Winemaker Notes

The saturated garnet 2022 LEsprit des Pavots features an intense nose of cassis, black cherry, ripe plum and blackberries with hints of black olive, black tea and baking spices. The soft, supple entry and round generous tannins combine for a plush mouthfeel and elegant finish. This is a fleshy vintage of LEsprit des Pavots which can be approached in its early years but will continue to expand with age.

Blend: 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc, 8% Petit Verdot

Professional Ratings

95 Jeb Dunnuck
The deep ruby/magenta-colored 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon L’Esprit Des Pavots is a blend of Knights Valley and Oakville, and its fruity upfront with a ripe, floral perfume of purple flowers, violets, blackberries, and blueberries. The palate is full, with ripe tannins, and it retains good freshness despite the heat of this vintage. It offers more immediate appeal and has a more pliant and rounded structure. Drink 2026-2040.
94 Decanter
Ripe and heady blackcurrant with cedar and tobacco touches as well as clove and garrigue herbs. Very scented. Supple and lithe, quite high acidity sets the tone and gives this bite and frame. Quite taut and coiled, clearly powerful with an underlying sense of heat and spice. Ends grippy and stony. High acidity, mouthwatering but not thick or too ripe, definitely more streamlined and focussed. This is tense in the sense it drives from start to finish not expanding but maintaining a direct core. Theres a sense of the alcohol in the tightness and slight heat on the finish but its not overly jammy in terms of fruit presentation. Keeps a lifted and elevated airy element. I like the refinement and theres definitely purity to the fruit but its not super charming right now. I do love the construction though – very classy. Confident and long. Ageing 18 months, 70% new. 6% Petit Verdot completes the blend.
94 James Suckling

This delicious, almost sweet Bordeaux-style red blend entices with red cherries, strawberries and spearmint on a silky, lightly tannic frame. It’s easy to sip, indulgent in ripe fruit, cream and chocolate mint flavors. Soft tannins make it enjoyable now.

93 Robert Parker’s Wine Advocate
The 2022 L’Esprit des Pavots contains 59% Cabernet Sauvignon, 22% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Franc and 8% Petit Verdot (47% of the fruit comes from Knights Valley in Sonoma County and 53% of the fruit comes from Oakville in Napa County). It has pure aromas of black cherries, blueberries, savory herbs, graphite and violet. The full-bodied palate is ripe and concentrated with fine-grained tannins, mouthwatering acidity and a long, perfumed finish. A total of 1,681 cases were made, and the wine will be released in September of 2025.
92 Vinous
The 2022 L’Esprit des Pavots is absolutely gorgeous. Bold, juicy and forward, the 2022 is such a charmer. A blast of super-ripe dark red cherry fruit, mocha, truffle, spice, new leather, licorice and new oak makes a strong opening statement. In many vintages, L’Esprit is more aromatic and savory, but the 2022 is all about fruit. The blend is 53% Au Paradis and 47% Les Pavots.