms. The medium-bodied palate is elegantly styled and seamless, with layers of savory nuances and a long chalky finish. Yields here were exceptionally low this year.-Lisa Perrotti-Brown, Wine Independent

Exquisite, with power and delicacy to the butterscotch pudding, marmalade and fresh peach flavors at the core. But this white is just getting started, showing lemon zest, fresh rosemary flowers and candied ginger notes that add complexity and length, plus litsea oil accents, vibrant acidity and a supple texture. Drink now through 2029. 2,128 cases made.-MaryAnne Worobiec, Wine Spectator

The 2021 Chardonnay La Carrière is bursting with energy. Lemon confit, marzipan, white flowers, mint and tangerine peel are all beautifully sculpted in this super-expressive, nuanced Chardonnay. I very much like the minerality here. This is the steepest slope at Peter Michael, blocks with low vigor and therefore low yields.-Antonio Galloni, Vinous Media

A brilliant straw color, the 2021 Chardonnay La Carriere is fragrant with fresh lime zest, jasmine, and Williams pear. Medium to full-bodied, notes of candied green apple, green melon, and lemon curd are revealed in this fresh, lively white, which has great freshness, notable energy, and vibrant purity. Drink 2023-2032.-Audrey Frick, JebDunnuck