(94 points) Sir Peter Michael’s flagship wine ‘les povets’, or 'the poppies’, delivers a fine and complex full-bodied wine that will reward cellaring. It has a ripe, sweet nose of warm fruit and concentrated blackberry jam, combined with herbal, minty characters and a veneer of fine oak. The palate is fresh, tight, balanced and refined, carrying a weight that hides the alcohol well.

(91 points) Made from a selection of the lots considered not rich enough for Les Pavots, the 2012 L’Esprit des Pavots is a 1,710-case blend of 52% Cabernet Sauvignon, 30% Merlot, 14% Cabernet Franc and 4% Petit Verdot. A fruity red displaying notes of coffee beans, chocolate, plums, black cherries, truffles and earth, it is a medium to full-bodied, lush red meant to be enjoyed over the next 10-12 years.