Winemaker Notes
Blend: 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot, 4% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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James Suckling
Complex nose of red fruit, berries and wood, together with a floral note. It’s a full-bodied red with firm texture. Succulent and structured. The tannins are firm and lead to a long, savory finish. Lots of earth, spice, pine needle and chocolate to the currant-fruit character. 51% Knights Valley and 49% Oakville. Mostly cabernet sauvignon with cabernet franc, merlot and petit verdot..
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
A blend of 53% Cabernet Sauvignon, 36% Cabernet Franc, 7% Merlot and 4% Petit Verdot, the 2018 L'Esprit des Pavots comes from 51% Knights Valley AVA and 49% Oakville AVA. Medium to deep garnet-purple colored, it wafts out of the glass with compelling floral notes of dried roses and lavender over a core of Morello cherries, juicy plums, fresh blackberries and black raspberries. Full-bodied, the palate is completely coated and black and red fruit preserves flavors, supported by fine-grained tannins and a lively backbone, finishing long and fragrant.
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.