This is the first time that this is majority Cabernet with recent replanting, the aim being to adapt the vineyard to global climate change; it’s also the first vintage as a Grand Cru Classé. Violet, crushed rose petals and blood orange intermingle with the dark berry and stone fruits. Green peppercorns bring their own freshness. The florality is revealed slowly and progressively. In the mouth this is both fluid and crystalline, more delicate than it used to be. It is both mineral and spicy on the finish, with the salinity of black liquorice. Very clean and linear on the finish after the amplitude, opulence and richness of the attack and mid-palate. Nicely chiselled by the calcaire tannins. Very beautiful, showing nice restraint and glorious in its floral Cabernet fruit – one sees the future of the appellation here. And we have something resembling the tannic quality of Vérité itself. Lifted and elegant. 

The first vintage of this wine, the 2021 Cabernet Sauvignon Collina was set to be bottled in January 2024, after my late-year visit. Marked by scents of cedar and cherries, with a subtle herbal undercurrent and hints of mint and vanilla, it's medium to full-bodied in the mouth. Elegantly framed by fine-grained tannins and long on the finish, it's not a show-stopper, just a really nice, balanced Napa Cabernet.

There is a laser-like focus to this large-scaled, inky/purple-tinged 2003. Notes of graphite, pen ink, black currant liqueur, smoke, crushed minerals, cedar, spice box, tobacco leaves, and gravity/hot rock characteristics emerge from this sensational, tannic effort. Anticipated maturity: 2010-2025.

The 2018 La Joie exudes class from the very first taste. Firm underpinnings of structure provide a gorgeous framework that wraps around a core of intense dark fruit. Lavender, sage, mint and grilled herb accents exalt the aromatic intensity of Cabernet Sauvignon.

For the first time ever, Le Désir is 100% Cabernet Franc in 2018. Vivid and brilliant in the glass, Le Désir bristles with energy. A vivid array of dark fruit, leather, spice, licorice, chocolate and espresso captivates all the senses. The 2018 Le Désir is a very special wine in the making.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages A barrel sample, the deep garnet-purple colored 2017 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard gives up a gregarious nose of crushed black and red currants, warm plums and charcuterie with touches of truffes, dried herbs and black soil. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and chewy with loads of expressive black fruit and savory layers, finishing on a mineral note.

We will not see the 2013s for a number of years, but the 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Montana Vineyard (100% Cabernet Sauvignon) looks to be spectacular. It may be the finest Anakota Cabernet Sauvignon yet made by Pierre Seillan. Gorgeous levels of blueberry and blackberry fruit, graphite, wet rocks, a certain freshness and focus, enormous fruit extract, and full body suggest a wine that should last for three decades or more.

Awesome, boasts a saturated purple color as well as aromas of blackberry liqueur, cogar tobacco, chololate, licorice, minerals, and cocoa. The knock-out aromatics are followed by a compellingly concentrated, layered wine of exceptional harmony, purity, and richness. Purchasers are in for a religious drinking experience, send in the angels! Anticipated maturity: 2006-2025.

Its saturated purple color is accompanied by an extraordinary perfume of smoke, roasted meats, blackberry and crème de cassis liqueur, super richness, a viscous texture, and amazing length (the finish lasts nearly a minute). Pure, sweet, and bull-bodied, this blockbuster will be at its finest between 2006-2025.

USA, Northern California, Napa Valley: 2016 & 2017 – A Tale of Two Vintages A barrel sample blended of 88% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec, the 2017 La Muse is very deep purple-black colored and reveals a compelling nose of warm plums, crushed cherries and mulberries with hints of rose hip tea, tobacco and tilled soil. The palate is medium to full-bodied, firm and chewy with a lively line supporting the taut, muscular fruit, finishing long.

Deep ruby. Wonderfully pure aromas and flavors of crushed cassis, minerals and exotic spices. Huge, sweet and plush but utterly primary for a wine with so much flesh. Boasts the chocolatey richness of a topnotch Pomerol from a great year, but the wine's huge, ripe tannins will require at least five or six years of aging. Finishes with outstanding length

