2022 Peter Michael Sauvignon Blanc L'Apres-Midi
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Tasting notes
A blend of 92% Sauvignon Blanc and the rest Semillon, the 2022 Chardonnay Paradis is a similar silver/yellow hue. It retains a lot of appeal upfront, with aromas of grapefruit zest, melon rind, and tropical flowers, and it’s more forward compared to the Coeur A Coeur. The palate is finessed, nuanced, and seamless, with a delicate creamy texture and a rounded feel. It’s a beautiful wine to enjoy over the coming 10-12 years. Sir Peter Michael founded his eponymous winery in 1982, inspired by the wine of Chateau Montelena, which led him to California. In 2020, Robert Fiore took the helm as winemaker, while former winemaker Luc Morlet remains as a consultant. Robert studied at the Colorado School of Mines, which led him to a career in environmental geophysics before finding his path into the world of wine. He went on to UC Davis to study Viticulture and Enology. Most recently, Robert was a member of the winemaking team at Continuum in Napa. Vineyard manager Javier Avina has championed the land since 1991. Each of the sites are steep hillsides in Knights Valley that modulate with varied exposition and soils. Sir Peter’s son Paul and his wife Emily oversee the management of the winery today.
Critic scores
Jeb Dunnuck
Erin Brooks, Wine Advocate
More reviews and scores
The 2022 Sauvignon Blanc L’Après-Midi, blended with 8% Sémillon and matured in about 15% new French oak, features ringing tones of peach, kiwi, tarragon and white lily with undertones of candle smoke, flint and petrichor. The palate opens with pure fruit before unfurling expansive, savory accents, and its fresh acidity balances its satiny, mouth-coating texture. Its juxtaposition of concentrated fruit and shimmery tension draws you back to the glass for another dynamic sip, and although it's approachable now, it will develop complexity in bottle over the next decade. 2,163 cases were made.
About the producer
Founded in 1983 by Sir Peter Michael CBE and his wife Margaret, Peter Michael Winery produces some of California’s finest wines.