Winemaker Notes
Near black in color with saturated ruby and vermillion nuances, 2015 Les Pavots reveals a deep bouquet of cacao powder, dried blossoms, dried red fruit, black cherry and currant, blueberry and licorice, with nuances of cigar box, graphite, vanilla and black truffle with a stylish ‘garrigue’ touch. Extremely full-bodied, the palate echoes the nose with the same rich, ripe fruit tones and diverse spice notes. The mouth feel is dense, round and seamless, with supple tannins, savory clove and tobacco elements and beautiful ‘patina’ notes leading to a long finish with subtle mineral accents. The wine provides a classic presentation of our estate’s terroir and will age gracefully for two decades.
Blend: Blend: 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot, 7% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
-
Jeb Dunnuck
The 2015 Les Pavots checks in as 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot and the balance Petit Verdot. It offers a huge nose of blackcurrants, blackberry, scorched earth, graphite, and cedarwood. Deep, rich, supple, and sexy, with a seamless, incredibly elegant texture, it builds with time in the glass and is a monumental Cabernet Sauvignon blend from Napa Valley.
Rating: 98+ -
James Suckling
Intense aromas of plums, black truffles, bark and dark plums. Pine needles, too. Full-bodied, tight and polished. Extremely elegant and precise. The finish is very long and vertical. Compressed and refined. A beauty already.
-
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
Blended of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 18% Cabernet Franc, 15% Merlot and 7% Petit Verdot, the 2015 Les Pavots Proprietary Red Wine is scented of crème de cassis, blueberries and baking spices with hints of chocolate box, black earth and cigar box. Medium to full-bodied, the palate simply sings with black fruit preserves and spicy layers, supported by chewy tannins and plenty of freshness, finishing long.
-
Wine Spectator
Remarkably complex and nuanced, with a firm mix of cedary oak and mocha notes and tight dark berry, anise, gravel and spice flavors, finishing long and persistent. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot.
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.