Without further ado, let’s celebrate the allocated Peter Michael “Esprit des Pavots”… By drinking it! I’m fortunate to receive a few bottles of this incredibly iconic and delicious wine… Enjoy!

L'Esprit des Pavots translates to "The Spirit of the Poppies." First produced in the 2002 vintage, the wine was sourced from the younger vines on the estate. As the vineyard matured, "L'Esprit" has evolved into a more frankly Californian expression of Les Pavots vineyard's terroir. This bottling is now a full-fledged member of the Peter Michael family of wines. The blend for L'Esprit is a bit more free-form than Les Pavots, varying more from vintage to vintage. The wine is typically a bit more fruit forward and early drinking than Les Pavots but remains a true expression of the estate's terroir.

Peter Michael Winery:

In 1982, after six years of searching for land to serve as both vineyard and family retreat, Sir Peter Michael and Lady Michael purchased 630 acres of volcanic ridges on the western face of Mount St. Helena in Knights Valley. Following Sir Peter’s "100 by 100" vision – 100% family ownership for at least 100 years – and drawing inspiration from the great wineries of Burgundy and Bordeaux, the family hired like-minded viticulturists and winemakers to help them create terroir-driven wines that would stand the test of time. Today, with the support of son, Paul, and Paul's wife Emily, the Peter Michael winery still adheres to its original founding principles of “mountain vineyards, classical winemaking, and limited production.”