2016 | Peter Michael | Peter Michael L`Esprit des Pavots

Very deep garnet-purple colored, it's scented of black cherries, warm blackberries and plums with nuances of spice box and cigar box plus a hint of potpourri. The palate is medium to full-bodied, soft, plush and juicy in the mouth, with loads of earthy sparks on the long, fruity finish.

Reviews:

• Jeb Dunnuck: Leading off the Bordeaux Blends, the 2016 L'Esprit des Pavots offers impressive amounts of black fruits, tobacco, cedarwood, coffee bean, and leafy herb-like aromas and flavors. It’s full-bodied, has a deep, layered texture, ripe tannins, and plenty of upfront, sexy fruit. It’s also incredibly complex as well as a brilliant wine.

• James Suckling: A layered and beautiful red with blackberry, blackcurrant and black-truffle character. Full body and round, soft tannins, giving a broad and mouth-filling texture. Complete and beautiful.

Producer Information

Peter Michael Winery is a highly regarded wine producer located in northern California, on the border of Napa and Sonoma counties in the Knights Valley AVA. The winery produces a number of single-vineyard wines including Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blends, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, and Sauvignon Blanc – Semillon blends. The winery was established by Peter Michael and his wife Margaret in 1982. Michael's background was in technology and had founded the digital picture company Quantel in the UK in the early 1970s. He arrived in California in the early days of the Silicon Valley tech boom and soon invested in a winery. The winery released its first vintage in 1987 and has since enjoyed a high level of critical acclaim. Three of Michael's wines have ranked in the top 10 of Wine Spectator's Top 100, and since the 1995 vintage, 14 wines have been rated 98 points or higher by US wine critic Robert Parker. Peter Michael's property in the Knights Valley AVA is at a much higher altitude than many others in the area, with vineyards reaching as high as 2000 feet (610m) above sea level. The result is cooler growing temperatures, which allows for wines in the more restrained old world style. In 2006, Peter Michael began planting a vineyard in Fort Ross-Seaview AVA in Sonoma County. In 2009 added an Oakville AVA vineyard in Napa Valley. Peter Michael Winery remains a family-owned estate that is now run by Peter's son Paul and wife Emily (the inspiration for the Belle-Fille Chardonnay label and vineyard). Only a small number of cases reach the retail market as the majority are set aside for the mailing list and long-term restaurant clientele.

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