L’Après-Midi

'L’Après-Midi' (The Afternoon) was named in honor of the pleasures of a slow and lazy afternoon, which according to Sir Peter is a good time to start enjoying this wine. This is one of our two estate-grown Sauvignon Blanc/Sémillon blends. The grapes are grown alongside our red Bordeaux varietals within Les Pavots Vineyard, benefiting from the steep slopes, excellent drainage, and cool air at altitude. The wine is whole-cluster-pressed and then naturally fermented in a barrel, forgoing a second malolactic fermentation to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. It is predominantly made from Sauvignon Blanc, with just a touch of Sémillon.

Vintage Notes

After December brought a respectable amount of rain, January and February were fairly dry, and budbreak occurred slightly earlier than normal. Cool and rainy weather in March, April, and the beginning of May resulted in less fruit setting and a lower-yielding year, very similar to 2021. While July was moderate, June and August both witnessed triple-digit heat spikes. The early September heat wave saw one day with temperatures over 110 degrees F (43 degrees C) in the last two Sauvignon Blanc blocks to be harvested. However, rain soon followed, and temperatures dropped significantly, allowing the Sémillon to gradually ripen to perfection in early October. The Sauvignon Blanc harvest commenced on August 25 and finished on September 7, and the Sémillon harvest was from October 4 to 11.

Winegrowing Notes

The fruit for ‘L’Après-Midi’ is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, the whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in a barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lees for nine months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The light gold 2022 ‘L’Après-Midi’ rises from the glass with an array of lemon and orange blossoms, jasmine, pear, and yellow peach with flourishes of baking spices and lemon curd. A bright, expressive entry with juicy, well-integrated acidity gives way to a plush mouthfeel with apricot, passion fruit, and vanilla cream highlights. The exuberant 2022 ‘L’Après-Midi’ finishes with notes of mango, lemon zest, and lime blossom.

Vintage Notes

After December brought a respectable amount of rain, January and February were fairly dry, and budbreak occurred slightly earlier than normal. Cool and rainy weather in March, April, and the beginning of May resulted in less fruit setting and a lower-yielding year, very similar to 2021. While July was moderate, June and August both witnessed triple-digit heat spikes. The early September heat wave saw one day with temperatures over 110 degrees F (43 degrees C) in the last two Sauvignon Blanc blocks to be harvested. However, rain soon followed, and temperatures dropped significantly, allowing the Sémillon to gradually ripen to perfection in early October. The Sauvignon Blanc harvest commenced on August 25 and finished on September 7, and the Sémillon harvest was from October 4 to 11.

Winegrowing Notes

The fruit for ‘L’Après-Midi’ is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, the whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in a barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lees for nine months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The light gold 2022 ‘L’Après-Midi’ rises from the glass with an array of lemon and orange blossoms, jasmine, pear, and yellow peach with flourishes of baking spices and lemon curd. A bright, expressive entry with juicy, well-integrated acidity gives way to a plush mouthfeel with apricot, passion fruit, and vanilla cream highlights. The exuberant 2022 ‘L’Après-Midi’ finishes with notes of mango, lemon zest, and lime blossom.

Vintage Notes

Following some rain in January and February, the remainder of the 2021 growing season was dry, and the soil profiles in our Knights Valley Estate vineyards were drier than normal. This contributed to a budbreak and bloom that occurred slightly earlier than normal. Compared to 2020, the Sauvignon Blanc set smaller and fewer clusters, resulting in a lower-yielding year. Although most of the summer had moderate temperatures, there were some heat spikes in mid-June and early July. Despite the early budbreak, the ripening slowed to allow for fairly normal harvest-starting dates for the Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon; however, the smaller clusters compressed the overall picking window for the Sauvignon Blanc. Harvest spanned from August 31 to September 9 for the Sauvignon Blanc, and from September 25 to October 5 for the Sémillon.

Winegrowing Notes

The fruit for ‘L’Après-Midi’ is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, the whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in a barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for nine months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2021 ‘L’Après-Midi’ shimmers a pale, light gold in the glass as the bouquet of lime zest, lemon curd, pear tart, and gooseberry mixes with accents of jasmine and baking spices. A lively, juicy entry leads to flavors of fresh peach, grapefruit, apricot, and guava. The plush, textured mouthfeel frames this medium- to full-bodied wine, which finishes with accents of lemon meringue pie, acacia honey, and key lime. The 2021 ‘L’Après-Midi’ will continue to blossom in bottle for several years but is also approachable in its youth.

