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 unique aromatic profiles in this proprietary blend.
The rocky rhyolite soil was formed by volcanic activity thousands of years ago and gives the wines their mineral richness and complexity.
The 49 acre vineyard is 1520 feet above sea level at its highest point.
Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot are grown on the cooler upper slopes, with Cabernet Sauvignon 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 also used in the winery's logo.
Ruby colour with a black tinge.
It has hints of leather, morel mushrooms, vanilla, black fruit, cherry, blackberry, blueberry paste and rocky notes.
Full-bodied and elegant on the palate, it has soft tannins and a subtle mineral note on the long finish.
This is a classic wine that clearly displays the nuances of Les Pavos.
It's delicious to drink now, but can be aged for 4 to 25 years.
It goes without saying that Peter Michael Winery's wines are now known as a California wine success story.
We have been receiving constant inquiries about Mon Plaisir Chardonnay since its initial release in 1987, and even now, nearly 20 years later, we are still selling it in limited quantities.
This is because the corporate philosophy established at the time of our founding remains unchanged to this day and remains the pillar of our activities.
In 1983, after seven years of searching for a vineyard and family retreat, founder Sir Peter Michael purchased 630 acres (252 hectares) of volcanic soils at the western foothills of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley, Sonoma, California.
This was the moment when Sir Peter Michael's dream of one day running his own winery became a reality. He had harboured such a dream ever since he was a young man and his father, who lived in France at the time, took him on tours of chateaux and wineries around Europe.
As the entrepreneurial founder of Quantel*, he had visited Northern California many times and fell in love with the area at first sight.
The winery's motto was simple: make wine like French wine, using the best grapes, selected barrels and traditional winemaking techniques.
This was not to make California wine to imitate French wine, but to overturn the prejudice towards French wine that is still seen today among general consumers.
Our goal is that in the future, we will see a large number of wines produced in California that are of world-class quality, some of which will be produced at Peter Michael Winery.
Over the next few years, Bordeaux varietals were planted in the lower, warmer parts of the property, and Chardonnay was cultivated in the cooler, higher elevation areas.
Taking advantage of the site's unique conditions, each block was designed and developed according to its intricate soil puzzle.
Based on the soil, microclimate, topography and sun conditions, we determine the variety, rootstock, row orientation, planting density and drainage for each section.
In addition to the fields, the Michael family advocates for the long-term conservation of the property, planting native plants and restoring natural habitats.
Peter Michael Winery's winemakers who have made their mark on the wine industry include Helen Turley, Marc Aubert, Vanessa Wong, Luc Mollet and current winemaker Nicolas Mollet.
Throughout these times the winery has remained true to Sir Peter's beliefs: "Mountain vineyards, traditional winemaking methods and small batch production."
And in keeping with Sir Peter's '100 by 100 plan' - to remain 100% family-run for at least 100 years - the winery is seeing a generational handover, with his son Paul Michael and his wife Emily now taking on increasingly greater responsibility for providing the strategic direction of the winery.
Then, in 1998, the Michael family purchased 400 acres on the True Sonoma Coast (now the Fort Ross-Seaview AVA).
The land is an amazing combination of coastal and mountainous characteristics.
The climate is fairly cool throughout the growing season, but the higher elevations, uncovered by fog, receive enough sunshine to allow the grapes to ripen fully.
This property was planted with Pinot Noir in 2006 and 2007.
In 2009, the estate purchased 41 acres in the mountains east of the Oakville Appellation overlooking Napa Valley, of which 26 acres are planted to Bordeaux varieties.
The vineyard is named "Au Paradis," and the 2012 vintage of this wine was ranked #1 in WineSpectator magazine's TOP 100 just two years after its debut.
Peter Michael Winery's wines have been recognized by leading wine critics including Robert Parker.
Parker even goes so far as to say, "If I were a French winemaker living in Bordeaux or Burgundy, I couldn't help but be aware of a top California producer like Peter Michael."