Our events are accompanied by some magnificent selections from Peter Michael Winery.

Here are some examples:

2001 La Carrière Chardonnay
Estate Vineyard, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

La Carrière is French for “the quarry,” a name given to the vineyard for its bowl shape and tremendously rocky soils. It is also the steepest vineyard on the estate, with slopes of up to forty-five degrees. These features are responsible for the exceptional high-toned mineral aspects that characterize the wine.

Robert Parker, Jr.: “The knock-out 2001 Chardonnay La Carrière offers honeyed citrus, liquid mineral, floral, and exotic tropical fruit characteristics as well as admirable definition, texture, body, and richness. Although I suspect the acids are high, the wine is more concentrated than the 2000 with more depth as well as fruit. This brilliant effort should age nicely for 5-8 years.”

2001 Belle Côte Chardonnay
Estate Vineyard, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

Belle Côte (Beautiful Slope) was the first estate-grown Chardonnay offered by Peter Michael Winery, and, from the beginning, displayed the unique potential of the property’s mountain vineyards. The clay and river rock in its soil differentiates its terroir from La Carrière.

Robert Parker, Jr.: “The 2001 Chardonnay Belle Côte exhibits exotic tropical fruit notes, a layered, opulent texture, medium to full body, less minerality than La Carrière, beautiful layers of fruit, and a stunning finish. This brilliant effort should drink well for 5-7 years.”

2001 Cuvée Indigène Chardonnay
Sonoma County

Cuvée Indigène means “naturally fermented cuvée.” The origins of the wine go back to the late 1980s when Peter Michael Winery first began experimenting with the use of natural fermentation. Begun as a ten-barrel experiment in 1990, Cuvée Indigène has become a mainstay of the Peter Michael offering and the use of indigenous yeast fermentation has expanded to all of the winery’s Chardonnay cuvées.

Robert Parker, Jr.: “The blockbuster 2001 Chardonnay Cuvée Indigène possesses an oily, unctuous texture in addition to smoky, leesy, peach, honeysuckle, and lemon zest aromatics, and dense, deep, full-bodied flavors with great texture, richness, and purity. It is a superb Chardonnay to enjoy over the next decade.”

2001 Le Moulin Rouge Pinot Noir
Santa Lucia Highlands, Monterey County

The source for Le Moulin Rouge is the Pisoni Vineyard on the slopes of the Santa Lucia Highlands in Monterey County. Named for the Paris cabaret, the wine’s dense, yet delicate richness awakens the senses.

Robert Parker, Jr.: “The 2001 Pinot Noir Le Moulin Rouge (421 cases) could pass for a 1999 Domaine de la Romanée-Conti Richebourg or a 1990 La Tâche…it’s that spectacular. It boasts a saturated dark ruby/purple tinged color as well as great intensity (100% destemmed fruit is utilized) and a knock-out nose of forest floor, plums, figs, macerated black cherries, and lilacs. As this magnificent Pinot Noir sits in the glass, even more complex notes of wild cherries and raspberries as well as a touch of kirsch emerge. It is a stunning effort to drink over the next 5-7 years.”

2001 L’Après-Midi Sauvignon Blanc
Estate Vineyard, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

Initially produced from a vineyard on Howell Mountain, L’Après-Midi is now grown solely from a small vineyard on the Peter Michael estate. L’Après-Midi means “afternoon,” a name given to the wine because its bright, aromatic character can be enjoyed any time during or after lunch.

Robert Parker, Jr.: “Honeyed grapefruit, citrus, and a whiff of melon characterize this medium-bodied, crisp, zesty Sauvignon Blanc. Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years.”

2001 Les Pavots Red Bordeaux Cuvée
Estate Vineyard, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

The 2001 Les Pavots is unique from all previous vintages of Les Pavots, as it heralds the first introduction of Petit Verdot to the previously traditional blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc.

Robert Parker, Jr.: “The stunning 2001 Les Pavots is a full-bodied, intense example revealing a saturated purple color, and sweet blackberry, cassis, smoke, and licorice aromas. This seamless, plump, and long offering will be at its apogee between 2005-2020. Production was low, with only 2,003 cases produced.”

1997 Les Pavots Red Bordeaux Cuvée
Estate Vineyard, Knights Valley, Sonoma County

Les Pavots (The Poppies) is the winery’s Bordeaux blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, and Cabernet Franc from the estate vineyard on the slopes of Mount St. Helena. The rocky, rhyolitic soils contribute a mineral richness and add to the wine’s complexity.

Robert Parker, Jr.: “A blue/black/purple color is followed by an extraordinary bouquet of toast, blackberries, crème de cassis, licorice, and cedar. Full-bodied, with silky tannin, low acidity, and layers of concentrated, pure black fruits judiciously wrapped in subtle toasty oak, this wine can be drunk early, but promises to hit its peak in 5-7 years, and last for two or more decades.”