Vintage Notes

For the Knights Valley, 2020 was an overall cooler, even growing season punctuated with a series of heat spikes in August and over Labor Day in September, which helped ripen the fruit beautifully. The year also 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. Nonetheless, the Sauvignon Blanc fruit set at the estate was excellent, resulting in fuller clusters than average. Harvest for the Sauvignon Blanc spanned from September 2 to 21. The later-ripening Sémillon was harvested on September 30 and October 10.

Winegrowing Notes

The fruit for ‘L’Après-Midi’ is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, the whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in a barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for nine months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2020 ‘L’Après-Midi’ is visually compelling with a translucent, silver color accented by a bright, pale golden hue. The bouquet is reminiscent of neroli, expressing vine and orange blossom along with a vibrant oyster shell and granitic minerality heightened by fresh lime, lemon fruit, and gooseberry, with a hint of pine needle and verbena. The flavors are introduced with a touch of freshness and glycerol, carrying elegant white spring flowers—jasmine and white vine rose with a resounding array of fruit, Vosges lemon candy, gooseberry, grapefruit to mandarin, and guava. The finish is balanced, precise, mineral-driven, and elegant, revealing white currant, apricot, acacia honey, and quince paste. The 2020 ‘L’Après-Midi’ will benefit from several years of cellaring to develop further complexity and express the originality of the vintage.

Vintage Notes

While the winter of 2019 was wet with generous amounts of rainfall, the rocky, volcanic soil, and subsoils of our estates were able to drain efficiently, releasing the excessive moisture content in the soil. From the physiological steps of bud break to veraison, the temperatures were variable with some lows and highs. The subsequent long and quite mild summer was ideal to preserve freshness and finesse. The yields were average, but picking decisions and proper sorting were critical to achieving wines of balance, ripeness, generosity, and elegance.

Winegrowing Notes

The name translates to 'The Afternoon'. The fruit for L’Après-Midi is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for 9 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Visually compelling with a translucent, silver color accented by a bright, pale golden hue. The bouquet is reminiscent of neroli, expressing vine and orange blossom along with a vibrant oyster shell and granitic minerality heightened by fresh lime and lemon fruit, and gooseberry with a hint of pine needle and verbena. The flavors are introduced with a touch of freshness and glycerol, carrying elegant white spring flowers – jasmine and white vine rose with a resounding array of fruit, Vosges lemon candy, gooseberry, grapefruit to mandarin petite grain, bitter orange and Muscat and guava. The finish is balanced, precise, mineral-driven, and elegant, revealing white currant, apricot, acacia honey, and quince paste. The 2019 L’Après-Midi will benefit from several years of cellaring to develop further complexity and express the originality of the vintage.

Vintage Notes

The 2018 growing season began with abundant winter rainfall. Spring weather was cool and blooming, while delayed a bit, took place in almost perfect conditions resulting in a generous fruit set. The vines were vigorous thanks to the winter rains. Aggressive canopy management and fruit thinning brought the crop into optimal balance. Summer temperatures were moderate with no severe heat spikes. An extended Indian summer allowed our Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon to gradually reach perfect ripeness. The moderate temperatures permitted a gradual harvest, resulting in an elegant, bountiful vintage of L’Après-Midi with classic flavors.

Winegrowing Notes

The name translates to “The Afternoon.” The fruit for L’Après-Midi is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for 9 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by mineral, vine blossom, yellow nettle blossom, honeysuckle, white vine rose, hawthorn, lemon, lime, white peach, completed by acacia honey and candied anise. Rich, balanced, and elegant, the zesty flavors are reminiscent of the aromas with additional guava, Williams pear, Mirabelle plum and fresh almond notes. The strong mineral background, a stamp from our terroir, balances the overall richness and gives superb refinement. The finish is layered, extremely long and elegant. The 2018 L’Après-Midi will benefit from three years of cellaring and will age gracefully for a decade.

