- Certified Sustainable
- 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, 6% Petit Verdot
- Sourced from the Les Pavots “The Poppies” Vineyard at Peter Michael’s Estate in Knights Valley AVA
- Planted in 1989-1999
- Rocky volcanic-origin Rhyolite soils
- Southerly exposure
- 900–1,400 feet
- Hand-harvested
- Aged 18 months in 100% French oak barrels from select artisan coopers
- 15.8% abv
Info
Producer:
Vintage:
2022
Country:
United States
Region:
California
Appellation:
Knights Valley
Variety:
Blend - Bordeaux
Color:
Red
Farming Practice:
Sustainable
Sizes Available
| Full Bottle | US-PMW-41-22 | 12/750ml |
| Magnum | US-PMW-41-22M | 6/1500ml |
| 3L (Jeroboam) | US-PMW-41-22J | 1/3000ml |
Press & Reviews
James Suckling
Score
97
Date
2024-02-22
"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."
Vinous
Score
95
Date
2025-07-03
"The 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Pavots is a very classy wine. Aromatic and vibrant, with mid-weight structure, the Pavots is more finesse than power in 2022. Orange peel, spice, mint, dried herbs, cedar, pipe tobacco and incense build in the glass. This is beautifully done, in a lighter style than the norm."
Wine Advocate
Score
95+
Date
2025-03-20
"The 2022 Les Pavots is a blend of 63% Cabernet Sauvignon, 23% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot and 6% Petit Verdot from fruit harvested September 12 through October 14. It has pure, layered aromas of blueberry, blackcurrant, violet, iodine, chocolate and thyme. The full-bodied palate is concentrated and mineral-driven, its dark flavors laced with graphite. It,s structured by powerful, grainy tannins and juicy acidity, and it has a long, floral finish. It will benefit from several years in the cellar. A total of 2,397 cases were made, and the wine will be released in April of 2025."
REVIEWS FROM PAST VINTAGES
2021
Jeb Dunnuck
Score
99
Date
2025-07-02
"The flagship of the estate, coming from Knights Valley, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Pavots is 62% Cabernet Sauvignon, 25% Cabernet Franc, 7%, and the rest Petit Verdot. It pours a more pink-rimmed/purple hue and is an exceptional vintage for this wine. It delivers a bit more power upfront on the nose, with a more assertive cologne of polished leather, cassis, compact berries, lavender, and forest sappy herbs. Patience will be a virtue here, as this is a powerfully structured wine with rich, ripe tannins and a fleshy midpalate. It has excellent density and structure and is built for the long haul. The finish is grippy and mineral, noted with a mountainous feel throughout. Drink 2027-2050."
2021
James Suckling
Score
97
Date
2024-02-22
"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."
2021
Vinous
Score
97
Date
2024-07-15
"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."
2021
Wine Advocate
Score
97
Date
2024-02-29
"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."