2012 Peter Michael Les Pavots

Bordeaux-styled blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Not sure about age of vines, but fruit is sourced from an Estate vineyard. Listed at a whopping 15.8% abv, yet zero heat on the palate. Supremely balanced and not "over-extracted". Winemaker Nicolas Morlet is clearly a classicist taking advantage of California hang time for ripening fruit.

Pop and pour at restaurant. Opened up nicely after a couple of hours. A third of the bottle left over for day 2.

Really nice on day 2. Irresistibly elegant wine from a very approachable vintage. Dusty fine-grained tannins frame superb quality fruit. Cassis-laden, glycerin mouthfeel with black and blue fruit accompanied by hints of cedar and blond tobacco. Gossamer hints of scorched earth that I associate with higher-end Cabs from Knights Valley (a la Fisher Wedding Vineyard) as well as Pessac-Leognan (with its penultimate expression being La Mission Haut-Brion). Lilting aromatics of pain grille, cacao and spice...

What a delightful wine!  Heartfelt thanks to Robert and Shannon for helping to make Janet's birthday very special.