Winemaker Notes
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.
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2022 Chardonnay La Carriere displays a youthful medium yellow color with a light haze. It comes from the poorest and steepest single blocks of the property, with a 45% grade slope, and though the vines look young, they are now over 30 years old. The wine is open and inviting on the nose with aromas of poached pear, honeycomb, preserved citrus lemon confit, graham cracker, and meringue. On the palate, it’s medium to full-bodied, with a gorgeous and weightless texture. It has a haunting feel and will likely be a wine that gains some weight and density over time. It’s beautiful now, though, with a lovely hint of spice lasting on the finish.
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James Suckling
Such vivid, chalky, stony mineral flavors on a brilliant texture of tangy acidity softened by richness that builds on the palate. It's layered, complex and packed with minerals, lemon and lime zest, white pepper, crisp green apples and a hint of vanilla. Full-bodied yet balanced and detailed, expanding in the mouth and lingering in the finish.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2022 Chardonnay La Carrière is exotic and spicy on the nose, with aromas of pineapple, lemon curd, vanilla and graham cracker mingling with honeysuckle and coriander seed. The palate offers slowly blossoming, layered flavors defined by citrus and stony mineral character at this early stage. It’s energized by bright acidity and has a long, layered finish.
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Wine Spectator
This stunning white offers a lovely mix of marzipan and nougat, with notes of orange sherbet, lemon blossoms, salted toffee and peach preserves on a smooth, supple and elegant frame, backed by fresh acidity. Grace notes of lemon balm and lemon thyme, plus a touch of vetiver, add to the aromatic appeal and complexity.
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.