Description
‘L’Esprit des Pavots’ is French for “The Spirit of the Poppies.” First produced in the 2001 vintage, the wine was sourced solely from the Les Pavots vineyard and affectionately referred to as the “little brother” of Peter Michael's flagship wine. With the 2016 vintage, select lots from the Oakville Estate were introduced to the blend. The wine is typically more fruit-forward and early-drinking than ‘Les Pavots’ or ‘Au Paradis,’ but remains a true expression of the Peter Michael style—balanced, elegant, and age-worthy.
Notes From The Estate
The dark ruby 2021 ‘L’Esprit des Pavots’ offers an intense perfume of red and black cherry, blackberry pie, crushed rose petal, black currant and red plum supported by hints of dark chocolate, black pepper, anise and black olive. The supple entry leads to soft, but plentiful silky tannins which persist through the mid-palate and lengthy finish. This round, plush ‘L’Esprit des Pavots’ is more approachable now than its ‘Au Paradis’ and ‘Les Pavots’ counterparts but the 2021 vintage promises to improve for more than a decade in the cellar.
Scored 95 points by Erin Brooks for Robert Parker on February 29th 2024.