Peter Michael l’Esprit des Pavots 2020 750ml

Expert Reviews – Vintage 2020

Jeb Dunnuck 94 Points | Inky red with a purple tinge, the 2020 L’Esprit Des Pavots is brooding with spice, black cherry preserve, forest earth, and black licorice. Its full-bodied, rounded, and gushing with boysenberry, with a balance of sweet fruit and savory Sonoma character in its notes of tea leaf, wildflowers, and lightly toasted spices. Long on the palate, with ripe tannins and a good finish, its attractive now and will drink well over the next 10 years.

James Suckling 93 Points | A fleshy and rich red with crushed berries, green pine needles, bark, orange peel and bark. Hints of walnuts, too. Full-bodied with round and polished tannins that are integrated and solid. Second wine. Drinkable now, but I would give it another two to three years of bottle age.

Vinous 91 Points | The 2020 L’Esprit des Pavots is mostly Knights Valley in this vintage. Bright and punchy, the 2020 offers lovely forward red-toned fruit followed by touches of mocha, dried flowers, mint, tobacco and cedar. This is a terrific second wine, especially considering the year. (AG)