Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petite Verdot grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley express the hillside character and create the unique aromatic character of this proprietary blend. The rocky rhyolite soil was formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago, giving the wines mineral richness and complexity. The 49 acres of vineyards are at their highest point, 1500 feet above sea level. The Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are grown on the cooler upper slopes, while the Cabernet Sauvignon is grown just below them. The name "Les Pavos" means "Poppy Flowers" in French, and comes from the wild California poppies that grow on the winery grounds and are the flower used in the winery's logo. The wines are ruby with a black tinge. Notes of leather, morel mushrooms, vanilla, black fruit, cherry, blackberry, blueberry paste and rocky notes. Full-bodied and elegant on the palate, with soft tannins and a hint of minerality on the long finish. A classic wine with a strong Les Pavos flavor. It is delicious to drink now, but can be aged for 4-25 years. 2016 was a near perfect vintage, with bud break starting in February thanks to a warm spring. Drought continued to be an issue, but the vineyards received just the right amount of rainfall they needed. Flowering was very wet and cool, resulting in less fruit set than usual. After veraison, we had only one green harvest to balance the grapes. The 2016 growing season was generally a little cooler than average, with only one heat wave, but average sunshine. At harvest time, temperatures were mild, allowing the grapes to ripen slowly and the harvest to be completed slowly on each plot. Although the alcohol content is a little low, the wines are very delicate and classic in style, with plenty of acidity and fruit. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot are grown on the slopes of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, Sonoma County, and are grapes that have a hilly feel. The rocky rhyolite soil is said to have been formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago, and gives the wines a rich minerality and complexity. The vineyards cover approximately 20 hectares, and the highest point is 427 meters above sea level, with Merlot and Cabernet Franc grown on the slopes around here. Cabernet Sauvignon is grown just below that. The name "Les Pavos" means "poppy flowers" in French, and comes from the wild Californian poppy, the state flower that blooms on the winery grounds, and is also used in the winery's logo. Needless to say, Peter Michael Winery's wines are now known as a California wine success story. Since the release of Mon Plaisir Chardonnay in 1987, the company has been receiving constant inquiries, and even now, nearly 20 years later, it is still selling limited quantities. This is because the company philosophy established at the time of its founding remains unchanged and is still the pillar of its activities. In 1983, after seven years of research in search of a vineyard and a place for his family to retreat, founder Sir Peter Michael purchased 630 acres (252 ha) of volcanic soil at the western foot of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, Sonoma, California. This was the moment that Sir Peter Michael's dream of running his own winery in the future, which he had been harboring since he was a young man and visited chateaux and producers in various European countries with his father, who was living in France at the time, became a reality. He had visited Northern California many times as the founder of Quantel*, and fell in love with the land at first sight. The winery's motto was quite simple: to make wine like French wine, using the best grapes, carefully selected barrels, and traditional winemaking techniques. This was not to make California wine imitate French wine, but to overturn the prejudice against France that is still seen among general consumers today. The goal was to hope that in the future, many wines of world-class quality would be produced in California, and some of them would be wines made at Peter Michael Winery. After that, over the course of several years, the Bordeaux variety vineyards were expanded in the lower, warmer parts of the site, and the Chardonnay vineyards were cultivated in the cooler areas at higher altitudes. Taking advantage of the unique conditions of the site, each block was designed and cultivated with a complex soil that was like a puzzle. Soil, microclimate, topography and exposure conditions determine the variety, rootstock, row orientation, density and drainage for each section. In addition to the vineyards, the Michael family advocates long-term conservation of the property, restoring natural habitats by planting indigenous plants. Peter Michael Winery's winemakers include Helen Turley, Marc Aubert, Vanessa Wong, Luc Mollet and current winemaker Nicolas Mollet. Throughout, the winery has maintained Sir Peter's beliefs of "mountain vineyards, traditional winemaking and small batch production". In keeping with Sir Peter's "100 by 100 plan" - 100% family-run for at least 100 years, the winery is passing the baton to the next generation, with his son Paul now in charge.
Michael and his wife Emily have gradually taken on more responsibility for the strategic direction of the winery. In 1998, the family purchased 400 acres in the True Sonoma Coast (now Fort Ross-Seaview AVA). The site is an amazing combination of coastal and mountain characteristics. The climate is fairly cool throughout the growing season, but the higher elevations, free from fog, receive enough sunshine to fully ripen the grapes. This land was planted with Pinot Noir in 2006 and 2007. In 2009, they purchased 41 acres in the mountains east of the Oakville appellation overlooking Napa Valley, 26 of which are planted with Bordeaux varieties. The vineyard was named "Au Paradis" and the 2012 vintage of this wine was ranked #1 in WineSpectator's Top 100 just two years after its debut. Peter Michael Winery's wines have been recognized by leading wine critics such as Robert Parker, who said, "If I were a French winemaker living in Bordeaux or Burgundy, I would have to pay attention to a top California winemaker like Peter Michael."