Saturated bright ruby-red. Cassis, blueberry and exotic tropical chocolate on the nose. Dense, sweet and extremely primary, with outstanding depth to the dark fruit, mineral and chocolate flavors. Wonderfully silky for such a young and fresh wine. The resounding, perfumed finish features perfectly distributed tannins and superb length. I'd love to show this merlot-based blend to some producers in Pomerol.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 07 (88% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 2% malbec) Deep red-ruby. Vinous aromas of black cherry, licorice and minerals, lifted by pungent medicinal high tones. Silky on entry, then impressively dense in the middle, with a deeply mineral character to the pure flavors of black fruits, violet, bitter chocolate and spice. Tannins are substantial but fine, and the wine's structure and freshness promise a long and slow evolution in bottle. 94-97 points

Deep ruby to the rim. Aromas of blackberry, violet, bitter chocolate and licorice. Huge, broad and silky, with a wonderfully suave texture. Flavors of dark berries, chocolate and mocha. As fat as this is, it's also quite lively. Finishes with uncanny breadth, horizontal tannins and outstanding plalate-staining persistence.

The 2016 La Joie is decidedly heavy on the Cabernet Sauvignon, which comes through loud and clear in this super-expressive wine. Nuanced, powerful and deep, with tons of richness, the 2016 is shaping up to be a very complete wine. The aromatic intensity here is superb. I can't wait to see where it goes in coming years. Graphite, smoke, crème de cassis, dark spices and lavender build into the super-expressive finish.

Dark red stone fruit, blueberry jam, mocha, leather and cedar make a strong first impression in the 2015 La Joie. Powerful, voluptuous and also quite structured, the 2015 is shaping up to be a jewel of a wine.

An opulent, totally enveloping wine, the 2013 La Joie races across the palate with remarkable depth, power and intensity. Inky blue and purplish fruit, smoke, tobacco, licorice and cloves open up as this dramatic, full-throttle Cabernet Sauvignon-based red shows off its considerable personality. Huge tannins lurk in the background but they are nearly covered by the sheer opulence of the fruit. A wine of considerable verticality and structure, the 2013 is going to require quite a bit of patience.

Good full ruby. Medicinal cassis, licorice, minerals and graphite on the nose; I would have placed this in St. Julien or Pauillac. Then large-scaled and sweet but with terrific grip and sappiness for a wine so plush. A real fruit bomb today, with outstanding depth and concentration of black cherry and dark berry flavors. Finishes with noble tannins and terrific peppery lift. As I tasted this wine, it crossed my mind once again that Pierre Seillan's top efforts under the Verite label are as good as just about any of California's cult wines-at about half the price.

Stephen Tanzer's International Wine Cellar, May/Jun 07 (67% cabernet sauvignon, 12% each cabernet franc and merlot, 7% petit verdot and 2% malbec) Good saturated, full ruby. Musky, perfumed aromas of black fruits, violet, licorice and minerals. Thicker on entry than the Muse but solid as a rock, boasting superb ripeness and a chewy texture. A wonderfully ripe, sweet wine with uncanny aromatic persistence. The tannins are buried in fruits and minerals. This is 14.9% alcohol, the highest of the 2004 and 2005 Verite wines, the rest of which are between 14.3% and 14.6%. 94-97 points

The 2013 Cabernet Sauvignon Helena Dakota Vineyard reveals more chocolate and coffee notes. Slightly leaner than the Helena Montana, but also profoundly concentrated, it is a more elegant, feminine version of its sibling. It should age for 20-25 years.

A barrel sample, the 2016 Hartford Court Chardonnay Three Jacks Vineyard opens with savory cashew, yeast extract and brioche notes with a core of warm pears, green guava and apricots with a touch of allspice. Medium to full-bodied, the palate gives knockout savory and stone fruit layers with great freshness, finishing on a lingering toasty note.

Great dark, cherry, a touch of vanilla, and a hint of pine. On the palate, this is a legitimate whoa: fruit? Check. Depth? Intrigue? Check. Check. Whoa. Outstanding.

Rich and loaded with fruit. Strawberry and eucalyptus. Fantastic wine. Whoa. Outstanding.

We opened this on the same night as the 2007 Siduri Amber Ridge, and while the Siduri was incredible, this topped it. Slightly. Whoa. So this is not a subtle Pinot. This falls more into the “balls to the walls” style of Pinot. More than ample fruit, great depth. Whoa, and a holy cow. Fantastic.

As for the 2015s, one can anticipate that these are going to be big, blackberry and blueberry-laced wines, opaque in color, with loads of glycerin. The Helena Dakota will probably inch out the Helena Montana in terms of concentration, length and intensity by a slight degree, but both are mid-90-point wines that should have early drinkability windows because of their sucrosity and supple, sweet tannins, yet be capable of lasting 25-30 or more years. This is an up-and-coming star.