Verite, La Joie

The wine is a deep ruby red, moving to a glowing garnet rim. The bouquet is composed by explosive notes of just-picked, small wild strawberries, dried rose petals, worn leather, game and forest floor. Layers of tobacco, holiday spices, pine tree and cocoa round out this remarkably vibrant library wine. As the taut, precise structure unfolds across the palate, the terroir of Sonoma’s top vineyard plots, grown and harvested by micro-cru, is expressed in gritty notes of iron, volcanic rock and granite. A strong tannic grip completes the mouthfeel before releasing the taster to a softer, lingering finish. This wine maintains a stunning core of ripe fruit through the decades. In a storm-fraught year, the Cabernet vines nonetheless thrived. With age, a brooding, intense season has matured into a charming, expressive and unforgettable wine; its signature liveliness is a testament to the integrity of this legendary first vintage of La Joie.