Peter Michael Chardonnay "La Carriere" 2023
(Knights Valley, Sonoma, California) - [JS 98] [JD 95] [VM 95] [WA 93-96] [WS 92]

About the Winery:
Founded by Sir Peter Michael in 1983 with a singular vision: to make wine in the terroir-driven tradition of Burgundy and Bordeaux, yet under the California sun and in California soil.

Peter Michael Winery owns three estates: Knights Valley, Seaview (Sonoma Coast), and Oakville (Napa Valley). All rest on steep hillsides ranging in elevation from 500 to nearly 2000 feet and are the only sources for Peter Michael's wines.

About this Wine:
The steep and rugged terrain of the La Carrière vineyard produces fruit with a significant concentration of flavor and aroma. Typically, this wine offers a lean, citrus-like fruit profile along with a vivid minerality that evokes nuances of sea salt and wet stones.

La Carrière, French for ‘the quarry,’ aptly describes this vineyard’s bowl shape and its tremendously rocky soils. Situated between 1,200 and 1,700 feet above sea level on steep mountain slopes exceeding forty percent in grade, the vineyard has ideal southern and southeastern exposures. The vineyard’s shallow rocky soils from volcanic origin provide excellent drainage, low fertility and usually the lowest yields on the estate. La Carrière, with its concentrated ‘liquid minerality,’ effectively reflects its mountainous origin. The wine sees 100% natural fermentation in 100% new French oak before being barrel-aged sur lies 12 months with weekly bâtonnage. The final wine is bottled unfined and unfiltered.

Ratings & Reviews

98 Points - James Suckling:
"A driving force of appetizing acidity powers this full-bodied, brilliant, elegant and intricate wine. It offers mineral and citrus flavors in equal measure, starting with a lot of fresh lemon and lime zest aromas, then richer baked apple, lemon blossom and brown butter flavors. Feels so focused, linear and alive. Drink now or hold." (Jul 2025)

95 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"French for “The Quarry,” the 2023 Chardonnay La Carriere comes from a steep site with a 45-degree slope and rocky, poor soils. It boasts a bright yellow color with a light haze (they don’t fine or filter), and the nose lifts with flinty wet stones, fresh pineapple, lemon curd, citrus blossoms, and an elegant, rounded vanilla perfume. The palate is medium to full-bodied and offers a silky texture, with an elegant, floating feel and delicate savory notes of Marcona almond on the finish. Drink 2026-2038." - Audrey Frick (Jul 2025)

95 Points - Vinous Media:
"The 2023 Chardonnay La Carrière is wonderfully exuberant right out of the gate. Apricot, white flowers, tangerine peel, truffle, mint and lightly honeyed overtones all build in the glass. La Carrière is defined by striking mid-palate resonance and texture. It's another gorgeous wine in this range from Peter Michael. These are the lowest-yielding Chardonnay vines on the property." - Antonio Galloni (Jan 2025)

93-96 Points - Wine Advocate:
"I tasted the 2023 Chardonnay La Carrière from tank just before it was bottled. It has inviting aromas of guava, peach, panna cotta, well-integrated new oak spices and top notes of Meyer lemon. The palate is satiny and mouth coating with luxuriously ripe, layered, spicy flavors. It’s balanced by vibrant acidity that adds focus to its generous flavors, and it has a very long, nuanced finish. A total of 2,478 cases were made, and the wine will be released in April of 2025." - Erin Brooks (Mar 2025)

92 Points - Wine Spectator:
"There’s an appealingly dense fleshiness to the peach and apricot flavors at the core, plus a touch of salted melon and a hint of salted toffee. Vanilla bean and shortbread details emerge on the finish, along with candied citrus peel. Drink now through 2036. 2,478 cases made." - MW (Nov 2025)