Peter Michael Winery
Estate Vineyards Les Pavots Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon Blend
Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA
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, 2020Absolutely delicious. Fully resolved tannins. At the perfect spot of secondary versus primary fruit. Lovely.
Absolutely delicious. Fully resolved tannins. At the perfect spot of secondary versus primary fruit. Lovely.
Oct 21st, 2015Plenty of life. A meaty minty-ness. Very interesting.
Plenty of life. A meaty minty-ness. Very interesting.
Apr 1st, 2014
In magnum. Despite very slight cork taint, the wine was pretty impressive with long finish, lots of fruit. Could go 10 plus years more.
In magnum. Despite very slight cork taint, the wine was pretty impressive with long finish, lots of fruit. Could go 10 plus years more.
Nov 30th, 2013
1996 vintage. 6% Cab Franc but 50+% Cab and remaining % Merlot. Last tasted 9.29.24 (9.5) and 8.2.24 (9.6). This specimen nice fill and halfway saturated cork. Decanted and throwing appropriate sed. Tasted 30 mins post-decant. Light-medium body. Dark cherry and milk chocolate nose. Cocoa powder and chocolate-covered cherry in the flavors. Tannins primarily on the back palate. More than holding up and getting by. This has a few more years afoot. Gonna say it again for those in the back…this is the best wine they’ve ever made-white or red. Get off my lawn. 05.07.25.
1996 vintage. 6% Cab Franc but 50+% Cab and remaining % Merlot. Last tasted 9.29.24 (9.5) and 8.2.24 (9.6). This specimen nice fill and halfway saturated cork. Decanted and throwing appropriate sed. Tasted 30 mins post-decant. Light-medium body. Dark cherry and milk chocolate nose. Cocoa powder and chocolate-covered cherry in the flavors. Tannins primarily on the back palate. More than holding up and getting by. This has a few more years afoot. Gonna say it again for those in the back…this is the best wine they’ve ever made-white or red. Get off my lawn. 05.07.25.
May 8th, 20251996 vintage. Tasted most recently on 8.2.24 (9.6) and that bottle was slightly better. Tasted out of magnum in 2023 and that rated as highly as the previous mention (9.6). This had a really nice fill, good cork and was decanted (throwing pretty big sed). Tasted after an hour. Gorgeous and with plenty of power but just barely dialed down from 11 with this bottle. Has this exalted winery made a better bottle of red or white wine in their entire existence? Not in my experiences. 9.29.24.
1996 vintage. Tasted most recently on 8.2.24 (9.6) and that bottle was slightly better. Tasted out of magnum in 2023 and that rated as highly as the previous mention (9.6). This had a really nice fill, good cork and was decanted (throwing pretty big sed). Tasted after an hour. Gorgeous and with plenty of power but just barely dialed down from 11 with this bottle. Has this exalted winery made a better bottle of red or white wine in their entire existence? Not in my experiences. 9.29.24.
Oct 3rd, 20241996 vintage. Open but not decanted. Pretty serious sed. Tasted one hour after opening. A bit tight at that time, yet, the effort, quality and experience all up front and center. Still the best wine this property has ever made. Possibly 3-4 more years at this apex. A maggie would extend it to 5-8 years. Wow. Just wow. 8.2.24.
1996 vintage. Open but not decanted. Pretty serious sed. Tasted one hour after opening. A bit tight at that time, yet, the effort, quality and experience all up front and center. Still the best wine this property has ever made. Possibly 3-4 more years at this apex. A maggie would extend it to 5-8 years. Wow. Just wow. 8.2.24.
Aug 3rd, 2024
Might be slightly past its prime..
Still terrific though...!
Might be slightly past its prime..
Still terrific though...!