2002 Sauvignon Blanc l'Apres Midi
Estimated value
Buying options
Tasting notes
(100% fermented and aged in barrel, but only 12% new) Perfumed, highly floral aromas of grapefruit, apple, minerals and spicy oak. Juicy and delicate but penetrating, with varietally accurate flavors of gooseberry, lemon drop, mandarin orange and pink grapefruit, along with this wine's characteristic stoniness; the 2% semillon component adds a bit of texture and a note of quince ("like Fieuzal," notes Morlet). Very rich, fruity sauvignon but classically dry. Only 20% of the wine went through malolactic fermentation. The wine's strong minerality gives it lightness and grip.
Critic scores
Average Score
Robert Parker
Stephen Tanzer, Vinous
More reviews and scores
The brilliant 2002 L’Apres Midi, a 1,600-case blend of 98% Sauvignon Blanc and 2% Semillon, is about as good as California Sauvignon can be. It is 100% barrel-fermented, but only sees about 14% new oak. Its gorgeous bouquet of honeyed grapefruit, lemon oils, melon, and tropical fruits is accompanied by a medium-bodied, zesty, intensely flavored offering with a layered finish. Enjoy it over the next 1-2 years. Tel. (707) 942-4459; Fax (707) 942-0209
About the producer
Founded in 1983 by Sir Peter Michael CBE and his wife Margaret, Peter Michael Winery produces some of California’s finest wines.