2020 Peter Michael Sauvignon Blanc L'Apres-Midi
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Tasting notes
Composed of 98% Sauvignon Blanc and the remainder Semillon, the nose of the 2020 L'Apres-Midi is tightly wound with lime, rosemary, and white flowers. The palate is juicy and fresh, with grapefruit zest, white peach, and salty earth. Drink over the next 6 years. Sir Peter Michael founded his eponymous winery in 1982, after having been inspired by the wine of Chateau Montelena, which led him to California. In 2020, Robert Fiore took the helm as winemaker, but the previous 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 that modulate with varied exposition and soils in the Knights Valley. Sir Peter’s son Paul and his wife Emily oversee the management of the winery today.
Critic scores
James Suckling
Jeb Dunnuck
More reviews and scores
The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc l'Apres Midi includes a tiny proportion of Sémillon. Picked very ripe and barrel fermented in about 20% new French oak, but with the malolactic fermentation blocked, it's a full-bodied creamy-textured white wine, with notes of ripe fig and melon accented by grassier notes, lime zest and hints of struck flint and crushed stone. I prefer this style of wine on the young side, so I'd suggest drinking it over the next couple of years.
The 2020 Sauvignon Blanc Après-Midi comes across as tight and lean. It will be interesting to see if the 2020 softens a touch. It's pretty hard to get past the angular contours that are present today.
Lime and pear with aniseed undertones. Very aromatic. Medium-to full-bodied and very fresh with brightness and beauty. This is rather special, with only 2% semillon, the rest sauvignon blanc. Drink now.
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.