Vintage Notes

The 2017 growing season began with abundant rainfall, ending California’s long drought. Spring weather was cool but dry, resulting in an extended blooming period and some shatter. Vines were vigorous thanks to the winter rains and aggressive canopy management and fruit thinning brought the crop into optimal balance. Warmer than normal conditions after veraison accelerated ripening leading to an early start of harvest. A return of cooler conditions allowed our Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon to gradually reach perfect ripeness. Picking was completed on the last day of September with a moderately sized harvest, resulting in elegant vintage of L’Après-Midi with a distinctive exotic edge.

Winegrowing Notes

The name translates to “The Afternoon.” The fruit for L’Après-Midi is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for 9 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2017 L’Après-Midi is a superb expression of our estate terroir. Intense and exotic on the nose, the bouquet exhibits spring flowers, honeysuckle, iris, pink roses, citrus, and passion fruit completed by acacia honey. The mouthfeel is balanced, rich and elegant with zesty flavors reminiscent of the aromas with addition of bergamot, greengage, pastry elements, and subtle notes of toasted almonds. Present now, the signature minerality will become more pronounced with age. The finish is layered, gourmand, and extremely long and elegant. Although the wine is already accessible, it will age gracefully for a decade.

Vintage Notes

The near perfect 2016 growing season started early with a warm, dry spring. While California’s drought continued, rains were sufficient to meet the vineyard’s needs. Ideal conditions in May produced even blooming and an excellent fruit set. A green harvest brought the crop load to optimal balance. Overall, the vintage was slightly cooler than average, with consistently warm and sunny conditions and only one heat spike. A long Indian summer gave us excellent ripening and flavor development in all varietals. Moderate temperatures at harvest allowed gradual picking as each block achieved perfection, yielding a bountiful crop of Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon, and wines of uncommon depth and concentration.

Winegrowing Notes

The name translates to “The Afternoon.” The fruit for L’Après-Midi is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for 8 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by mineral, vine blossom, yellow nettle blossom, honeysuckle, white vine rose, hawthorn, lemon, lime, white peach, completed by acacia honey and candied anise. Rich, balanced, and elegant, the zesty flavors are reminiscent of the aromas with additional guava, Williams pear, Mirabelle plum and fresh almond notes. The strong mineral background, a stamp from our terroir, balances the overall richness and gives superb refinement. The finish is layered, extremely long and elegant. The 2016 L’Après-Midi will benefit from three years of cellaring and will age gracefully for a decade or more.

Vintage Notes

The winter was dry, with only 75% of normal rainfall, continuing four years of drought. Unseasonably warm temperatures accelerated bud break for all varietals by three to four weeks. While May brought welcome rain, the cool moist conditions extended the blooming period and led to an uneven fruit set. Steady warm temperatures dominated the remainder of the growing season providing ideal ripening conditions. Multiple green harvests were performed to balance the crop load. A surge of hot temperatures at the end accelerated the pace of harvest, giving us the earliest finish date in the history of the winery. Meticulous sorting of the fruit resulted in wines with depth, concentration and balance.

Winegrowing Notes

The name translates to “The Afternoon.” The fruit for L’Après-Midi is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation is conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for 8 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2015 L’Après-Midi is a superb expression of our estate terroir. Intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by passion fruit, mangosteen, guava, yellow nettle blossom, honeysuckle, lemon, lime, white peach and white currant with touches of dry honey and candied anise. Rich and zesty, the flavors are reminiscent of the aromas with additional fresh almond and nougat notes. The strong mineral background, a stamp of our Knight Valley Estate, balances the overall richness, giving a superb refinement. The finish is layered, very long and elegant. The wine will benefit from two years of cellaring and will age gracefully for a decade or more.

Vintage Notes

The winter was dry with only 70% of normal rainfall, continuing three years of drought. Unseasonably warm temperatures in early spring accelerated bud break by three to four weeks. The growing season, bloom through veraison, benefited from moderate temperatures. While the dry conditions aided the evenness of the fruit set, early use of drip irrigation was critical for the health of the vines. Multiple green harvests were performed to balance the crop load. Ideal Indian summer conditions allowed us to calmly harvest each plot as it achieved optimal ripeness. While yields were higher than average, the skins and pulps of the berries were thicker than normal due to dehydration, resulting in low juice yields and exceptional concentration in the wines.

