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The November 2023 Auction: Part 4
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1 / 2Lot 1271
Estimate: $225
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Collection name
Reviews
99WA
"The 2015 Chardonnay Cuvee Indigene is profoundly scented of honeyed apricots, pear tart, marzipan and brioche with hints of butterscotch, praline and bakerâs yeast. The fine, fresh, medium-bodied palate has beautiful elegance and depth, with a minerally core and a citrus lift on the very long, creamy finish. Stunning. 545 cases were made. Brothers Nicolas and Luc Morlet told me that Peter Michaelâs 2015 vintage was essentially one characterized by roller coaster, rather violent weather, with so much wind during the bloom that the entire estateâs Pinot Noir crops on the Sonoma Coast were wiped out. The results were an incredibly tiny harvest of Chardonnay with a ratio of 50% skin to 50% juice, giving the 2015 Chardonnays a level of concentration unprecedented from this famous producerâs vineyards. That came after a much more abundant year in 2014 that was characterized by another drought year and an earthquake the third week of August, but much better yields than 2015. Tasting these Chardonnays together, the 2015s, not yet in bottle (but they donât filter), and the 2014s, in bottle for close to a year, struck me as the two finest back-to-back vintages for Chardonnay that Peter Michael has yet produced. And that is saying something, as their 2013s were sensational, as were the 2012s. Peter Michael is an impeccably run, world-class winery and it is probably impossible to find a greater set of Chardonnays anywhere else in the world, with one exception â the seven cuvĂ©es of Chardonnay made by Mark Aubert, ironically, one of Peter Michaelâs former winemakers."
Region
White
Country
Score
"The 2015 Chardonnay Cuvee Indigene is profoundly scented of honeyed apricots, pear tart, marzipan and brioche with hints of butterscotch, praline and bakerâs yeast. The fine, fresh, medium-bodied palate has beautiful elegance and depth, with a minerally core and a citrus lift on the very long, creamy finish. Stunning. 545 cases were made. Brothers Nicolas and Luc Morlet told me that Peter Michaelâs 2015 vintage was essentially one characterized by roller coaster, rather violent weather, with so much wind during the bloom that the entire estateâs Pinot Noir crops on the Sonoma Coast were wiped out. The results were an incredibly tiny harvest of Chardonnay with a ratio of 50% skin to 50% juice, giving the 2015 Chardonnays a level of concentration unprecedented from this famous producerâs vineyards. That came after a much more abundant year in 2014 that was characterized by another drought year and an earthquake the third week of August, but much better yields than 2015. Tasting these Chardonnays together, the 2015s, not yet in bottle (but they donât filter), and the 2014s, in bottle for close to a year, struck me as the two finest back-to-back vintages for Chardonnay that Peter Michael has yet produced. And that is saying something, as their 2013s were sensational, as were the 2012s. Peter Michael is an impeccably run, world-class winery and it is probably impossible to find a greater set of Chardonnays anywhere else in the world, with one exception â the seven cuvĂ©es of Chardonnay made by Mark Aubert, ironically, one of Peter Michaelâs former winemakers."
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The fourth-largest wine producer in the world, led by California. American fine wine is defined by ripe, expressive fruit and a spirit of innovation, with Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon among the most sought-after wines globally.
The world's most versatile white grape, producing everything from steely Chablis to rich, oaked whites. Its neutrality makes it a mirror of terroir and winemaking, and the foundation of white Burgundy and Champagne.