2024 Peter Michael, 'L'Apres-Midi' Sauvignon Blanc, Knights Valley, Sonoma County, California, USA

An important white grape in Bordeaux and the Loire Valley that has now found fame in New Zealand and now Chile. It thrives on the gravelly soils of Bordeaux and is blended with Sémillon to produce fresh, dry, crisp Bordeaux Blancs, as well as more prestigious Cru Classé White Graves. It is also blended with Sémillon, though in lower proportions, to produce the great sweet wines of Sauternes. It performs well in the Loire Valley and particularly on the well-drained chalky soils found in Sancerre and Pouilly-Fumé, where it produces bone dry, highly aromatic, racy wines, with grassy and sometimes smoky, gunflint-like nuances.

Founded in 1982, Peter Michael Winery is situated on the slopes of the Mayacamas Mountains in Knights Valley, a subregion of Sonoma County known for its volcanic soil and excellent growing conditions. The winery’s estate vineyards are located at elevations ranging from 1,400 to 2,200 feet, providing a diverse range of microclimates and soil types.