Peter Michael Winery - Les Pavots Knights Valley 2020 (750ml)
Price: $269.99
| Producer | Peter Michael Winery |
| Country | United States |
| Region | California |
| Subregion | Sonoma Coast |
| Varietal | Red Blend |
| Vintage | 2020 |
| Sku | 7146 |
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Grown on 46 acres of sloping vineyards at an elevation of almost 1,400 feet on Mount Saint Helena in Knight's Valley, "Les Pavots" translates to "The Poppies" in French. The 2019 vintage is elegantly composed of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc, and 5% Petit Verdot — aged for 18 months in French oak barrels.
Peter Michael Winery Description
The complex bouquet of blackberry, boysenberry, black cherry, crème de cassis, and dark chocolate with floral notes of dried rose petals and violets exude from the glass of the captivating, shimmering deep red-robed 2020 ‘Les Pavots’. A plush, graceful entry builds to a broad mid-palate supported by very fine tannins. Black tea, dark chocolate, graphite, caramel, and savory notes culminate in a late mid-palate burst before resolving in a long, smooth finish. This is a classy, refined Les Pavots.
James Suckling: 97 Points
This is a powerful red with blackberry, black olive and a hint of mint. Some brown sugar, too. Full-bodied and dense, with lots of fruit and velvety, plush tannins. Crushed-stone and wet-earth character, too. The higher percentage of merlot (14%) and no cabernet franc makes this unique for Les Pavots.
Wine Advocate: 95 Points
The 2020 Les Pavots is made up of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 3% Petite Verdot and includes fruit from some of the oldest vines at Peter Michael, planted in 1989. Unusually, there is no Cabernet Franc in the blend this vintage, as it was affected by the wildfire smoke. Deep ruby-purple in color, it is shy to begin, taking time to reveal pure red plums, chocolate, graphite, green bell pepper and tobacco leaves. The medium-bodied palate offers generous, alluringly herbal fruits, a luxurious, silky frame and seamless acidity, finishing long and latent. It develops dramatically in the glass, suggesting it will require a few hours in the decanter to show at its best.
Wine Spectator: 93 Points
Offers a rich, welcoming set of cocoa, singed vanilla, sweet tobacco and black tea aromas followed by mulled plum, boysenberry and black currant flavors that cruise through slowly, all carried by a velvety structure. Ends with hints of espresso crema. For the hedonist crowd. Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
Vinous: 93 Points
The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Pavots is a delicate, understated wine. The 2020 shows a bit less mid-palate density than in most years, but its balance is impeccable. Dried flowers, spice, leather, tobacco and intense are all nicely layered in this attractive, mid-weight Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The blend is, unusually, high in Cabernet Sauvignon and low in both Merlot and Cabernet Franc because of the stringent selection required in 2020.
