Wow, an exceptional wine worthy of its lofty ratings, IMO. This wine is light on fresh fruit, heavy on terroir. For me, the flavor profile was of tar, volcanic scree, medium roast espresso beans of high caliber, cigar, forest floor. I loved it. This seems like it could age forever, perhaps at a glacial pace. Although there's no rush to drink it, I greatly enjoyed it today and don't see a reason to await something different.
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Tasting at the winery. Acidity is still in the foreground. Fresh and vibrant. Red and black fruit. Still some grippy tannins and a long life ahead. very well made
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Half Century Magnum Lunch (La Trompette) (London): From Magnum. A big wine, deep in colour, mostly Merlot with 8% Cab Franc and a splash of Malbec. The Cab Franc shows on the nose in a lovely way and there is a cool / altitude feel about it so the 14.5% isn’t obvious. It’s a pup. Revisit.
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Magnum Mike's Half Century Blow Out (La Trompette): Still but a pup! Tightly coiled, the fruit manages to hold the oak at bay but this is still very early. Jolly good new world bdx blend, would love to revisit in a decade or two.
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Magnum Mike's Magnificent Half Century (La Trompette): Magnum. This was today's dark horse (I'd barely heard of the wine, and didn't know what grapes it's made from - turns out it's 89% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec), and it certainly had plenty of dark-toned intensity... and it turned out to be my favourite of the reds. Pretty oaky on the nose still, though in an attractive way, and a hint of leafy Cabernet too. Very concentrated on the palate, but super clean with it; the wine has 14.5% ABV but somehow still seems cool and poised, with mesmerisingly precise notes of black cherry, graphite, lavender and cocoa. Some people will no doubt be repelled by a wine that's so obviously 'well made', but that's not always a pejorative and this striking wine was definitely popular around the table; and it is likely to be superb in 5-10 years' time.
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Distinctive Merlot dominance with a medium plus body, medium plus alcohol, legs and olfactory heat indicative of ~14.5% etoh. On the nose: lead, raspberry, black cherry. Palate: medium plus tannin, medium plus acid, dark berries, cedar box,
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Not my style of wine price taken into account. I know it is a 100p wine, but it does not change my opinion. Much too heavy and way too much oak (cedar). Will definitely change after many years in the cellar, but I doubt enough for my taste. Rating based on my preferences and performance right now.
89% Merlot 8% Cabernet Franc 3% Malbec from the top micro-crus of eastern Sonoma County with volcanic soils varying from rocky, clayey, ashy, to gravelly types. Aged 15 months in 100% new French oak. 14.4% Abv. Winemakers: Pierre Seillan and daughter Hélène Seillan Winery: Vérité Wines is an estate of Jackson Family Wines.
A(ccuracy)=2: Deep ruby. Mealy and floral Merlot blend. B(alance)=3: Opulent fruit in harmony with racy acidity and fine tannin. C(omplexity)=3: Dark berries, licorice, truffle, mint, mineral. D(epth)=2: Unctuous mouthfeel. Round palate and lingering finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,3,3,2] = 10/10
A most seductive CA Merlot blend.
For story-telling label graphics, see: [https://www.instagram.com/WineTally2020/] [https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/] For a unique multimedia resource, see [https://winetally.wixsite.com/vingnette2020]
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Beautiful petrichor, sous bois, forest floor and white truffle on the nose upon opening. Pureed raspberry and blueberries. Deep and a bit closed on the nose compared to older vintages.
Broad, deep and reticent on the palate this is just like the 07 in that it needs years.
If the 02 Muse is awesome right now and guessing that the 07 needs at least 5 years the 13 needs 10 years.
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Brought by a friend to a small group dinner. Should have decanted it in advance, but time did not allow. It's a fantastic blend that showed depth and complexity even in its relative youth from a powerful vintage. A bit out of my normal budget, but I can see why those with the means buy it.
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Long Easter Dinner: Intoxicating nose of toasted oak/roasted coffee beans (wow!). Full power wine with several layers of thick ripe (but not overripe) red and dark fruit and some earth aromas. Despite 5 hours in the decanter tannins still noticeable (but smooth). Long finish. Still quite young with over-powering fruit intensity which leaves little room for anything else on the palate today. Nevertheless, highly enjoyable wine with lots of potential (softer tannins, better balance, more complexity). 95 with potential for two or more extra points with some age.
