About this winery

n 1982 Sir Peter Michael established the Peter Michael winery on a square mile of rocky volcanic ridges that form the western face of Mount St. Helena in Sonoma County. From the beginning, the wine growing philosophy was modeled on the French tradition infused with a few modern influences: One, the vineyard terroir would be the single most important feature. Two, the wines would be elegant rather than overstated. Three, there would be a hundred-year commitment to the development of a great...

See the PETER MICHAEL detail page for more information on this brand

Product notes

The winter was dry with only 70% of normal rainfall, continuing three years of drought. Unseasonably warm temperatures in early spring accelerated bud break by three to four weeks. The growing season, bloom through veraison, benefited from moderate temperatures. While the dry conditions aided the evenness of the fruit set, early use of drip irrigation was critical for the health of the vines. Multiple green harvests were performed to balance the crop load. Ideal Indian summer conditions allow us to calmly harvest each plot as it achieved optimal ripeness. While yields were higher than average, the skins and pulps of the berries were thicker than normal due to dehydration, resulting in low juice yields and exceptional concentration in the wines.

Production notes

The name translates to “The Afternoon.” The fruit for L’Après-Midi is grown alongside our red varietals in the Les Pavots Vineyard. The grapes were picked and sorted by hand, whole cluster pressed and then naturally fermented in barrel. No malolactic fermentation is conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for 8 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Tasting notes

Very intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by mineral, passion fruit, mangosteen, guava, yellow nettle blossom, honeysuckle, lemon, lime, white peach and white currant with touches of dry honey and candied anise. Rich and zesty, the flavors are reminiscent of the aromas with additional fresh almond and nougat notes. The strong mineral background, a stamp of our Knight Valley Estate, balances the overall richness, giving a superb refinement. The finish is layered, very long and elegant. The wine will benefit from two years of cellaring and will age gracefully for a decade or more. The 2014 L’Après-Midi is an unusual exotic expression of our Knights Valley Estate terroir.