Winegrowing Notes

The name translates to “The Afternoon.” The fruit for L’Après-Midi is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots Vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation is conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for 8 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Very intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by mineral, passion fruit, mangosteen, guava, yellow nettle blossom, honeysuckle, lemon, lime, white peach and white currant with touches of dry honey and candied anise. Rich and zesty, the flavors are reminiscent of the aromas with additional fresh almond and nougat notes. The strong mineral background, a stamp of our Knight Valley Estate, balances the overall richness, giving a superb refinement. The finish is layered, very long and elegant. The wine will benefit from two years of cellaring and will age gracefully for a decade or more. The 2014 L’Après-Midi is an unusual exotic expression of our Knights Valley Estate terroir.

Vintage Notes

A warm and dry spring led to a remarkable 2013 vintage. Canopy vigor was full, which helped protect the clusters throughout flowering and fruit set. Unwavering temperatures, with the exception of one heat spike mid summer, allowed for consistent veraison throughout the Sauvignon Blanc vineyard. An earlier harvest than we have seen in years allowed the vineyard crew time to bring in the fruit at a measured pace. Overall, 2013 shows unbelievable structure and balance with optimal fruit development and exceptional quality.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown along side of our Les Pavots Bordeaux red varietals, the Sauvignon Blanc for L’Après-Midi has taken to the cool slopes of Mount St. Helena. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed, and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lees for eight months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by mineral, jasmine, vine blossom, yellow nettle blossom, honeysuckle, lemon, lime, white peach and white currant; completed by touches of dry honey and candied anise. Rich and zesty, the flavors are reminiscent of the aromas with additional papaya, passion fruit, fresh almond, nougat and mineral notes. The strong mineral background, a stamp of our property, balances the overall richness, giving a superb refinement. The finish is layered, very long and elegant. The wine will benefit from two years of cellaring and will age gracefully for a decade or more. The 2013 L’Après-Midi is a superb expression of our Knights Valley Estate terroir.

Vintage Notes

Winter and spring were wet and cold, delaying bud break, flowering and fruit set by two weeks. The bloom occurred in ideal weather. The climate throughout the summer was picture perfect: temperate with only a few 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. Our plots of Sauvignon Blanc ripened at different speeds and expressed their unique “terroir” personalities.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown along side of our Les Pavots Bordeaux red varietals, the Sauvignon Blanc for L’Après-Midi has taken to the cool slopes of Mount St. Helena. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lees for 8 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2012 L’Après-Midi is a superb expression of our estate terroir. Intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by mineral, white and yellow spring flowers, honeysuckle, hawthorn, white currant blossom, lily of the valley, lemon, lime, white peach, and gooseberry completed by touches of acacia honey and candied anise. Rich and zesty, the flavors are reminiscent of the aromas with additional fresh almond notes. The strong mineral background, a stamp of the estate, balances the overall richness, giving a superb refinement. The finish is layered, very long and elegant. The wine will benefit from another year of cellaring and will age gracefully for a decade.

Vintage Notes

Winter and spring were unusually wet and cold, delaying bud break, flowering and fruit-set by a full month. Cool, windy weather at bloom resulted in a fair amount of shatter, substantially reducing the yields. Temperatures throughout the summer remained very mild with no heat spikes. We responded with strict quality decisions, including multiple passes through the vineyard to sustain manicured fruit position, rigorous canopy management and careful crop thinning. In the end, Mother Nature rewarded us with just the right amount of perfectly ripe grapes per vine. During the 2011 vintage, our vineyards were entirely dry-farmed.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown along side of our Les Pavots Bordeaux red varietals, the Sauvignon Blanc for L’Après-Midi has taken to the cool slopes of Mount St. Helena. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lees for 8 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The 2011 L’Après-Midi is a superb expression of our estate’s terroir. Intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by honeysuckle, hawthorn, gooseberry, lime, white flesh peach, William pear and dried apricot, completed by touches of acacia and candied anise, greengage, quince and wet stone. Rich and zesty, the flavors are reminiscent of the aromas and the mouth feel is seamless. The strong mineral background, a stamp of the estate, balances the overall richness, giving a superb refinement. The finish is layered, very long and elegant. Built to age, the wine is already revealing itself.

