Retail Team | May 18, 2024
Out of the tumultuous 2008 vintage in Sonoma, Vérité crafted three exceptional wines that some consider perfection.
The year challenged winemakers in Northern California with drought, heavy winds, unexpected frosts, and early heat waves. Despite these conditions, Vérité’s iconic trio of cuvées—La Joie, La Muse, and Le Désir—emerged unscathed and continue to impress 16 years later. Renowned critic Robert Parker awarded these wines 99, 100, and 100 points, respectively, describing Le Désir as “a perfect wine.”
This success is attributed to winemaker Pierre Seillan’s steadfast philosophy. Drawing on his experience in Bordeaux, Seillan emphasizes “le droit du sol” or the right of the soil, highlighting the importance of terroir. He meticulously selects grapes from over 50 micro-crus across four appellations and manages every detail from vine thinning to harvest.
In the cellar, this abundance of New World fruit takes on an Old World character. La Muse, dominated by Merlot, is reminiscent of an aristocratic Pomerol. La Joie, primarily Cabernet Sauvignon, mirrors a classic Médoc, similar to Pauillac. Le Désir, with its rich Cabernet Franc and Merlot blend, evokes a Saint-Émilion.
The 2008 releases are available for purchase today. Designed to age for 30 to 40 years, they are still in their early stages, beginning to reveal their complex harmony. Additionally, we offer Vérité’s 2018 cuvées – another 100-point vintage – available as a mixed case.