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Tasted at a private wine & dine. Decanted 6h and probably needed this given we are still a coule of years away from drinking windows suggested by the pros. Light tabacco, black coffee with super-fresh fruit underneath. Fruits layered from light to dard. Roasted bread and a touch vanilla. Invigorating juiciness on the palate, but still a bit rough on the edges. This was my first Vérité experience and I‘ll definitely give it another try - but not yet convinced I can justify the price tag.
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A wine of striking minerality with a real sense of place, this merlot-dominated blend shows chocolate and black cherry on the nose, hints of menthol, and has a tart but softly tannic structure with a very long finish. Clearly will evolve positively for several years, might merit a substantially higher score if the wine gains in complexity as it ages.
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incredibly sophisticated, subtle definitely french style and lighter. excellent with food. The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like fig, cherry and honeysuckle. It tastes like sandalwood. The body is medium/full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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The utmost in elelgance, in a velvet dress. So demeure and almost flawless. There's a slightly oaky and jammy aspect during the exceptionally long finish that is quite embracing. Crushed lava rock, dark-roasted coffee grounds, dried plum, kakimochi arare and toasted oak. So layered and the velvety tannins are evident, yet the glorious fruit stands for so much. Drink 2022 - 2042.
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Way too young. Would never open myself. Please cellar for at least 10 yrs. Seriously good bones and structure. Superb fruit, and clearly a winemaker who knows hist stuff (and Sonoma terroir). Drank next to an '06 that was closer to its drinking window.
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barrel sample: not open for business on days 1/2. day 4: good very primary dark cherry/mixed currant, black tea; cedar; minor heat; seems less ripe/approachable than last year's samples.
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10/21/2023 - Staufer Likes this wine: 97 Points
great wine ! mesmerizing nose . still young . taste of dark cherries , blackberries and dark chocolate and a hint of licorice.
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9/1/2023 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 98 Points
Lucky me. Second time in the last two weeks served this same wine by the same friend. Again, a 98 and the same perceptions as on 8/20/23. Fabulous.
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8/20/2023 - Montesquieu Likes this wine: 98 Points
Wow, an exceptional wine worthy of its lofty ratings, IMO. This wine is light on fresh fruit, heavy on terroir. For me, the flavor profile was of tar, volcanic scree, medium roast espresso beans of high caliber, cigar, forest floor. I loved it. This seems like it could age forever, perhaps at a glacial pace. Although there's no rush to drink it, I greatly enjoyed it today and don't see a reason to await something different.
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8/2/2023 - nywine68 wrote: 95 Points
Tasting at the winery. Acidity is still in the foreground. Fresh and vibrant. Red and black fruit. Still some grippy tannins and a long life ahead. very well made
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6/18/2023 - Mbad77 wrote: 95 Points
Half Century Magnum Lunch (La Trompette) (London): From Magnum. A big wine, deep in colour, mostly Merlot with 8% Cab Franc and a splash of Malbec. The Cab Franc shows on the nose in a lovely way and there is a cool / altitude feel about it so the 14.5% isn’t obvious. It’s a pup. Revisit.
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6/17/2023 - lozatron Likes this wine:
Magnum Mike's Half Century Blow Out (La Trompette): Still but a pup! Tightly coiled, the fruit manages to hold the oak at bay but this is still very early. Jolly good new world bdx blend, would love to revisit in a decade or two.
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6/16/2023 - DAN BAILEY Likes this wine:
Not a wine/producer I’m very familiar with but this was superb. Precise, poised palate with a lovely spiciness to the fruit profile. Very impressive.
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6/16/2023 - NickA Likes this wine: 94 Points
Magnum Mike's Magnificent Half Century (La Trompette): Magnum. This was today's dark horse (I'd barely heard of the wine, and didn't know what grapes it's made from - turns out it's 89% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec), and it certainly had plenty of dark-toned intensity... and it turned out to be my favourite of the reds. Pretty oaky on the nose still, though in an attractive way, and a hint of leafy Cabernet too. Very concentrated on the palate, but super clean with it; the wine has 14.5% ABV but somehow still seems cool and poised, with mesmerisingly precise notes of black cherry, graphite, lavender and cocoa. Some people will no doubt be repelled by a wine that's so obviously 'well made', but that's not always a pejorative and this striking wine was definitely popular around the table; and it is likely to be superb in 5-10 years' time.
