2001 Verite - La Joie

UNITED STATES / CALIFORNIA / SONOMA
  • 96 WA
  • 86 WS
  • 93 IWC
  • Variety
    Proprietary Blend
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SKU: 60330-2001
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  • International Wine Cellar | Rating: 93

    ($125) Bright ruby. Roasted, medicinal aromas of currant, espresso, bitter chocolate and minerals. Thick, fat and sweet, with compelling opulence for a cabernet-dominated wine (this is Seillan's Pauillac blend) and an almost exotic berry flavor. Finishes with sweeter tannins than the 2001 Muse, perhaps a testament to the superiority of high-quality cabernet sauvignon.
    Author: Stephen Tanzer
    Issue: May/June 2004

  • Wine Spectator | Rating: 86

    Subtle herb and mocha aromas carry over to the palate, where the earthy currant and cedar flavors are firm, with a tannic structure. A Bordeaux-like interpretation of Sonoma County Cabernet. Rich, concentrated and tightly wound. Needs time. 500 cases made.
    Author: James Laube

  • Wine Advocate | Rating: 95

    The 2001 La Joie (71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 19% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Franc) remains a backward, youthful wine revealing an inky/purple color as well as notes of graphite, licorice, creme de cassis, truffles and new saddle leather. It has fabulous fruit on the attack and mid-palate, a massive, concentrated, tannic mouthfeel and a long finish. Even younger than La Muse, it needs another decade of cellaring and should age for 40-50 years thereafter. Pierre Seillan told me that 44% of the grapes came from Alexander Valley, 35% from Knight's Valley and the rest from Chalk Hill.
    Author: Robert Parker
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    "The name Verite, French for truth, stands for wines that reflect their soil with integrity." The artisanal project of the late legendary California wine pioneer Jess Jackson, Verite sets out to produce serious Bordeaux-quality wines, with distinct California charm. To carry out his vision, Jackson imported Bordelais winemaker Pierre Seillan to craft three separate cuvees, each in the style of individual Bordeaux communes.

    From high elevation vineyards in Sonoma County's Alexander Valley, Knight's Valley, Bennett Valley and Chalk Hill appellations, comes "La Joie," "Le Desire," and "La Muse." While "La Joie" is a Cabernet-based nod to Paulliac, "Le Desire" and "La Muse" aspire toward Cabernet Franc-friendly Saint-Emilion and Merlot-centric Pomerol respectively. Not unlike their Bordeux counterparts, these wines are built to last 30-50 years, so to expect a typical fruit-driven, vivacious wine would be a mistake. The care taken to craft these profound efforts has been recognized by Robert Parker, who has awarded seven 100-point scores for Verite's three blends, the first time a Sonoma County winery has received this many perfect scores.
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    California is the heartland of wine production in the US, and the state that brought prestige to American wine thanks to the pioneers who built early wineries like Staglin, Beringer, Ridge, Mayacamas and Chateau Montelena in the 1800s. Its large geographic area ensures a great diversity in growing sites, varieties grown, and quality levels. Generalizations about the state's wines have numerous exceptions; however, a few key facts generally hold true—ample sunshine, dry weather during the growing season, and moderate winters prevail. Chardonnay and Cabernet Sauvignon continue to dominate the state's production—albeit in continually smaller percentages, as growers continue to diversify. More than 100 different varieties can be found throughout the state.

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    Collector Data For This Wine

    • 1012 bottles owned
    • 214 collectors