1993 Peter Michael “Les Pavots” Knights Valley Cabernet Sauvignon

Description

92 Robert Parker for Wine Advocate
“The 1993 Les Pavots, another impressive wine from a vintage that has plenty of skeptics in the West Coast press, reveals a dense, ruby/purple color, and a complex nose of smoke, spice, toast, and black fruits. Medium to full-bodied, with an inner-core of sweet, rich fruit, outstanding purity, and a powerful yet elegant personality, this layered, multi-dimensional wine should drink well young, but keep for 20+ years.

The blend for Peter Michael’s Les Pavots proprietary red wine varies year to year, but the composition usually includes at least 70% Cabernet Sauvignon, 5%-15% Merlot, and 5%-15% Cabernet Franc. Sixty percent new French oak casks are utilized. The result is a wine that comes as close as any other California Cabernet Sauvignon-based wine to resembling a structured, rich, complex St.-Julien/Pauillac.

The wine is more broad-shouldered and deep than most Bordeaux. Readers should be forewarned that Les Pavots is not made in an up-front, fruity style that begs for immediate consumption. They are rich, full-bodied, complex, restrained wines built for the long haul. That being said, Peter Michael’s Les Pavots has enjoyed an unprecedented string of highly successful vintages.” (12/1996)