Description
The first vineyard to be planted on the Knights Valley Estate, Les Pavot ('The Poppies') remains the signature wine of Peter Michael. Spanning 49 acres, Les Pavots ascends to an elevation of nearly 1,400 feet. Merlot and Cabernet Franc grow on the cool upper slopes,with Cabernet Sauvignon in the warmer sections just below. Always a Cabernet Sauvignon-led Bordeaux Blend, the distinctive aromas of this exceptional wine clearly display the hillside terroir. Hand-harvested, vinified with meticulous care and aged for 18months in French oak, this stunning wine can stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the best estates of the old world.
2011 was characterised by a wet winter and spring followed by a long Indian summer providing just the heat needed for prolonged ripening. While quantity in 2011 was low, the vintage exhibits grace through bright fruit, good intensity and elegant structure. 2011 Les Pavots reveals an intense bouquet of strawberry, black truffle oil and blackberry, with nuances of cedar, cacao, cigar box, black tea, graphite, a stylish ‘garrigue’ touch, forest floor and cloves. Extremely full-bodied, the mouth feel is dense and round, with a mineral background and ample elegant tannins leading to a long finish. The 2011 Les Pavots will age gracefully for two decades.