Peter Michael Winery
Estate Vineyards Les Pavots Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2013 “Les Pavots” pours a deep ruby with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with wild brambles, Korean bulgogi, some purple flowers, tobacco, cedar box, some VA, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and zippy. To my palate, a lot more interesting than the “Au Paradis” from the same vintage. There’s just a lot more going on. Drink now with patience and through 2040.
Popped and poured; enjoyed over the course of two days. Best on Day 2. The 2013 “Les Pavots” pours a deep ruby with an opaque core; medium+ viscosity with moderate staining of the tears and signs of light sediment. On the nose, the wine is developing with wild brambles, Korean bulgogi, some purple flowers, tobacco, cedar box, some VA, and fine baking spices. On the palate, the wine is dry with medium+ tannins and medium+ acid. Confirming the notes from the nose. The finish is long and zippy. To my palate, a lot more interesting than the “Au Paradis” from the same vintage. There’s just a lot more going on. Drink now with patience and through 2040.
Jul 30th, 20242008 vintage. From the Knights Valley AVA (Sonoma). A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Very impressive. Ripe blackberry fruit, spices, and truffles jump out of the glass. Powerful and elegant at the same time with layers of black fruit, great balancing acidity, haute couture tannins, and a very, very long finish. Irresistible now, but this should age well for decades. Abv. 14,5%.
2008 vintage. From the Knights Valley AVA (Sonoma). A blend of 67% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 3% Petit Verdot. Very impressive. Ripe blackberry fruit, spices, and truffles jump out of the glass. Powerful and elegant at the same time with layers of black fruit, great balancing acidity, haute couture tannins, and a very, very long finish. Irresistible now, but this should age well for decades. Abv. 14,5%.
Jun 2nd, 2023
Best bottle of 11 I’ve had to date…Asian spices, Oolong tea, rich but not cloying…still evolving!
Best bottle of 11 I’ve had to date…Asian spices, Oolong tea, rich but not cloying…still evolving!
Jun 29th, 2021
Tasted blind. Dark scarlet. Not showing much age. Great fruit forward nose. Cherries, warm berry pie, herbs and a hint of menthol. A lot of power in the mouth. Maybe a bit overripe? Medium finish. Thought Zinfandel, then Cab. Guessed mid 90s Cal Pinot. I liked this a lot more at the end of the night vs the first tastes.
Tasted blind. Dark scarlet. Not showing much age. Great fruit forward nose. Cherries, warm berry pie, herbs and a hint of menthol. A lot of power in the mouth. Maybe a bit overripe? Medium finish. Thought Zinfandel, then Cab. Guessed mid 90s Cal Pinot. I liked this a lot more at the end of the night vs the first tastes.
Aug 31st, 2020
Purchased over a case of this tremendous wine. Picked it up at auction between $75 & $80 a bottle. Extraordinary value! Only one bottle left 🤔 Drink them soon!!
Purchased over a case of this tremendous wine. Picked it up at auction between $75 & $80 a bottle. Extraordinary value! Only one bottle left 🤔 Drink them soon!!
Aug 27th, 2020
Beautiful flow and progression. Layers for days
Beautiful flow and progression. Layers for days
Mar 15th, 2020
Well balanced and and approachable now...
Well balanced and and approachable now...
Oct 21st, 2019
For my 5,000th review on Vivino, it's time for a special bottle. Here is a gorgeous Bordeaux blend.
Dark ruby in color with a short brick rim.
Gorgeous nose of blueberries, cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, eucalyptus, black pepper, tobacco, herbs, leather, wet leaves, earth, vegetables and graphite.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs. Smooth and elegant.
Dry on the palate with blueberries, plums, cherries, figs, licorice, wood, vanilla, sweet cherries, graphite, spices, earth, wet leaves, herbs, light vegetables and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
What a great surprise. This Bordeaux blend is drinking so beautifully right now. Well balanced and very complex. Gentle with lots of fruits and earth notes.
This 14 year old from Knights Valley needs a couple of hours to open up properly and really show up. Delicious.
Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 95 points.
A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 2% Petit verdot.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
15.1% alcohol by volume.
97 points.
$200.
For my 5,000th review on Vivino, it's time for a special bottle. Here is a gorgeous Bordeaux blend.
Dark ruby in color with a short brick rim.
Gorgeous nose of blueberries, cherries, oak, vanilla, licorice, spices, chocolates, smoke, eucalyptus, black pepper, tobacco, herbs, leather, wet leaves, earth, vegetables and graphite.
Medium plus in body with medium acidity and long legs. Smooth and elegant.
Dry on the palate with blueberries, plums, cherries, figs, licorice, wood, vanilla, sweet cherries, graphite, spices, earth, wet leaves, herbs, light vegetables and black pepper.
Long finish with fine grained tannins and tangy raspberries.
What a great surprise. This Bordeaux blend is drinking so beautifully right now. Well balanced and very complex. Gentle with lots of fruits and earth notes.
This 14 year old from Knights Valley needs a couple of hours to open up properly and really show up. Delicious.
Robert Parker 95 points. Wine Spectator 95 points.
A blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot and 2% Petit verdot.
I paired it with a charcuterie board of meats and cheeses.
15.1% alcohol by volume.
97 points.
$200.