WINEMAKER’S NOTES:
Intense orange blossom, lemon custard, and jasmine burst from the glass of the 2021 ‘Belle Cote.’ This highly aromatic bouquet continues with rose petal and lychee underlain by orange marmalade bass notes. The rich entry and dense mid-palate show the depth created by our oldest Chardonnay vines. Hints of orange peel, pastry, and lemon curd lead to a long, polished finish. ‘Belle Cote’ can be enjoyed in its exuberant youth or after decades of cellaring.
Blend: 100% Chardonnay
TASTING NOTES:
The 2021 Chardonnay Belle Côte is bursting with gregarious scents of candied peaches and apricot, roasted almonds, matchstick, spring honey and glossy yet integrated new oak spices. The palate is silky and bright despite its deep core of ripe, youthfully coiled fruit, and it has a long, flinty finish. It unfolds and changes with time in the glass, and with all that concentration and freshness it’s a great candidate for extended cellaring.
-Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate, 97 pts
This has an impressive presence while still showing plenty of finesse to the apricot pastry, vanilla cream and orange blossom flavors, with details of nutmeg, crisp citrus and marzipan on the finish.
-Wine Spectator, 93 pts