2014 Peter Michael Les Pavots California Red

2014 Peter Michael Les Pavots

98 JS

Featured Review

Incredible aromas of pine tree, mineral, cigar box and tobacco leaf but then it turns to currants and black truffle. Forest fruit and forest floor. Soya. Full body, round and decadent with a combination of ripe fruit and earth, spice and long finish. The uniqueness of Pavot is streaming here. Drink or hold James Suckling

James Suckling | 98 JS

The 2014 Proprietary Red Les Pavots (3,570 cases) is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot and 5% Petit Verdot aged in mostly Taransaud barrels with a small helping of Darnajou thrown in. This wine is fabulous in the vintage, although certainly less profoundly concentrated and extracted, as well as structured, compared to the 2013, which was off-the-charts fabulous. This is a brilliant wine, charming, with front-end loaded plum, blackcurrant and black raspberry fruit interwoven with graphite, tar and truffle notes. The wine has sumptuous texture, sweet, velvety tannin, and a long, full-bodied finish. It should drink well for at least two decades.

Robert Parker | 95 RP

The 2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Pavots is striking, but it is also going to need at least a few years to come into its own, as it is presently very tightly wound and reticent. Grilled herb, smoke, tobacco, licorice, game and incense overtones give the bouquet tons of depth. On the palate, though, the wine is quite a bit less forthcoming. Readers will have to be patient. In 2014, Les Pavots is 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc, 13% Merlot, and 5% Petit Verdot.

Vinous Media | 94 VM

Well-centered on rich, dark berry fruit that is firm and direct, with subtle flavors filling in the gaps and ending with tannins that give the flavors traction and structure. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Drink now through 2034. 3,570 cases made.

Wine Spectator | 93 WS

The 2014 growing season was driven by high temperatures, leading to an early bud-break. Irrigation was necessary in this drought year, and although yields were high the grapes had low juice at the press, with high concentration. This wine makes a great companion to bistecca alla Fiorentina simply dressed with black pepper, salt and olive oil, with a good char on the crust. It's liquorous and herbal, with a layer of wild raspberries, a juicy core and velvety tannins, resulting in a balanced composition.Drinking Window 2019 - 2030

Decanter | 92 DEC

Type of Wine	California Red : Whether it's Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Syrah or Zinfandel, Californian red wine producers have a lovely habit of taking a varietal and expressing its essence in a unique, never before seen way. From Napa Valley to the regions south of Los Angeles, there's a red for everyone - and it's never too late to start exploring.
Varietal	Proprietary Blend : Proprietary Blend is a general term used to indicate that a wine is comprised of multiple grape varietals which are either “proprietary” to the winery or is blended and does not meet the required maximum or minimum percentage of a particular varietal. This also is the case for the grape’s place of origin, especially for region, appellation or vineyard designated wines. There are endless examples of blended wines which are labeled as “Proprietary Blend” and in conjunction with each region’s stipulated wine laws and regulations makes for a vast blanket for wines to fall into. Perhaps the simplest example is California; if a wine is to be labeled as Napa Valley Cabernet Sauvignon, it is required to have at least 75% of the varietal (Cabernet Sauvignon) and 85% of the fruit must be cultivated from the Napa Valley wine district. If the wine does not meet the requirements, it is then labeled as Proprietary Blend.
Country	US : As one of the most prolific and innovative wine regions in the world, America is a joy to explore. Most wine connoisseurs will agree that the nation's finest and most compelling wines are being produced today, which means that we have front-row seats to one of the most inspirational stories in wine history. While other regions tend to focus on specific wine styles and have somewhat strict rules as to which varietals you could grow, areas like California have few such restrictions in place. As a result, creative visionaries behind America's most reputable estates have been able to develop compelling, unique, and innovative styles, with a level of terroir expression that rivals even France's largest giants.
Region	California : With a history of wine production that dates back to the 18th century, California currently sits as one of the world's most prolific and reputable wine regions. With an area as vast as California, you can expect a colorful collage of terroir profiles, a series of microclimates, and micro-environments that give the wine a unique, memorable appeal. The region's produce is far from homogenized in that sense, and it would take you countless hours to sample all of it. While the region boasts scars from the Prohibition era, it went through what can only be described as a viticultural Renaissance sometime after the 1960s. At that point, California went from a port-style, sweet wine region to a versatile and compelling competitor on the world market. Today, no matter which way your taste in wine leans, you can find a new favorite producer among California's most talented. Notable sub-regions include legendary names like Napa Valley and Sonoma County, places that any wine lover would die to visit. California's quintessential warm climate allows for incredibly ripe fruit expressions, a style that provides a stark contrast to Old World-inspired, earthy classics. Even where inspiration was clearly taken from staple French appellations, Californian winemakers put their own unique spin on the wine.
Subregion	Sonoma County
Appellation	Knights Valley
Climat/Vineyard	Les Pavots Vineyard