Bright ruby-red. Very ripe aromas of blackcurrant, black raspberry, coffee and graphite. Big, rich, minerally and classically dry, with a firm edge of acidity giving it uncommon spine for a wine with nearly 90% merlot. This exploded with minerality as it opened in the glass. Finishes rich, deep and long, with some new oak showing.

The 2006 La Muse (86% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, and 4% Malbec; 900 cases produced) displays the structure, austerity, and tannic framework of a top Bordeaux. Even though it is dominated by California-grown Merlot, it is not an up-front, forward, seductive effort. It exhibits notes of underbrush, earth, cedar, black cherries, and espresso roast in a medium to full-bodied, tannic, concentrated, extracted style. It requires 3-4 years of bottle age, and should evolve for 25+ years. With Bordeaux winemaker Pierre Seillan in charge, owner Jess Jackson has clearly positioned Verite as one of the two or three flagship wines in his impressive empire. These cuvees represent California versions of Bordeaux appellations, with the Merlot-dominated La Muse very Pomerol-like, the Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated La Joie a hypothetical California version of a Medoc, and the St.-Emilion look-alike, the Merlot and Cabernet Franc blend, Le Desir. These wines are fashioned from the finest Sonoma vineyard sites owned by Jackson, and are meant for long-term aging. In 2007, the Bordeaux varietals (Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Petit Verdot) grown in California’s North Coast exhibit sweet tannins as well as superb fragrance and purity. Yet, Verite’s wines are among the more structured, dense, and powerfully backward of the vintage

Rank Number 28 - 93 Points

2004 VERITE LA MUSE The inky/ruby/plum/purple-tinged 2004 La Muse, primarily Merlot with a bit of Cabernet Franc and Cabernet Sauvignon from Bennett Valley, Alexander Valley, and Knight's Valley, is meant to be a Pomerol-styled effort. Notions of Mocha, sweet espresso roast, plum, anise, and black cherries jump from the glass of this aromatic 2004. Abundant spice, subtle notes of French oak, and a full-bodied, fleshy personality result in an enjoyable as well as accessible wine to drink over the next 12-15+ years.

Plum jam, spicy, licorice, savoury, meaty, saddle leather, peppery, vanilla, black olive aromas. Round, supple, full, long palate with good acidity and some gritty, youthful tannins. Coffee, chocolate, spicy, clove, Christmas cake, orange, black cherry, plum, carrot and licorice flavours with a touch of green olive and tobacco leaf on the finish. Great concentration and ripeness with length if abit warm. Needs 3-7 years to fully integrate but very fine.

Full ruby-red. Deep aromas of currant, mocha, chocolate, iron, tobacco and dried herbs, with a liqueur-like nuance. Round, vinous and rich, with highly concentrated flavors of currant, leather and chocolate. There's a silkiness to the texture and a candied note to the wine's fruit, but this powerfully structured merlot-based wine's building tannins and uncompromising dryness will require at least four or five years of cellaring.

An elegant, sweet nose of espresso roast, chocolate, berries, kirsch, smoke, incense, and roasted meats is followed by a full-bodied, unctuously-textured wine with superb fruit, richness, complexity, and length. Its sweet tannin and heady personality suggest current accessibility as well as the ability to age for 15-20 years.

This attractive blend of 53% Merlot, 41% Cabernet Franc, 5% Cabernet Sauvignon and 1% Malbec is round, fruity, soft, fleshy, medium to full-bodied and seemingly fully mature. Enjoy it over the next decade. It is the most evolved and least concentrated of Verite's 2002s.

The Surprise of 2015 in Napa and Other California Wine Reviewed Black truffles, dried meat and dark fruits on the nose. Full body with flavors of meat, coffee and foie gras. Slightly chewy tannins. Holding on beautifully. Drink now.

Lush and delicious, this richly fruited wine roars from glass with a serious, yet still sexy plum, chocolate, spice and cedar nose. Plush tannins and an even mouthfeel full cherry, plum and cocoa flavors, and this impressive first release finishes long and dry. Appealing now, but has tannins to lose. Should be even better in two years. Hold until 2008.

Cabernet Sauvignon takes center stage in the 2011 La Joie. Dark red cherry, plum, smoke, mint, licorice, savory herbs and violets are all laced together nicely. The 2011 possesses lovely mid-palate sweetness in the soft, restrained style of the year. Here, too, the flavor profile is distinctly Old World leaning.

