Winemaker Notes
Dark ruby-red and opaque in the glass, the 2023 'Les Pavots’ mesmerizes with an overture of black currant, purple flowers, black olive, dark cherries and black raspberry framed with accents of black tea, anise, and baking spices. The supple entry builds to a broad, concentrated mid-palate with a smooth, lengthy finish. This is a full-bodied, balanced wine with extraordinarily refined tannins in great quantity. One of the finest expressions of Les Pavots in the last two decades, the 2023 is a rare wine that can be enjoyed early on but will gracefully age for the next twenty years.
Blend: 65% Cabernet Sauvignon, 21% Cabernet Franc, 11% Merlot, 3% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
The 2023 Les Pavots comes from an incredibly long growing season for this cuvée and is a blend of fairly typical varieties for the estate. It pours a coating youthful saturated red/purple color, and the nose reveals notes of cassis, lavender, mint, cocoa nib, licorice, and cedar. Full-bodied, it has a refined, supple texture with a delicate, creamy feel that remains youthful at this stage, with even, velvety tannins and refreshing acidity without overpowering weight. Notes of rosemary, pine, and dark stones start to shine as it opens, along with resinous herbs. Full-bodied, it has a lot of length and starts to show real flash without alcohol heat. I would recommend this over the coming 15-20 years.
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Vinous
The 2023 Cabernet Sauvignon Les Pavots soars from the glass with a whole range of savory, floral top notes. Medium in body yet very deep, the 2023 is a superb example of both the year and Knights Valley. Vibrant red-toned fruit, blood orange, graphite, cinnamon, chalk, mint and dried herbs are some of the many notes that come alive in the glass. All of the energy of this cold, late-ripening year comes through loud and clear. Several recent bottles from the late 1990s and early 2000s point to the longevity of the best vintages, as I expect will be the case with the 2023.
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Wine Spectator
This offers a lush and inviting profile, with mulled plum and blackberry fruit laced with hints of tobacco, roasted vanilla and ganache. A subtle tug of earth on the back end keeps this honest. Shows modest energy overall but also generosity and depth. Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot and Petit Verdot. Best from 2027 through 2037.
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.