Peter Michael Chardonnay "La Carriere" 2024
(Knights Valley, Sonoma, California) - [VM 97] [JD 96] [WA 96] [WP 96] [WS 94]

About the Winery:
Founded by Sir Peter Michael in 1983 with a singular vision: to make wine in the terroir-driven tradition of Burgundy and Bordeaux, yet under the California sun and in California soil.

Peter Michael Winery owns three estates: Knights Valley, Seaview (Sonoma Coast), and Oakville (Napa Valley). All rest on steep hillsides ranging in elevation from 500 to nearly 2000 feet and are the only sources for Peter Michael's wines.

About this Wine:
The steep and rugged terrain of the La Carrière vineyard produces fruit with a significant concentration of flavor and aroma. Typically, this wine offers a lean, citrus-like fruit profile along with a vivid minerality that evokes nuances of sea salt and wet stones.

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.

Ratings & Reviews

97 Points - Vinous:
"True to its name, the Chardonnay La Carrière is full of stony, briny nuances. Citrus peel, jasmine, oyster shell and tangerine peel are all wonderfully vivid in the glass. Airy and translucent, the Carrière is all about crystalline transparency. I especially admire its energy, tension and poise. Other wines in this range offer more power and richness, but La Carrière is my personal favorite because of its intense minerality and energy. Drink between 2029-2036." -Antonio Galloni (Jun 2026)

96 Points - Jeb Dunnuck:
"Pouring a bright, pale yellow, hazy color the 2024 Chardonnay La Carrière is tropical and perfumed with highly floral wisteria and jasmine, as well as notes of passionfruit and lemon-lime meringue. Named after the quarry, it's full-bodied but light on its feet, offering notes of raw honey, melon, and a pleasing salty lift on the close. As it opens, more stony earth starts to emerge through the floral profile. It's very pretty and can drink well now or over the coming 10 years. Drink 2026-2036."

96 Points - Robert Parker's Wine Advocate:
"I tasted the 2024 Chardonnay La Carrière from tank shortly before it was due to be bottled. It has alluring, layered aromas of nectarine, mango, panna cotta, lime peel and seamlessly integrated, spicy oak. The full-bodied palate has a satiny texture, a dynamic interplay of ripe, expressive fruit with focused, driving acidity and a very long finish. 2,944 cases are expected to be released in April 2026." -Erin Brooks (Feb 2026)

96 Points - The Wine Palate:
"The 2024 La Carriere prances out of the glass with showy notes of fresh white peaches and juicy pears, followed by hints of orange blossoms, marzipan, and ginger. The full-bodied palate is dense with opulent orchard fruit and spicy layers, framed by a seamless line of freshness and satiny texture, finishing on a lingering ginger ale note."

94 Points - Wine Spectator:
"There's plenty of focus and drive to this spectacular white, with a backbone of crushed rock and sea salt minerality. Fragrant white flowers including jasmine and alyssum add a perfumed thread, and the core notes of crunchy star fruit, pear and lemon curd are equally juicy and precise. Drink now through 2040. 2,919 cases made." -MaryAnn Worobiec (Jul 2026)