'Les Pavots'

Score

99

Score

96

Score

97

"This is a powerful red with blackberry, black olive and a hint of mint. Some brown sugar, too. Full-bodied and dense, with lots of fruit and velvety, plush tannins. Crushed-stone and wet-earth character, too. The higher percentage of merlot (14%) and no cabernet franc makes this unique for Les Pavots. Give it three or four years to open."

Score

93

"The 2020 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Pavots is a delicate, understated wine. The 2020 shows a bit less mid-palate density than in most years, but its balance is impeccable. Dried flowers, spice, leather, tobacco and incense are all nicely layered in this attractive, mid-weight Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon. The blend is, unusually, high in Cabernet Sauvignon and low in both Merlot and Cabernet Franc because of the stringent selection required in 2020."

Score

95

"The 2020 Les Pavots is made up of 83% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot and 3% Petite Verdot and includes fruit from some of the oldest vines at Peter Michael, planted in 1989. Unusually, there is no Cabernet Franc in the blend this vintage, as it was affected by the wildfire smoke. Deep ruby-purple in color, it is shy to begin, taking time to reveal pure red plums, chocolate, graphite, green bell pepper and tobacco leaves. The medium-bodied palate offers generous, alluringly herbal fruits, a luxurious, silky frame and seamless acidity, finishing long and latent. It develops dramatically in the glass, suggesting it will require a few hours in the decanter to show at its best. 1,910 cases were made; this will be released in February of 2023."

Score

97

"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."

Score

97

"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."

Score

97

"The 2021 Les Pavots is a blend of 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot. It's a beautiful wine you could drink now or stash in the cellar, with a concentrated, broody yet polished profile. It has pure scents of blueberry liqueur, lilac, cast iron, grilled meats and soy sauce plus hints of wild thyme and truffle. The full-bodied palate offers a structural balance of clay-textured tannins and bright acidity, deriving its power from its sheer depth of dark fruit, and it has a long, detailed finish. 2,769 cases were made, and the Les Pavots will be released in February of 2024."