Vintage Notes

Winter and spring were wet and cold, delaying bud break, flowering and fruit-set by three weeks. Cool windy weather at bloom resulted in a fair amount of shatter, substantially reducing the yields. Temperatures throughout the summer were the coolest of the last decade. To manage these challenges, we made strict quality decisions, making multiple passes through the vineyard to sustain manicured fruit position, canopy management and careful crop thinning. In the end, Mother Nature rewarded us with just the right amount of perfectly ripe grapes per vine. During this vintage, our vineyards were dry-farmed.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown along side of our Les Pavots Bordeaux red varietals, the Sauvignon Blanc for L’Après-Midi has taken to the cool slopes of Mount St. Helena. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lees for 8 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by spring flowers, honeysuckle, lily, vine blossom, Reine claude plum, lemon, lime, apricot, grapefruit, honey, and minerals. The rich and delicate flavors follow seamlessly from the aroma. Layered, elegant and very long, the estate’s signature wet stone minerality balances the richness lending a superb refinement to the finish. 2010 L’Après-Midi is already revealing itself as a superb expression of our estate’s terroir and displays characteristics similar to that of the superb wines of Pessac-Léognan in Bordeaux.

Vintage Notes

Winter and spring were very dry. Both bud break and bloom occurred a bit late and resulted in a slightly uneven set. This coupled with lingering effects of frost the previous year made for a smaller than normal crop. As the fruit matured, the weather was ideal for the flavor development with only a couple spikes of overly hot weather. Hand thinning carefully trimmed the crop for even ripeness and further reduced the yields. Harvest started later than normal. Multiple picking passes insured that we captured the peak expression of the terroir.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown along side of our Les Pavots Bordeaux red varietals, the Sauvignon Blanc for L’Après-Midi has taken to the cool slopes of Mount St. Helena. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for 8 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Very intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by forest spring flowers, honeysuckle, lily, acacia, orange blossom, with white peach, lemon, lime, William pear, grapefruit, honey, minerals. The rich and delicate, zesty flavors follow seamlessly from the aroma. Layered, elegant and very long, the estate’s signature wet stone minerality balances the richness lending a superb refinement to the finish. Build to age, the 2009 L’Après-Midi is already revealing itself as a superb expression our estate’s terroir.

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 damage necessitated extensive repruning. These early season challenges led to a smaller than normal crop, which we further hand thinned to one cluster per shoot. Ripening took place in ideally mild conditions characterized by sharply contrasting daytime high temperatures and overnight lows. The reduced yields allowed harvest to begin early. Although our Sauvignon Blanc crop was just over half of normal, the fruit was fully ripe, balanced and concentrated.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown alongside of our Les Pavots Bordeaux red varietals, the Sauvignon Blanc for L’Après-Midi has taken to the cool slopes of Mount St. Helena. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lees for 9 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The intense, multi-layered bouquet is dominated by white flesh peach, honeysuckle, hawthorn, gooseberry, lime, William pear and dried apricot, completed by touches of acacia, white pepper, greengage and quince. The rich, zesty flavors follow seamlessly from the aroma. Layered, elegant and very long, the estate’s signature wet stone minerality balances the richness, lending a superb refinement to the finish. Built to age, the 2008 L’Après-Midi is already revealing itself as a superb expression of our estate’s terroir.

Vintage Notes

Winter and spring were dry; bud break, bloom and set occurred a bit early and 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 avoided any crop damage. As the fruit matured, hand thinning carefully trimmed the yields to a moderately low level, allowing a pure expression of our different terroirs. Harvest started just a bit earlier than normal. During ripening, the contrast of the temperature maintained a crispy natural acidity that allowed the vineyard to express its full potential.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown along side of our Les Pavots Bordeaux red varietals, the Sauvignon Blanc for L’Après-Midi has taken to the cool slopes of Mount St. Helena. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve all the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lees for 9 months with gentle batonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

A superb expression of our estate’s terroir. Intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by honeysuckle, hawthorn, gooseberry, lime, white flesh peach, William pear and dried apricot, completed by touches of acacia, white pepper, greengage, quince and wet stone. Rich and zesty, the flavors are reminiscent of the aromas and the mouth feel is seamless. The strong mineral background, stamp of the estate, balances the overall richness, giving a superb refinement. The finish is layered, very long and elegant. Built to age, the 2007 L’Après-Midi is already revealing itself.

