99 Points
97 Points
97 Points
96 Points
96 Points

Peter Michael Les Pavots 2021

SKU: PMLP202110 UCAU

$449.99

Unit price: per

In 1982, Sir Peter Michael and Lady Michael acquired 630 acres of volcanic ridges on Mount St. Helena in the Knights Valley. Inspired by the vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux, they created wines rooted in their terroir, designed to stand the test of time.

Grown on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of their blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot display their hillside origins.

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Critic Scores

99 // The Drinks Business

"(Knights Valley AVA, Sonoma County; 62% Cabernet Sauvignon; 25% Cabernet Franc; 7% Merlot; 6% Petit Verdot; aged for 18 months in around 70% new French oak barrels; 15.8% alcohol; tasted with Robert Fiore, the winemaker since 2020, over Zoom at the CVBG press tasting; the highest tannic levels since 2013). In the shadow of Mount Saint Helena. From a mountain vineyard (290-600 metres). Intense yet lithe and lifted, energetic and bright, crisp and fresh. Glossy, creamy fine-grained tannins nicely structuring the fruit, gently coaxing it into a quite narrow frame in build around a well-defined core. Lush and intensely floral. Iris. Lily. Pink rose petals, with more aeration. Gladioli. A little wild herbal note. There’s amazing intensity to the fruit. Dark, rich, plump and yet crunchy and juicy red and much darker berry and stone fruits. Damson and dark plums, black cherries and brambles, mulberries too. With aeration in the glass the cassis arrives. Cedar and graphite in equal measure. Truly spectacular, above all in this vintage. - Colin Hay"

97 // Vinous

"The 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Pavots is one of the most elegant and classy wines I have tasted from Peter Michael's Knights Valley estate. Deep, layered and substantial, the 2021 holds considerable promise. In most vintages, the Pavots is more aromatically expressive, but today it is quite closed. Dark red plum, mocha, spice, new leather and licorice all build in this embryonic Cabernet Sauvignon. In this tasting, the 2021 needed considerable decanting to show its textural breadth. It’s a gorgeous wine in every way. - Antonio Galloni"

97 // The Wine Independent

"The blackberry and sage character comes through clearly, with some orange blossoms, graphite, dried tomatoes, green tobacco and stone. A rich and juicy red with lots of berry and chocolate character, with a full body and layered rich tannins. It’s flavorful yet hemmed in with firm yet rounded tannins. Muscular. 62% cabernet sauvignon, 25% cabernet franc, 7% merlot, and 6% petit verdot. This needs four or five years to come together and show its true self. Best after 2028."

96 // Jane Anson

"Concentrated, luscious plum, greengage, garrigue, sage, bitter black chocolate, fennel, sharp mint blast on the finish. A relatively dry growing season without huge heat spikes, giving low yields with small berries and some of the highest phenolics since 2023. Robert Fiore winemaker since 2020, Luc Morlet consultant. All mountain fruit. First plantings of these vines in 1982, vineyard is planted on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena, 70% new French oak for ageing, hard to ignore that flash of heat. If you are going anywhere near this soon, think of at least a 6 hour carafe."

96 // The Wine Independent

"Deep garnet-purple in color, the 2021 Les Pavots needs a lot of shaking and swirling to bring out notes of fresh blackcurrants, black raspberries, and garrigue plus nuances of violets, crushed rocks, and wild sage. The medium to full-bodied palate is taut, with muscular black fruit and savory sparks framed by firm, grainy tannins and well-knit freshness, finishing long and mineral-laced. This should be very long-lived! The blend is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, and 6% Petit Verdot. 2,769 cases were made.Among the original Knights Valley plantings dating back to 1989, Les Parvots is planted to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc, Petit Verdot, Sauvignon Blanc, and Sémillon. Located at 900-1400 feet, this is a warmer site with southern exposure. It is generally composed of rocky volcanic-origin Rhyolite-based soils. Labels coming from here include the Les Pavots and L’Esprit des Pavots red wines as well as L’Apres Midi, which is a blend of Sauvignon Blanc (1/3 is Musque clone) and a little Sémillon. - Lisa Perrotti-Brown"

Product Details

Red

2021

Cabernet Blend

Peter Michael

Napa County, California, USA

15 Plus Years

Cork

14.5%

750ml (Bottle)

Available for Purchase

Estimated dispatch from Warehouse: Monday, July 07, 2025

Tax included. Shipping calculated at checkout.

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Description

In 1982, Sir Peter Michael and Lady Michael acquired 630 acres of volcanic ridges on Mount St. Helena in the Knights Valley. Inspired by the vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux, they created wines rooted in their terroir, designed to stand the test of time. Today, with the support of their son Paul and his wife, Peter Michael Winery remains true to its founding principles: high-altitude vineyards, classic winemaking, and limited production.
Grown on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of their blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot display their hillside origins. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine’s complexity. Spanning 46 acres, the red Les Pavots blocks ascend to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot below.
The opaque, garnet-black 2021 Les Pavots bursts from the glass with a compelling blend of black currant, blueberry crumble, black olive, leather and blackberry pie with accents of dried rose petal, garrigue, clove and black pepper. The powerful entry gives way to an abundance of silky, high-quality, fine-grained tannins and a mid-palate burst which resolves in an elegant, gracefully soft finish. The 2021 Les Pavots is a wine of pedigree that will age well for over two decades.
Tasting Profile

Light

Full

Low Tannin

Tannic

Sweet

Dry

Low Acidity

High Acidity

Aroma:

Blueberry, Boysenberry, Herbal

Palate:

Blue Fruits, Cassis, Graphite

Food Pairings:

Pork

Red Meat

Tasting Notes

Description

In 1982, Sir Peter Michael and Lady Michael acquired 630 acres of volcanic ridges on Mount St. Helena in the Knights Valley. Inspired by the vineyards of Burgundy and Bordeaux, they created wines rooted in their terroir, designed to stand the test of time. Today, with the support of their son Paul and his wife, Peter Michael Winery remains true to its founding principles: high-altitude vineyards, classic winemaking, and limited production.

Grown on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of their blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot display their hillside origins. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine’s complexity. Spanning 46 acres, the red Les Pavots blocks ascend to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot below.

The opaque, garnet-black 2021 Les Pavots bursts from the glass with a compelling blend of black currant, blueberry crumble, black olive, leather and blackberry pie with accents of dried rose petal, garrigue, clove and black pepper. The powerful entry gives way to an abundance of silky, high-quality, fine-grained tannins and a mid-palate burst which resolves in an elegant, gracefully soft finish. The 2021 Les Pavots is a wine of pedigree that will age well for over two decades.

Tasting Profile

Light
Full

Low Tannin
Tannic

Sweet
Dry

Low Acidity
High Acidity

Aroma:

Blueberry, Boysenberry, Herbal

Palate:

Blue Fruits, Cassis, Graphite

Food Pairings:

Pork

Red Meat

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