Winemaker Notes
Professional Ratings
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Extraordinary aromas of orange blossoms, ripe apple skins, liquefied rocks, citrus oils, and a hint of tropical fruit soar from the glass of the 2002 Chardonnay Ma Belle Fille. The debut vintage of this 960-case cuvee, made from a vineyard at 2000 foot elevation, it is a full-bodied, beautifully pure, loaded effort.
Range: 95-97 -
Wine Enthusiast
From vineyards 1,900 feet up in the Mayacamas, a heavyweight Chard. The parts haven't knit together yet, but when they do, look out. Ripe pears and apricots, mangoes and vanilla, all drip with honey, in a creamy, soft texture. It has a long, dusty spice finish. Start drinking at the end of this year.
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Wine Spectator
An ultrarich, saturated style, packed with opulent pear, fig, apricot and honeysuckle flavors, it is undeniably fat and succulent but with remarkable depth and persistence of flavor.
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.