Vérité La Joie -Joy- 2013

100 points Robert Parker, Jr.

The 2013 La Joie, which is 46% from Knights Valley, 32% from Chalk Hill and 22% from Alexander Valley, is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Showing loads of graphite, cedar wood, charcoal, crème de cassis and forest floor, this may well turn out to be a 50+-year wine. It tastes like a great first-growth Pauillac and has an amazing amount of complexity and richness.

15 months barrel aging in 100% new Frech oak.

The Opulenc of Cabernet Sauvignon is expressed in this complex wine showcasing an abundance of cedar wood, charcoal and astounding richness.

See also: Opus One 2016 release half october.

• Critic tasting note: "The nose is fruity, elegant and offers concentration, a nice depth as well as a beautiful complexity. The wine wins to be decanted. It reveals notes of blackberry and more slightly wild red berries associated with slight notes of soil, cocoa, coffee, wood, a subtle touch of violet as well as discreet touches of Sichuan pepper, a slight touch of truffle and roasting. The palate is fruity, well-balanced and offers a very pretty finesse, a pretty suavity, a beautiful structure, firmness, a slight straight, a very slight austerity as well as a nice slight, silky and slightly velvety. On the palate this wine expresses notes of fleshy / juicy blackberry, fleshy / crushed strawberry and slight notes of raspberry, cassis associated with touches of toasted oak, chocolate, slight touches of cornflower as well as a very discreet hint of grove, a subtle hint of crunchy red berries (in the background) and nutmeg. Good length and persistence. There are slight hints of mocha / tonka bean as well as a subtle hint of tobacco, roasting on the persistence." - 98/100, VertdeVin