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 occurred a 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 avoided any crop damage. As the fruit matured, hand thinning carefully trimmed the yields to a moderately low level, allowing a pure expression of terroir. Harvest started just a bit later than normal and concluded the first week of November.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown along side of our Les Pavots Bordeaux red varietals, the Sauvignon Blanc for L’Après-Midi has taken to the cool slopes of Mount St. Helena. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve all of its fruity, zesty character. All lots were aged separately on their lees for 9 months with gentle bâtonnage. Judicious blending of these lots composed a cuvée most representative of its terroir.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Intense and multi-layered, the bouquet and flavors are dominated by honeysuckle, hawthorn, gooseberry, lime, white flesh peach, William pear and dried apricot, completed by elegant touches of acacia, white pepper, guava, quince and wet stone. The mouth feel is seamless. The strong mineral background, a stamp of the estate, counterbalances the overall richness, giving a superb refinement. The finish is layered, very long and elegant.

Vintage Notes

The 2005 growing season began as a study in wildly unpre­ dictable weather patterns. However, the legacy of 2005 will e its perfect ripening conditions. Winter and spring were beset with heavy rain.We saw hail in mid-May, only to yield to more rain just as bloom was upon us. Just as every conceivable weather fluctuation had challenged the vines, we finally welcomed sunny and warm conditions, giving us an extended and ideal rip­ ening season. Conditions remained virtually perfect and resulted in a trouble-free harvest yielding great concentrated flavors with vibrant acidity for the white varietals.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown beside our Les Pavots Bordeaux red varietals, our Sauvi­ gnon Blanc has taken to the cool slopes of Mount St. Helena. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermenta­ tion was conducted in order to preserve all of the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lees for 9 months with gentle batonnage. Judicious blending of these lots composed a cuvee most representative of its terroir.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The very intense and layered bouquet of honeysuckle, gooseberry, lime, white peach,William pear and dry apricot is completed by elegant touches of acacia, white pepper, quince and wet stone. Rich and zesty, the flavors are reminiscent of the aromas, and the mouth feel is seamless. The strong mineral background, stamp of the L' Apres-Midi terroir, counterbalances the overall richness, giving a superb refinement.The finish is layered, very long and elegant. Built to age, this L'Apres-Midi is already revealing itself.

Vintage Notes

After a wet winter, March brought temperatures in the 80s and 90s and an early bud break. Flowering began at the beginning of May and warm weather ensured a successful fruit set, which was fortunate since cluster counts were low. The ripening season progressed with periods of dry heat followed by days of thick fog, which allowed the vines to rest and revitalize. Timely irrigation and canopy management was crucial in allowing the fruit to fully ripen without sunburn or raisining.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown beside our Les Pavots Bordeaux red varietals, our Sauvignon Blanc has taken to the cool slopes of Mount St. Helena. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve all of the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lees for 9 months with gentle bâtonnage. Judicious blending of these lots composed a cuvée most representative of its terroir.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

The very intense and multi-layered bouquet of honeysuckle, gooseberry, lime, white fl esh peach, honeyed grapefruit and dry apricot is completed by elegant touches of acacia, white pepper, quince and wet stone. Rich and zesty, the mouth feel is reminiscent of the aromas and seamless. The strong mineral background, a stamp of the L’Après-Midi terroir, counterbalances the overall richness. The fi nish is layered, very long and elegant. Built to age, this L’Après-Midi is already intensively revealing itself.

Vintage Notes

A wet and cold early Spring followed by a period of warm to hot days allowed a quick, full development of the canopy. After an excellent berry-set, the crop was thinned to an average size (3 tons/ acre.) Several heat spells brought the fruit to optimal ripeness.

Winegrowing Notes

Grown along side of our Les Pavots Bordeaux red varietals, the Sauvignon Blanc for L'Apres-Midi has taken to the cool slopes of Mount St. Helena.The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation was conducted in order to preserve all of the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lees for 9 months with gentle batonnage. Judicious blending of these lots was done to compose a cuvee most representative of its terroir.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes

Intense and multi-layered bouquet of honeysuckle, gooseberry, white flesh peach, bergamot, honeyed grapefruit and dry apricot with elegant touches of acacia, daffodil, white pepper, dry hay and wet stone. Rich and zesty, the mouth feel is reminiscent of the aromas and seamless. The strong mineral background, stamp of the L'Apres-Midi terroir, counterbalances the overall richness, giving a clear delineation.The finish is layered, long and elegant. Built to age, this L'Apres-Midi is already showing intensity.

