Winemaker Notes
Very intense and powerful, the nose reveals hedonistic aromas of lychee nut, rose petal and orange blossom, with a background of mineral, candied orange, yellow peach, crème brûlée, nougat, whole nut and toasted almond. The rich seamless palate is very creamy and weighty in the mouth. Notes of pain grillé, marmalade, brioche and hazelnut coupled with natural acidity and minerality complete the mouth feel. The 2017 Belle Côte is enjoyable now and will continue to develop for a decade or more.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Flirting with perfection, the 2017 Chardonnay Belle-Cote is a thrilling, magical Chardonnay that ranks with the crème de la crème of the vintage. A huge nose of crushed rocks, lemon curd, brioche, and toast all flow to a full Chardonnay that has a deep, concentrated, layered style on the palate. It's one of those rich and powerful yet weightless wines, and it has terrific acidity, purity of fruit, and length. It will be better with another year or two of bottle age.
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James Suckling
Lovely green apples and pears with attractive cream and light bread-dough undertones. Some white peaches. Full-bodied. Dense and solid with grand-cru Burgundy sensibility. So amazing, long and seamless. Goes on for minutes. Will age beautifully. Drink or hold.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2017 Chardonnay Belle Cote (composed of Rued clone and Old Wente) grows exponentially on the nose and, with swirling, achieves a crescendo of fresh pineapple, lemon meringue pie, key lime and pink grapefruit with wafts of lychees, rose oil, allspice and tangerine peel. Full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully nuanced with loads of subtle savory and citrus layers and a lively line of freshness cutting through the creamy texture, finishing on lingering praline and brioche-inspired notes. 2,194 cases were made.
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Wine Spectator
Lithe, with a buttery richness to the white cherry, currant and lemon curd flavors. Lemongrass notes and fennel hints emerge on the focused finish.
One of the most popular and versatile white wine grapes, Chardonnay offers a wide range of flavors and styles depending on where it is grown and how it is made. While it tends to flourish in most environments, Chardonnay from its Burgundian homeland produces some of the most remarkable and longest lived examples. California produces both oaky, buttery styles and leaner, European-inspired wines. Somm Secret—The Burgundian subregion of Chablis, while typically using older oak barrels, produces a bright style similar to the unoaked style. Anyone who doesn't like oaky Chardonnay would likely enjoy Chablis.
A small and picturesque valley separating Napa Valley on its south border and Alexander Valley to its north, Knights Valley excels in similar varieties as the two aforementioned appellations, namely red Bordeaux varieties and blends, as well as Sauvignon blanc. Originally established by Beringer Vineyards, today several outstanding producers claim acreage here. The circadian cooling effects of the nearby Pacific Ocean create a nighttime respite for vineyards during the hot growing season.