Rare new release from cult winery Peter Michael. Limited.

95 Points Robert Parker: "The Peter Michael 2021 L'Esprit des Pavots comes from two of Peter Michael's three estate vineyards and favors Oakville fruit (58%) over Knights Valley fruit (42%) this vintage. A blend of 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 35% Merlot, 22% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, it's a touch more open than its single-site counterparts, the Au Paradis and Les Pavots, although its aromas are just as pure. It has generous, layered scents of red and black currants and kirsch with accents of cocoa powder, cigars, aniseed, damp earth and desert sage. It strikes an effortless balance of concentrated flavors, sparks of fresh acidity and pixelated tannins, and it has a long, nuanced finish. Despite its upfront appeal, it will age gracefully over the next 10–15 years. 1,121 cases were made."

L’Esprit des Pavots translates to “The Spirit of the Poppies.” First produced in the 2002 vintage, the wine was sourced from the younger vines on our Peter Michael estate. As the vineyard matured, “L’Esprit” has evolved into a more frankly Californian expression of our Les Pavots vineyard’s terroir. This bottling is now a full-fledged member of the Peter Michael family of wines. The blend for L’Esprit is a bit more free-form than Les Pavots, varying more from vintage to vintage. The wine is typically a bit more fruit forward and early drinking than Les Pavots but remains a true expression of the estate’s terroir.