Winemaker Notes

The 2002 L'Apres-Midi was grown and produced from our estate vineyard high on the slopes of Mount St. Helena.The rowing season was characterized by a sunny, warm summer followed by a hot fall with little morning fog. The cool high elevation favorably influenced the vineyard climate, enhancing grape quality and flavors. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc was "sur lie" aged in the barrel for nine months. Our tastings reveal an exceptional vintage.

Winegrowing Notes

Tasting Notes

The minerality and delicacy of this Sauvignon Blanc reflect this vineyard's mountain terroir, particularly its white, rocky volcanic soils (called 'tuff'). Aromas of lime peel, citrus oil, sweet pear juice and notes of pineapple, gooseberry and white truffle. Good body and minerality with a high natural acidity to allow further ageing. Enjoyable now through the next 3 years.

Winemaker Notes

The 2001 L'Apres-Midi is solely sourced from our own estate vineyard on the slopes of Mount St. Helena. Grapes were handpicked and hand-sorted, whole cluster pressed and then barrel fermented in French oak with 100% indigenous yeasts. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc was "sur lie" aged in the barrel for nine months.

Winegrowing Notes

Tasting Notes

The minerality and delicacy of this Sauvignon Blanc reflects this vineyard's terrior, particularly its white, rocky, volcanic soils. This wine also shows the power and richness of the 2001 vintage. Aromas of lime peel and citrus oil with a trace of dry apricot, peony, gooseberry and white truffle. Good body and minerality with a high natural acidity and a long finish.

Winemaker Notes

The 2000 L'Apres-Midi is now solely sourced from our own estate vineyard on the slopes of Mount St. Helena. Grapes were handpicked and hand-sorted, whole cluster pressed and then barrel fermented in French oak with 85% indigenous yeasts. This I 00% Sauvignon Blanc was "sur lie" aged in the barrel for twelve months and bottled in November 2001.

Winegrowing Notes

Tasting Notes

Gooseberry fruit, grapefruit oils, and lemon zest aromas are complemented by a hint of sweet oak. With a full fruit entry, the vibrant flavors exude a variety of citrus on the palate, including pink grapefruit, lemons and tangerines with pleasing slate-like mineral tones evoking the terroir.

Winemaker Notes

The 1998 L'Apres-Midi is now solely sourced from our own estate vineyard on the slopes of Mount St. Helena. Grapes were hand-picked and hand-sorted, whole cluster pressed and then barrel fermented in French oak with 60% indigenous yeasts.This 100% Sauvignon Blanc was "sur lie" aged in the barrel for ten months and bottled in August, 1999.

Winegrowing Notes

Tasting Notes

Gooseberry fruit, grapefruit oils, and lemon zest aromas are complemented by a hint of sweet oak. With a full fruit entry, the vibrant flavors exude a variety of citrus on the palate, including pink grapefruit, lemons and tangerines with pleasing slate-like mineral tones evoking the terroir.

Winemaker Notes

The 1997 L'Apres-Midi is a unique blend of wine combining our taditionally-sourced Howell Mountain vineyard with an addition from our new estate vineyard on the slopes of Mount St. Helena. Grapes were hand-sorted, whole cluster pressed and then barrel fermented in French oak with 50% indigenous yeasts. This 100% Sauvignon Blanc was "sur lie" aged in the barrel for ten months and bottled in August, 1998. Following a mild winter, an early bud break and a warm growing season resulted in one of the earliest harvests on record. The cool, high elevation and summer-morning fog favorably influenced the vineyard climate, enhancing grape quality and flavors-especially important in the warm growing season of 1997. Our tastings reveal an exceptional vintage.

Winegrowing Notes

Tasting Notes

Gooseberry fruit, grapefruit oils, and lemon zest aromas are complemented by a hint of sweet oak. With a full fruit entry, the flavors exude a variety of citrus including pink grapefruit, lemons and tangerines with pleasing slate-like mineral tones evoking terroir.