Peter Michael - Les Pavots - Sonoma County 2022
In 1982, after six years of searching for land to serve as both a vineyard and family retreat, Sir Peter Michael and Lady Michael purchased 255 hectares of volcanic ridges on the western face of Mount Saint Helena in Knights Valley. Following Sir Peter’s “100 x 100” vision—100 percent family ownership for at least 100 years— the family shares his commitment to preserving the estate and making wine here for a century, interpreting the story of its terroir in every bottle. Today, with the support of son Paul, and his wife, Emily, the winery still adheres to its founding principles of mountain vineyards, classical winemaking, and limited production. The winery’s holdings now include three estates vineyards, all resting on steep hillsides, with elevations ranging from 150 to 600 meters.
Grown on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of their blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot display their hillside origins. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine’s complexity. Spanning 46 acres, the red Les Pavots blocks ascend to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot below.
The 2022 Vintage:
The video of the vintage: https://youtu.be/h1divCANPV0
The combination of drought conditions and mild winter temperatures prompted an early budbreak in the spring of 2022.The subsequent flowering period was also early and took place during uneven weather which resulted in less fruit setting and noticeably small clusters.
A moderate July was followed by a series of heat events in August, then record-high temperatures in early September. After the heat came light rains then cooler temperatures in the last half of September and into October. Harvest started slightly early but had a normal mid-October finish date.
Tasting notes:
The deep, ruby-red 2022 ‘Les Pavots’ features an expressive bouquet of black currant, ripe dark cherry, blackberry, and blueberry compote with hints of black olive, dark chocolate, garrigue, dried rose petals and violets. The refined, silky entry leads to a plush, broad mid-palate with mouth-coating, very fine-grained tannins, hints of black tea and baking spices, and an extended, smooth finish. The 2022 ‘Les Pavots’ shows both power and grace and will reward for years of cellaring, but will age well for decades.