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1/7/2023 - JohannesGlugla Likes this wine: 95 Points
Loads of black berries. Tobacco at the end. Very long and opening up at the end.
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6/20/2021 - rylanreynolds wrote: 94 Points
Distinctive Merlot dominance with a medium plus body, medium plus alcohol, legs and olfactory heat indicative of ~14.5% etoh. On the nose: lead, raspberry, black cherry. Palate: medium plus tannin, medium plus acid, dark berries, cedar box,
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5/18/2021 - Kim Gerner wrote: 91 Points
Not my style of wine price taken into account. I know it is a 100p wine, but it does not change my opinion. Much too heavy and way too much oak (cedar). Will definitely change after many years in the cellar, but I doubt enough for my taste. Rating based on my preferences and performance right now.
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3/5/2021 - KTelaak_Buffalo Likes this wine: 95 Points
Amazing after about 3 hours decanting. Closed off upon opening but just beautiful and silky smooth after some time. Outstanding.
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11/17/2020 - WineTally Likes this wine:
89% Merlot
8% Cabernet Franc
3% Malbec
from the top micro-crus of eastern Sonoma County with volcanic soils
varying from rocky, clayey, ashy, to gravelly types.
Aged 15 months in 100% new French oak.
14.4% Abv.
Winemakers: Pierre Seillan and daughter Hélène Seillan
Winery: Vérité Wines is an estate of Jackson Family Wines.
A(ccuracy)=2: Deep ruby. Mealy and floral Merlot blend.
B(alance)=3: Opulent fruit in harmony with racy acidity and fine tannin.
C(omplexity)=3: Dark berries, licorice, truffle, mint, mineral.
D(epth)=2: Unctuous mouthfeel. Round palate and lingering finish.
Wine Tally Score [2,3,3,2] = 10/10
A most seductive CA Merlot blend.
For story-telling label graphics, see:
[https://www.instagram.com/WineTally2020/]
[https://www.facebook.com/WineTally/]
For a unique multimedia resource, see
[https://winetally.wixsite.com/vingnette2020]
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5/7/2019 - Otaku Oenophile Likes this wine: 98 Points
Beautiful petrichor, sous bois, forest floor and white truffle on the nose upon opening. Pureed raspberry and blueberries. Deep and a bit closed on the nose compared to older vintages.
Broad, deep and reticent on the palate this is just like the 07 in that it needs years.
If the 02 Muse is awesome right now and guessing that the 07 needs at least 5 years the 13 needs 10 years.
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2/23/2019 - srwatters Likes this wine: 95 Points
Brought by a friend to a small group dinner. Should have decanted it in advance, but time did not allow. It's a fantastic blend that showed depth and complexity even in its relative youth from a powerful vintage. A bit out of my normal budget, but I can see why those with the means buy it.
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4/4/2018 - Cailles wrote: 95 Points
Long Easter Dinner: Intoxicating nose of toasted oak/roasted coffee beans (wow!). Full power wine with several layers of thick ripe (but not overripe) red and dark fruit and some earth aromas. Despite 5 hours in the decanter tannins still noticeable (but smooth). Long finish. Still quite young with over-powering fruit intensity which leaves little room for anything else on the palate today. Nevertheless, highly enjoyable wine with lots of potential (softer tannins, better balance, more complexity). 95 with potential for two or more extra points with some age.
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4/1/2018 - sirpat00 Likes this wine: 95 Points
Tasted at a private wine & dine. Decanted 6h and probably needed this given we are still a coule of years away from drinking windows suggested by the pros. Light tabacco, black coffee with super-fresh fruit underneath. Fruits layered from light to dard. Roasted bread and a touch vanilla. Invigorating juiciness on the palate, but still a bit rough on the edges. This was my first Vérité experience and I‘ll definitely give it another try - but not yet convinced I can justify the price tag.
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6/9/2017 - Kim Gerner wrote: 94 Points
WA 100 points US wines (14 wines) - Wine tasting dinner (Søllerød Kro): Deep ruby/purple colour with slightly lighter rim. