Peter Michael Cabernet Sauvignon L'Esprit Des Pavots Knights Valley 2021 750ml

Jeb Dunnuck awarded the 2021 L'Esprit des Pavots 98 points, calling it "seamless and haunting," a remarkable result for Peter Michael's more accessible Bordeaux-style red. The 2021 comes mainly from the Les Pavots vineyard in Knights Valley with a little Oakville estate fruit, and this vintage marks the first inclusion of younger, 15-year-old vines. It is unusually Merlot-rich at 35%, alongside 38% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Cabernet Franc and a touch of Petit Verdot. Floral perfume, sweet tobacco and crushed blackberry meet refined, polished tannins and a long, clean finish. Drought-reduced yields in 2021 concentrated the fruit. Dunnuck suggests drinking from 2027 through 2050.