Peter Michael - Les Pavots - Sonoma County 2019

Peter Michael - Les Pavots - Sonoma County 2019

In 1982, Sir Peter Michael and Lady Michael purchased 630 acres of volcanic ridges on the western face of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley. Following Sir Peter’s '100 by 100' vision, 100% family ownership for at least 100 years and drawing inspiration from the great wineries of Burgundy and Bordeaux, the family hired like-minded viticulturists and winemakers to help them create terroir-driven wines that would stand the test of time. Today, with the support of his son, Paul and his wife, the Peter Michael winery still adheres to its original founding principles of mountain vineyards, classical winemaking, and limited production. Grown on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary 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 vintage & the tasting notes
The brilliant ruby-garnet 2019 ‘Les Pavots’ showcases an olfactory symphony of blackberry, dark chocolate, black cherry, and vanilla aromas, with supporting notes of tobacco, violets, and garrigue. A refined, elegant entry leads to a broad, graceful mid-palate with silky, fine-grained tannins, hints of black tea, blackberry pie, caramel, and cocoa powder, with a long, lingering finish. Although approachable in its youth, the 2019 ‘Les Pavots’ will reward four years of cellaring and continue to blossom for two decades.