1996 Peter Michael "Les Pavots"

WINE TALK
1

Sorry I haven’t posted in a while. Anywho, I had this wine last month. I’ve had two previous vintages (99’ and 2002’) of the Les Pavots and for some reason I was not too thrilled with either. Perhaps they seemed a bit young and one dimensional?? The 96’ Les Pavots change my opinion of this wine. The wine was extremely powerful, focused and complex with a nose of black fruit, licorice, pencil. In the mouth it was elegant yet very focused and precise with compex flavors of black fruit, flowers, licorice, smoke and sweet plum and a finish that seemed to go on forever. Still young, this wine seems to have a long life and evolution. It changed my opinion about the Peter Michael’s “Les Pavots” [cheers.gif]

2

I like Les Pavots. :smiley:

Cheers!

3

The one bottle of the 96 that I had years ago was memorable.

4

It was in the period 1994-1997, after the early releases of Screagle and Harlan, that CaliCabs underwent a great metamorphosis, and not for the better. I’m not surprised you like the '96 more than later vintages.

5

Very simple Bob, the later vintages I had seemed to be high alcohol, one dimensional, and very tight. Pehaps these later vintages will prove to be nice wines with age as with the 96’ I recently had.

You must be from Oregon? Duck and Beaver land, eh?? [cheers.gif]

6

What, no rubber descriptors in your tasting notes? What is the world coming to? [berserker.gif]

7

This wast he early days when Mark Aubert was making the wines. Sadly, the last bottle of Les Pavots I had was a rather oxidized bottle of 95. [bleh.gif]

8

Each time I have had a Les Pavots with a 8+ years on it, it has been next to other Cali cabs. I always think they are nice but they seem to get out-shinned by things like Insignia, Montelena, Dominus and etc.

Glad this one shinned for you.

Jason

9

I had the 2001 Les Pavots on Sunday night. It was all lumber with fleeting fruit. It was my second least favorite of the night (the 2002 QC won that “honor”) and David Lewin’s least favorite. Oddly enough, three others in the group really liked it.

10

'96 is one of my favorite vintages for Les Pavots, '94, '95 and '97 are stellar too.

11

2006 Les Pavots is EXTRAORDINARILY GOOD!

12

Amazing…you actually like something. neener

13

That’s what we need around here, a Les Pavots vertical dinner!!

14

Thanks for the note. I think I still have some of the 96 LP hidden somewhere in a locker; I’ll have to dig it out.

Bruce

15

I have greatly enjoyed the '97 on a couple of occasions making it the exception of CA wines for me. At on O/L I brought it expecting to debunk it and liked it far more than '90 Beausejour.


A.

16

It’s coming to an end…12/21/2012!! And besides I usually get tire/rubber on French and Spanish wines, not CA wines [drinks.gif]

17

Me too Philip but the good news is I will be there soon and I’ll give you a heads up when I am coming. [cheers.gif]

BTW, I agree with you on your post re the Mollydooker Boxer…one of the most disgusting wines ever made…did I just call it wine?? [suicide.gif]

18

The 1996 PM Les Pavots has always been one of my most memorable wines.
I also agree that it has changed since the early days. Still good, but different and more one demensional.

19

When you drink as much crap as I do on a nearly daily basis, it wears on you.

You do not want to see all of my TNs, trust me.

20

Had this wine at Sushi Ran in Sausalito last year. Didn’t pair with anything we ate, but could not resist ordering it off the wine list for $100! Thought it was a huge wine, much bigger than expected! IMO, was not as balanced as the 2002, or as elegant and age worthy as the 1997, but more substantial than 1998 through 2001.