Peter Michael Winery: A Remarkable Expression of the Vine
Tasting Lineup
Peter Michael Winery is located in the northeast corner of Sonoma County (California) in Knights Valley AVA. This is the main winery, and several of the vineyards are at this location. A tasting at this property includes a stunning view of the vineyards from 1000 feet up, on the hillside of Mount Saint Helena. Upon arrival, you are welcomed into a tasting room that has the comfort of a friend’s living room and truly feels like a home. This is a warm and open space. The real journey though is by truck. You are driven slowly to the top of the hillside to enjoy the view. Here, they have built a guest space that allows for the magnificent view of vineyards and the valley below. It is a gorgeous expanse of hillsides and vines. The winery is a remarkable commitment to nature.
The winery itself is 750 acres with 144 planted to vines. Beyond Knights Valley, Peter Michael’s other vineyards are located in Oakville (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc and Merlot) and in Seaview on the Sonoma mountains providing coastal mountain vineyards for Pinot Noir. These far-reaching vineyards allow Peter Michael to deliver a broad portfolio of wines including Sauvignon Blanc, Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and red blends.
Ah yes, the wine! The Chardonnay that we tasted was rich and plush after 11 years of aging. The tasting was set up to demonstrate how the wines evolve. Kenji, who led our tasting, was extremely well educated on the winery, its history, and the depth of the portfolio. Unlike many tastings, the one at Peter Michael is designed to showcase the ability and potential for gracious aging and evolution of the wines. The wines are svelte, smooth, and rich after several years of aging.
The entire lineup was one of great depth. We had the pleasure to taste through four wines, beginning with the lovely 2014 ‘Belle Côte’ Chardonnay as mentioned previously. We then moved on to the Estate Sauvignon Blanc, the 2018 ‘L’Apres-Midi’, which was bright and full of orchard fruit. Then we tasted the 2012 ‘Les Pavots’ Estate Cabernet Blend and the 2012 ‘Au Paradis’ single vineyard Estate Cabernet Sauvignon. Both were very deep and rich, being fully expressive after 13 years of aging. All the wines were well-structured wines that will age gracefully. It is not often you get the chance to taste the depth and age-ability of wines. Peter Michael is a true standout in the valley.
Tastings at Peter Michael Winery are offered for members of the mailing list. To get access to a tasting, you can join their waitlist at the website to be added to their mailing list. I’d also recommend calling the winery to ask if you can schedule a tasting. It’s a two-hour experience that is worth the effort. The beautiful wine and gorgeous scenery are both memorable.
Enjoy!