2004 VERITE LA JOIE The 2004 La Joie, which is sourced from the same areas as La Muse, is usually composed of 70% or more Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Merlot, and the rest Cabernet Franc. This pauillac-like effort is more tannic, structured, and masculine, offering hints of forest floor intermixed with smoke, seaweed, black currants, scorched earth, graphite, chocolate, and coffee. Powerful, big, and back-strapping, it is atypical for a 2004 given its structure and brooding character. Cellar it for 2-4 years and consume it over the following 15 or more.

Get Ready: The Super Italians Are Coming This is quite reduced now, so it certainly needs some time in bottle before serving. It should turn out to be a beauty; dark cherries, black olives and blackberry tart intermingle with vanilla and spices. Full-bodied with a lovely, velvety mouthfeel and loads of layers of dark fruit.

This is exceptionally well-made for the vintage with blackberry, dark chocolate and nutmeg character. Medium body, firm and chewy tannins and a fresh finish. Needs a year or two to soften.

Plenty of cherry and chocolate character with hints of hazelnut. Medium body, silky tannins and a focused finish. I like the focus and energy.

The 2013 Chianti Classico Riserva is a terrific wine that is offered at a very attractive price point. The bouquet is sweet and generous with bold layers of red fruit and dark berry nuances. Those are followed by balanced tones of spice, tobacco and moist earth. The blend is 90% Sangiovese and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon aged in French oak for up to 12 months. This 2013 vintage shows exceptionally well. Some 27,000 bottles are produced.

Impressive intensity of fruit here with blueberry, blackberry and raspberry character yet a linear acidity and tannin backbone cuts through the middle of the wine. Fine and racy. Drink or hold.

Smooth and juicy with suave plum, blackberry, vanilla oak and minerals; rich and deep with big flavors and lovely texture; ripe, balanced and vivid style; a great wine from this magnificent property.

If you haven't already bought this, do. I am tasting it a little late. The nose to this is so beautiful with licorice and dark fruits. Full body, with lovely integrated, polished tannins. Long and caressing. Very, very beautiful.

Massive in structure, this blend of merlot with cabernet sauvignon (18 percent) and cabernet franc (5) finds its power in the mixed soils of this estate in central Tuscany. It's grown in clay, sandstone, basalt and schist. The tannins ease up after a few hours, revealing ripe flavors of plum and savory dark chocolate notes. Built for the cellar, this should continue to evolve over the next ten to 12 years.

Arceno is Jess Jackson’s estate in Chianti Classico, just north of Siena. Pierre Seillan blends several wines from the property: Arcanum I, which is focused on cabernet franc (59 percent) with cabernet sauvignon and merlot, is consistently the best. This wine glows in the glass, its aroma pure black currant, sweet and fresh. It has the class of finely grown cabernet franc with tannins that speak more of Tuscan earth than fruit. Robust in weight, yet silky smooth, this combines the best of the Old and New Worlds in a supple, luscious red wine. Probably best around ten years from the vintage, to serve with grilled baby lamb chops.

2004 Toscana Arcanum I Arceno is Jess Jackson's estate in Chianti Classico, just north of Siena. Pierre Seillan blends several wines from the property; Arcanum I, which is focused on cabernet franc (59 %), with cabernet sauvignon and merlot, is consistently the best. This wine glows in the glass, its aroma pure black currant, sweet and fresh. It has the class of finely grown cabernet franc, with tannins that speaks more of Tuscan earth than fruit. Robust in weight, yet silky smooth, this combines the best of the old and New worlds in a supple, luscious red wine. Probably best around ten years from the vintage. Serve with grilled baby lamb chops.

Rich chocolate and vanilla nose; dark and dense with ripe plum, blackberry and chocolate flavors; velvety textured and complex with lovely acid structure and a long, luxurious finish.

A smooth and supple Meritage, deeply concentrated, with a rich, detailed core of mineral, coffee, currant, cherry and sage flavors and a long, complex aftertaste where the flavors keep pumping. Drinks well now, but should be a beauty in another year or two.

Openly ripe and fruity, with complex aromas and flavors. The texture is smooth and polished, giving the core of currant, cherry coffee, cedar and spice a gentle ride until the finish, where the tannins firm up. (Also appeared in 8/99 issue.)