Winemaker Notes
Blend: 50% Cabernet Sauvignon, 31% Merlot, 17% Cabernet Franc, 2% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Beautiful tobacco, berry and herb. Lots of sweet tobacco. Full body, round tannins and juicy fruit character. Soft and delicious. Savory. Salty and delicious. You want to drink it now, so do.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The second wine, culled from barrels not considered at the level required of Les Pavots, is the 2014 Proprietary Red L’Esprit des Pavots, which is a relatively large cuvée of 2,120 cases. A blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, this wine is silky, lush and approachable, with low acidity and notes of black olive tapenade intermixed with graphite, blackberry, cassis and smoke. It is full-bodied, plush and best drunk over the next 10-15 years.
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.
A small and picturesque valley separating Napa Valley on its south border and Alexander Valley to its north, Knights Valley excels in similar varieties as the two aforementioned appellations, namely red Bordeaux varieties and blends, as well as Sauvignon blanc. Originally established by Beringer Vineyards, today several outstanding producers claim acreage here. The circadian cooling effects of the nearby Pacific Ocean create a nighttime respite for vineyards during the hot growing season.