2018 Peter Michael L'Apres-Midi Sauvignon Blanc Knights Valley

The 2018 growing season began with abundant winter rainfall. Spring weather was cool and blooming, while delayed a bit, took place in almost perfect conditions resulting in a generous fruit set. The vines were vigorous thanks to the winter rains. Aggressive canopy management and fruit thinning brought the crop into optimal balance. Summer temperatures were moderate with no severe heat spikes. An extended Indian summer allowed our Sauvignon Blanc and Sémillon to gradually reach perfect ripeness. The moderate temperatures permitted a gradual harvest, resulting in an elegant, bountiful vintage of L’Après-Midi with classic flavors.

Winegrowing 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 was conducted in order to preserve the fruity and zesty character of the Sauvignon Blanc. All lots were aged separately on their lies for 9 months with gentle bâtonnage, then judiciously blended to compose the final cuvée.

Winemaker's Tasting Notes:  Intense and multi-layered, the bouquet is dominated by mineral, vine blossom, yellow nettle blossom, honeysuckle, white vine rose, hawthorn, lemon, lime, white peach, completed by acacia honey and candied anise. Rich, balanced, and elegant, the zesty flavors are reminiscent of the aromas with additional guava, Williams pear, Mirabelle plum and fresh almond notes. The strong mineral background, a stamp from our terroir, balances the overall richness and gives superb refinement. The finish is layered, extremely long and elegant. The 2018 L’Après-Midi will benefit from three years of cellaring and will age gracefully for a decade.