2018 Verite Mixed Case (1xLa Joie/1xLa Muse/1xLe Desir)

The 2018s from Vérité have received unsurprisingly high praise from the critics. These are exceptional wines. Lisa Perrotti-Brown MW from the Wine Advocate has given La Muse 100 points, 98 points to La Joie and 97+ points to Le Désir, with similarly high scores from others. The 2018 La Muse displays extraordinary concentration. The nose is instantly alluring – with sweet, plump, red cherry fruit mingling with notes of dark cocoa, grilled toast and cinnamon. On the palate there’s a red-berry vibrancy to the plush but pure fruit. The texture is incredibly fine – with velvet tannins that build gradually to provide a structured framework for the layers of ripe fruit. The finish is long, with a herbal and savoury, almost smoky, twist that lingers for an age. A blend of 90% Merlot with 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec, this is a stunning wine. There’s a little more Malbec in the 2018 La Joie than previously, having shown particularly well in the vintage. The nose is a little reductive at first, but once that blows off there is wave upon wave of intense, blackcurrant fruit, complemented by clove, cinnamon, liquorice, lifted aromatics and a rounded sweetness from the oak. On the palate, however, it’s full of freshness – with zing and zip, it’s juicy and long with a blackcurrant leaf note cutting the vibrant fruit. The finish is impressively long and mouth-watering. While undoubtedly better in three years’ time, this is amazingly approachable – such is the balance on show. Last but not least, the 2018 Le Désir has the highest percentage of Cabernet Franc to date – 82%, blended with 12% Merlot and 6% Malbec. The percentage of Cabernet Franc is increasing every year, as vines that Pierre Seillan planted reach maturity. This instantly reveals its dominant varietal, with an herbaceous edge to the pure cassis fruit. The new oak provides a sweet cloaking for the fruit, but needs a little time to integrate. The fruit here is much crunchier than La Joie or La Muse, with a long savoury finish. Intense and full, with a square structure, there’s an energy that makes this wine enchanting.