WA 97+ · Wine Advocate
Cuvee Indigene is a top barrel selection of the Belle Cote vineyard with some fruit from Ma Belle Fille and Mon Plaisir. Winemaking consultant Luc Morlet mentioned that this label is intended to capture the richer side of Chardonnay each vintage, emphasized by the majority use of Old Wente clone. This wine gets 15 months in barrel—a bit longer aging than the other wines. A barrel sample, the nose of this 2019 Chardonnay Cuvee Indigene is youthfully shy, needing a good amount of swirling to coax out an impressive array of citrus and savory scents: lime blossoms, pink grapefruit, lemongrass, shaved almonds and lightly browned toast with hints of wet pebbles and candied ginger. The medium to full-bodied palate has fantastic grace and sophistication, revealing beautifully intertwined citrus, savory and mineral layers with a lively line and silken texture, finishing with great length and depth. Stunning. 531 cases were made.