Les Pavots

Estate Cabernet Blend

From the Estate Vineyard in Knights Valley, Sonoma County

Les Pavots, French for “The Poppies,” was named by Lady Michael after the wild California poppies that color the landscape of the Knights Valley ranch. The vineyard is planted on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena, delivering distinct aromas and flavors that characterize our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot. Since the debut 1989 vintage, this refined Cabernet blend offers a signature profile of blueberry notes, a hint of herbs de Provence, and a wonderful expression of the full spectrum of red Bordeaux varieties.

Vintage Notes

Following some rains in January and February, the 2021 growing season was drier than normal with a slightly early budbreak and bloom. During bloom and fruit set, variable weather conditions resulted in less fruit setting which, combined with small berry size, lead to some of the lowest yields per acre in recent years. The 2021 growing season was exceptionally mild without significant heat events which allowed the fruit to ripen perfectly with harvest spanning from September 25th to October 18th. The small berries and clusters produced concentrated, rich flavors in the grapes, juice, and wine.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary 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 forty-six 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.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

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.

Vintage Notes

2020 saw the first February with no rainfall in recorded history. The rains eventually arrived with some particularly late storms: into May and even the very beginning of June which resulted in a good water profile in the soil at the beginning of the growing season. The weather during bloom was temperate and resulted in good fruit set and fairly normal yields. During most of the growing season, 2020 was fairly cool, punctuated by a series of heat spikes in late August and early September then fairly warm temperatures through harvest.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary 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 forty-nine acres, Les Pavots ascends 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.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

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.

Vintage Notes

Ample rainfall in the winter of 2019 ensured a full water soil profile to begin the growing season. Variable weather from budbreak to veraison resulted in less fruit setting than normal and one of the smallest crops in the last twenty years for Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot at the Knights Valley Estate. The summer was mild with a long ripening period of moderate heat, which helped deliver wines of extraordinary elegance and suppleness.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary 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 are grown on the cool upper slopes, with Cabernet Sauvignon and Petit Verdot below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The brilliant ruby-garnet 2019 ‘Les Pavots’ showcases an olfactory symphony of blackberry, dark chocolate, black cherry, and vanilla aromas, with supporting notes of tobacco, violets, and garrigue. A refined, elegant entry leads to a broad, graceful mid-palate with silky, fine-grained tannins, hints of black tea, blackberry pie, caramel, and cocoa powder, with a long, lingering finish. Although approachable in its youth, the 2019 ‘Les Pavots’ will reward four years of cellaring and continue to blossom for two decades.

Vintage Notes

The previous winter offered an above-average rainfall. Spring was mild and the growing conditions during the entire season were ideal, even with some heat waves in October. The bloom occurred under adequate temperature and humidity. The temperatures remained steady and warm throughout the year, without any significant heat spikes. The yields of our mountain vineyards were slightly higher than the previous vintage but remained small (3 tons/acre). After the end of veraison, a single pass of thinning facilitated the homogenization of the crop. Most of the vineyard blocks were physiologically ripe at the same time with a desirable amount of polyphenols.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount Saint Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary 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 forty nine acres, Les Pavots ascends 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.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Deep ruby in color with a red-purple rim, the 2018 ‘Les Pavots’ reveals a sophisticated bouquet of freshly blossomed violets and sweet tones of blueberry and boysenberry synchronizing with native, wild garrique and crushed stone minerality. Full-bodied and elegant, the wine offers a lavish array of flavors: blackberry pie and Albion strawberries contrast savory notes of tobacco and cigar box. Hints of cedar, vanilla bean, and black pepper lead to a long, well-structured finish. Approachable in its youth, Les Pavots provides an exemplary representation of our winery estate terroir and will continue to evolve graciously for two decades.

Vintage Notes

The 2017 growing season began with abundant rainfall, ending California’s long drought. Spring weather was cool, delaying bud break slightly and avoiding any damage from frost. Warmer weather in mid-May insured even blooming and an average sized fruit set. Vines were vigorous thanks to the winter rains. Meticulous canopy management and fruit thinning brought the crop into optimal balance. Warmer than normal conditions after veraison accelerated ripening and required judicious irrigation to mitigate dehydration of the fruit and stress on the vines. As harvest approached, the return of cooler conditions allowed the fruit to gradually reach perfect ripeness.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot clearly 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 49 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Deep ruby color with a red-purple rim, 2017 Les Pavots reveals abundant aromas of ripe black fruit and jammy black currant. The bouquet expresses nuances of vanilla bean, ‘garrigue’ and leather. Full-bodied and elegant on the palate, the wine offers generous, ripe, dried, red and black fruit flavors. The mouth feel is dense and round, with supple tannins and subtle mineral notes, loaded with blackberry, raspberry liqueur, fur and black pepper notes leading to a long finish. Approachable now, the wine provides a classic presentation of our estate’s terroir and will continue to age gracefully for two decades.

Vintage Notes

The near perfect 2016 growing season started with a warm February and early bud break. While California’s drought continued, rains were sufficient to meet the vineyard’s needs. Cool damp conditions at blooming resulted in a smaller than normal fruit set. After veraison, a single pass of green harvest brought the crop into optimal balance. Overall, the vintage was slightly cooler than average, with consistently warm and sunny conditions and only one heat spike. Moderate temperatures at harvest allowed gradual picking as each block achieved perfection, providing excellent flavor development and slightly lower potential alcohol. The vintage produced delicate, classically styled wines with firm acidity and bright fruit.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot clearly 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 49 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

2016 Les Pavots meets the eye with a near-black ruby color and deep ruby rim. The nose displays a sophisticated bouquet of fresh leather, morel mushroom, vanilla bean, black fruit, cherry, blackberry, blueberry coulis, and a stylish ‘garrigue’ touch. Fullbodied and elegant, the wine offers the same rich, ripe fruit impressions on the palate. The mouth feel is dense and round, with supple tannins and subtle mineral notes leading to a long finish. Approachable now, the wine provides a classic presentation of our estate’s terroir. It will handsomely reward four years of cellaring and continue to age gracefully for two decades.

Vintage Notes

The winter was dry, with only 75% of normal rainfall, continuing four years of drought. Unseasonably warm spring temperatures accelerated bud break by three to four weeks. While May brought welcome rain, the cool moist conditions affected the blooming and led to an uneven fruit set. The crop was small and hand thinning, to ensure even maturation, reduced the yields further. Steady warm temperatures dominated the remainder of the growing season providing ideal ripening conditions. A hot spell accelerated the pace of harvest, giving us the earliest finish date in the winery’s history. The picking decisions were crucial and meticulous sorting of the fruit resulted in wines with depth, concentration and balance.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot clearly 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 49 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Near black in color with saturated ruby and vermillion nuances, 2015 Les Pavots reveals a deep bouquet of cacao powder, dried blossoms, dried red fruit, black cherry and currant, blueberry and licorice, with nuances of cigar box, graphite, vanilla and black truffle with a stylish ‘garrigue’ touch. Extremely full-bodied, the palate echoes the nose with the same rich, ripe fruit tones and diverse spice notes. The mouth feel is dense, round and seamless, with supple tannins, savory clove and tobacco elements and beautiful ‘patina’ notes leading to a long finish with subtle mineral accents. The wine provides a classic presentation of our estate’s terroir and will age gracefully for two decades.

Vintage Notes

The winter rainfall was 70% of normal, continuing three years of drought. Unseasonably warm temperatures in early spring accelerated bud break by four weeks, then bloom through veraison benefited from moderate temperatures. Early use of drip irrigation was critical for the health of the vines. Meticulous canopy management and substantial crop thinning brought the vines into balance. Ideal Indian summer conditions allowed us to calmly harvest each block as it achieved optimal ripeness. Yields were higher than average, but due to dehydration, the skin and pulp of the berries were thicker than normal, resulting in low juice yields at the press and exceptional concentration in the wines.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot clearly 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, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

2014 Les Pavots greets the eye with a near-black ruby color and vermillion highlights. The nose has a deep bouquet of cacao powder, potpourri, black cherry, blueberry and licorice, with nuances of cedar, cigar box, black tea, graphite, vanilla, black truffle, and a stylish ‘garrigue’ touch. Extremely full-bodied and elegant, the wine offers the same rich, ripe fruit impressions on the palate. The mouth feel is dense and round, with supple tannins and earthy notes that lead to a long finish. Complex, the wine will age gracefully for two decades and provides a classic presentation of our estate’s terroir.

Vintage Notes

The 2013 growing season began with a dry spring and mild temperatures, very similar to the previous vintage. Bloom occurred evenly under excellent conditions, setting an ample crop. With the exception of one heat spike in late June, temperatures were consistently optimal, resulting in notably healthy vines. Meticulous canopy management and substantial crop thinning, brought the vines into perfect balance. From veraison to the harvest, a long Indian summer contributed to the exceptional quality of the vintage. Sunny days, followed by cool evenings allowed for even, slow ripening. No rain or large heat spikes made for berries with amazing fruit intensity and a classic varietal profile.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot clearly 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 49 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Deep dark color with saturated ruby and a vermillion nuance, 2013 Les Pavots reveals a deep bouquet of cacao powder, coffee, black cherry, blueberry and blackberry, licorice, with nuances of cedar, cigar box, cloves, Asian spices, black tea, graphite, vanilla, a stylish ‘garrigue’ touch and black truffle. Extremely full-bodied, the wine offers the same rich, ripe fruit impressions on the palate. The mouth feel is very dense and round, with elegant tannins, which lead to a long finish. Complex, the 2013 Les Pavots will age gracefully for two decades and provides a classic presentation of our estate’s terroir.

Vintage Notes

Winter and spring were wet and cold, slightly delaying bud break, flowering and fruit set. The bloom occurred in ideal weather. The climate throughout the summer was picture perfect: temperate with only moderate heat spikes. A long Indian summer of mild temperatures and sunny days was an important factor in the ripening process. Yields for the 2012 harvest were slightly higher than average for all varietals. The vintage gave us beautiful, clean, healthy grape clusters across all varietals, appellations and vineyards

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot clearly 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 49 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Deep dark color with saturated ruby color and vermillion nuance, 2012 Les Pavots reveals a deep bouquet of Cacao powder, fudge cookies, black cherry, blueberry and blackberry, licorice, with nuances of cedar, cigar box, black tea, graphite, vanilla, a stylish ‘garrigue’ touch and black truffle. Extremely full-bodied, the wine offers the same rich, ripe fruit impressions on the palate. The mouth feel is dense and round, with elegant tannins, which lead to a long finish. Complex, the 2012 Les Pavots will age gracefully for two decades and provides a classic presentation of our estate’s terroir.

Vintage Notes

The 2011 growing season started with a cool, wet spring. Our vineyards did not experience frost, but bud break was delayed. The weather from fruit set through harvest stayed even, cool and mild. This coupled with the ample spring rains allowed us to dry farm in this vintage. The cool summer also extended the growing season into November, with the fruit benefiting from the additional hang time. Harvest was later than normal. Vineyard blocks were brought in slowly as they reached optimal ripeness. Lower than normal sugar levels contributed to wines showing superb balance and depth of flavor. The vintage will show elegance and a complete expression of the Les Pavots terroir.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot clearly 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 49 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Black with a ruby red hue and crimson reflection on the rim, the 2011 Les Pavots reveals an intense bouquet of strawberry, black truffle oil, vanilla bean, blueberry and blackberry, with nuances of black currant liquor, cedar, cacao, cigar box, black tea, graphite, a stylish ‘garrigue’ touch, forest floor and cloves. Extremely full-bodied, this wine offers a potpourri feeling with the same rich, ripe fruit impressions on the palate with black truffle, tobacco, grey and white pepper notes. The mouth feel is dense and round, with a mineral background and ample elegant tannins, which leads to a long finish. The 2011 Les Pavots will benefit from another year of cellaring and will age gracefully for two decades.

Vintage Notes

Spring of 2010 was unusually cold. These unseasonable temperatures delayed bud break by a full month and slowed canopy development. Late spring winds added to these early season challenges, leading to uneven fruit set. In response, our vineyard crew conducted extensive green harvesting leaving only a small crop of the most perfect fruit on the vines. Ripening took place in mild conditions with a late burst of heat just before harvest allowing the flavors to fully develop. Though challenging, the 2010 vintage allowed us to dry-farm creating a wine with massive structure, length and elegance.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot clearly 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 49 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Saturated ruby color with a nuance of vermillion, 2010 Les Pavots reveals a deep bouquet of strawberry, black cherry, black currant, blueberry and blackberry, with nuances of cedar, cacao, cigar box, black tea, graphite, a stylish ‘garrigue’ touch, forest floor, sweet vanilla and cloves. Extremely full-bodied, this wine offers the same rich, ripe fruit impressions on the palate. The mouth feel is dense and round, with elegant tannins, which lead to a long finish. Complex, the 2010 Les Pavots will benefit from another year of cellaring for near term enjoyment and will age gracefully for a decade or more.

Vintage Notes

For the second consecutive year, winter and spring were very dry. Bud break occurred a bit late. However, bloom happened under ideal conditions in the first week of June, resulting in a very even set and moderate crop size. As the fruit matured, the weather was ideal for flavor development with only a couple of spikes of overly hot weather. The diligence of the vineyard staff kept the fruit in near perfect condition. Hand thinning trimmed the crop, reduced yields, and helped to ensure optimal ripeness. As rain approached, harvest was very intense and was completed just in time between October 6th and 14th.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot clearly 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 49 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Deep ruby red with a crimson hue, 2009 Les Pavots reveals a profound, layered bouquet of coffee, cocoa bean, black currant, strawberry, cigar box, black and red cherry, plum liqueur combined with vanilla, blueberry, subtle notes of cedar, pepper and its signature ‘garrigue’ touch. The complexity and intense character continue into the finish with a refined mouthfeel, lasting impressions of fruits, spices, truffles and tobacco on the palate and round silky tannins. 2009 Les Pavots will benefit from two years of cellaring for near term enjoyment and will age gracefully for two decades.

Vintage Notes

Winter precipitation was near normal until February, followed by a very dry spring. Unseasonably cool temperatures delayed bud break by about 10 days and slowed canopy development. Late spring wind and frost added to the early season challenges, leading to a smaller than normal crop. With diligent attention by the vineyard staff, the outcome was a positive one. Ripening took place in ideally mild conditions characterized by sharply contrasting daytime high temperatures and overnight lows. Harvest was surprisingly smooth, finishing a few days earlier than average on October 21. In the barrel, the 2008 wines displayed balance, massive structure, length and elegance.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena in Knights Valley, the distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot clearly 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 49 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2008 Les Pavots reveals a deep, layered bouquet of black cherry, licorice, black currant, blueberry pie, and blackberry combined with chocolate, vanilla, coffee, black tea, subtle spicy notes of cloves and cinnamon and its distinctive ‘garrigue’ touch. The complexity and intense character continue into the finish with a massive mouthfeel, lasting impressions on the palate and round, silky tannins. 2008 Les Pavots will benefit from three years of cellaring for near term enjoyment and will age gracefully for two decades or more.

Vintage Notes

The 2007 growing season began dry. Bud break, bloom and set occurred a bit early and very evenly. The weather was ideal for fruit development from May through harvest, with warm, but not hot days, and cool nights. This contrast of day and night temperatures is ideal for the biosynthesis of the aroma and phenolic compounds. For the Merlot, Petit Verdot, Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon, these conditions produced very even ripening without interruption. Similarly, harvest was unusually smooth, finishing a few days earlier than average on October 16. In the barrel, the 2007 wines displayed balance, massive structure, length and elegance.

Winegrowing Notes

The distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot exhibit its hillside origin on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena in Knights Valley. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago, contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine’s complexity. Spanning 49 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Almost black in color with a deep red edge, the 2007 Les Pavots reveals a profound bouquet of blueberry pie, black cherry, licorice, black currant and blackberry. Supporting notes of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, black tea, subtle spice notes of clove and cinnamon as well as its signature touch of “garrigue” complete the bouquet. On the palate, very powerful and concentrated, yet graceful, the wine confirms the same rich, ripe fruit impressions with spice and black truffle. The mouth feel is massive and round with silky tannins and hints of mocha, leading to a very long finish. This vintage will benefit from two years of cellaring and age gracefully for as long as four decades.

Vintage Notes

Winter and spring were very wet, with some hail and snow. A late spring cold snap resulted in slight frost damage, but did not affect the quality of the harvest. Bud break, bloom and set throughout the estate occurred a little bit late but very evenly. The weather was nearly ideal for fruit development from May through harvest. While there was one sharp heat spike in July, diligent attention by the vineyard staff prevented any crop damage. As the fruit matured, hand thinning carefully trimmed the yields to a moderately low level. Excellent sunny conditions and two periods of strong wind significantly accelerated the phenolic and physiologic ripening of our Merlot. Then warm and mild conditions set in, allowing us to calmly pick each micro-parcel at the peak of ripeness. The harvest finished relatively late on November 2nd.

Winegrowing Notes

The distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot exhibits its hillside origin on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena in Knights Valley. Rocky, volcanic rhyolitic soils contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine’s complexity. Spanning 23 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes, while Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Almost black in color with a deep red edge, 2006 Les Pavots reveals a profound bouquet of black cherry, licorice, black currant, blueberry pie, and blackberry, combined with chocolate, vanilla, coffee, black tea, subtle spice notes of cloves and cinnamon and its distinctive touch of “garrigue.” Very full-bodied, concentrated yet graceful, the wine confirms the same rich, ripe fruit impressions on the palate with spice and black truffle. The mouth feel is massive and round with silky tannins and hints of mocha leading to a very long finish. Will benefit from three years of cellaring and age gracefully for two decades or more.

Vintage Notes

The 2005 growing season began as a study in wildly unpredictable weather. However, the legacy of 2005 will be its perfect ripening conditions. Winter and spring were beset with heavy rain. Despite periods of rain and hail in May, bloom for red varietals was very good resulting in an evenly set crop. Just as every conceivable weather fluctuation had challenged the vines, we finally welcomed sunny and warm conditions, giving us an extended and ideal ripening season. Conditions remained virtually perfect and resulted in a smooth harvest yielding great concentrated flavors with phenolic maturity in the red varietals.

Winegrowing Notes

The distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot exhibits its hillside origin on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena in Knights Valley. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine’s complexity. Spanning 23 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes, and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Saturated ruby color with a nuance of vermillon, 2005 Les Pavots reveals an deep bouquet of black cherry, blackcurrant, blueberry and blackberry, with nuances of cedar, cacao, cigar box, black tea, graphite, a stylish ‘guarigue’ touch, forest floor, sweet vanilla and cloves. Extremely full-bodied, this wine offers the same rich, ripe fruit impressions on the palate. The mouth feel is full and round, with elegant tannins, which lead to a long finish. Complex, 2005 Les Pavots will benefit from another year of cellaring for near term enjoyment and will age gracefully for a decade or more.

Vintage Notes

Persistent heavy rains characterized winter 2004, giving way to a sustained heat spell in March. As the rains ceased for the season a second heat spike resulted in some of the earliest bloom the Peter Michael vineyards had ever wit­ nessed: some in late April. The bloom period was sunny and warm throughout May and resulted in great berry set. Following a hot, dry summer, we entered the final stages of ripening at a consistent, steady and even pace. Because of temperatures in the 90s, harvest began early: in late August, and finished midway through October.

Winegrowing Notes

The distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot exhibit its hillside origin on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena in Knights Valley. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity contribute a mineral richness. Spanning 23 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes. and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Saturated ruby color with a nuance of crimson, 2004 Les Pavots reveals an intense bouquet of black cherry, black currant, blueber­ ry and blackberry, which are interspersed with nuances of cedar, cacao, cigar box, black tea, graphite, lavender, forest floor, sweet vanilla and a touch of cloves. Very full-bodied, this wine offers the same rich ripe fruit impressions on the palate. The mouth feel is full and round, with slightly firm tannins, which lead to a long fin­ ish. 2004 Les Pavots will benefit from another year of cellaring for near term enjoyment and will age gracefully for a decade or more.

Vintage Notes

The 2003 growing season was marked by distinct variations in weather patterns. A cold and wet early spring caused early concern, but a trouble-free bloom in May resulted in excellent berry set for the Les Pavot vines. Sunny hot weather followed, dismissing earlier concerns and accelerating ripening and advanced flavors in the grape clusters. The warm weather endured with sustained hot and dry conditions, ensuring even ripening all the way to another classic harvest, commencing on October 25th.

Winegrowing Notes

The distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot exhibit its hillside origin on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena in Knights Valley. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine’s complexity. Spanning 23 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,800 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes, and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Saturated ruby with a hint of purple in color, the 2003 Les Pavots reveals a gorgeous, intense bouquet of red cherry, blackcurrant, blueberry and blackberry, interspersed with nuances of cedar, tobacco (cigar box), graphite, lavender and sweet vanilla. Very rich and full-bodied, this wine offers the same ripe fruit impressions on the palate. The mouth feel is creamy, with gorgeous velvet and slightly firm tannins, which lead to a long finish. The 2003 Les Pavots will benefit from another year of cellaring for near term enjoyment and will age gracefully for several decades.

Vintage Notes

The 2001 growing season began with the coldest spring frosts in winery history, which lowered yields by more than 1 /3. A hot May and June followed allowing the vines to "catch up." By August the weather evened out and a moderate, dry and sunny September and October brought slow sugar development, small berry size and great concentrations of flavor.

Winegrowing Notes

Ideal October weather obliged a relaxed and precise harvest. As individual vine rows within the Les Pavots vineyard attained peak maturity the fruit was hand picked in the cool of morning and brought down the mountain to the winery.The clusters were sorted by hand before destemming and individual berries were sorted before going to tank. In tank, each lot was cold soaked for almost four days before fermentation (100% natural yeast).Traditional Bordeaux vinification yielded intense color extraction and soft, round tannins. Our 2001 Les Pavots was aged in small French oak barrels for 14 months and bottled without fining or filtration. After being bottled in July 2003, this wine was aged another 9 months before release.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Fully saturated with ruby color, the 2001 Les Pavots reveals a gorgeous and intense bouquet of blueberry, blackberry, lavender, violet, black licorice and espresso coffee interspersed with nuances of tobacco (cigar box) and earthy notes (graphite). Rich and full bodied, this wine offers the same ripe fruit impressions on the palate accentuated by rich silky tannins and an impressively long finish. The 200 I Les Pavots is ready for near-term enjoyment yet has the richness, extract and structure to age gracefully for well over a decade.

Vintage Notes

The distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot exhibits its llside origin on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena in Knights Valley. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine's complexity. Spanning 23 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,800 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below.Grapes are handpicked in late October and then cold soaked in a tank for almost four days before fermentation.Traditional Bordeaux vinification fermentation contributes to the intense color extraction and soft, round tannins. Our Les Pavots was aged in small French oak barrels for 20 months. Bottled in July 2002, this wine was aged for 8 months before release.

Winegrowing Notes

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2000 Les Pavots is quick to show its signature aromas of blueberry, coffee, sweet tobacco, vanilla and red cedar join a ripe currant extract.The tannins offer enough structure for aging while sustaining an enjoyable full body. This wine will mature for the next 5-10 years.

Vintage Notes

The distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot exhibits its Hillside origin on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena in Knights Valley. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine's complexity. Spanning 23 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,800 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below. Grapes are handpicked in late October and then cold soaked in a tank for almost four days before fermentation. Traditional Bordeaux vinification fermentation contributes to the intense color extraction and soft, round tannins. Our 1999 Les Pavots was aged in small French oak barrels for 24 months and bottled without fining or filtration. After being bottled in November 2001, this wine was aged for 5 months before release.

Winegrowing Notes

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Aromas of cassis, blueberry, lavender and coffee interspersed with oak nuances of cedar and tobacco. Rich, ripe fruit impres­ sions on the palate accentuated by silky, yet assertive tannins. The 1999 Les Pavots possesses a unique balance, full body, concen­ trated extract and a fine finish. Les Pavots is a fusion of traditional French and neo-classical Californian winemaking techniques. The wine is ready for near term enjoyment and has the richness, extract and structure for 5 to 7 more years of aging. .

Vintage Notes

The distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of abernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot exhibits its hillside origin on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena in Knights Valley. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine's complexity. Spanning 23 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1600 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below. Grapes were handpicked in late October and then cold soaked in a tank for almost four days before fermentation.Traditional Bordeaux vinification fermentation contribute to the intense color extraction and soft, round tannins. Our 1997 Les Pavots was aged in small French oak barrels for 20 months and bottled without fining nor filtration. After being bottled in June 1999 this wine was aged for 10 months prior to release.

Winegrowing Notes

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Aromas of cassis, blueberry, lavender and coffee interspersed with oak nuances of cedar and tobacco. Rich, ripe fruit impressions on the palate accentuated by silky, yet assertive tannins.The 1997 possesses a unique balance, full body, concentrated extract and a fine finish. Les Pavots is a fusion of traditional French and neoclassical Californian winemaking techniques. The wine is ready for near term enjoyment and has the richness, extract and structure for five to seven more years of aging.

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Vintage Notes

The distinctive aromas and flavors of our proprietary blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot exhibit its hillside origin on the slopes of Mt. St. Helena in Knights Valley. Rocky, rhyolitic soils created through volcanic activity millennia ago contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine's complexity. Spanning 23 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1800 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes and Cabernet Sauvignon grows just below. Grapes were handpicked in late October and then cold soaked in a holding tank for almost four days. Extended skin contact after fermentation contributed intense color extraction and soft, round tannins. Our 1996 Les Pavots was aged in small French oak barrels for 20 months. After being bottled in June 1998 this wine was aged for 10 months prior to release.

Winegrowing Notes

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Aromas of cassis, blueberry, lavender and coffee interspersed with oak nuances of cedar and tobacco. Rich, ripe fruit impres­ sions on the palate accentuated by silky, yet assertive tannins. The 1996 possesses a unique balance, full body, concentrated extract and a fine finish. The wine is ready for near term enjoyment and has the richness, extract and structure for five to seven more years of aging.

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Les Pavots Vineyard

Rocky, perfectly drained soil couples with an ideal south-facing exposure and just enough heat to allow Bordeaux varieties to ripen perfectly.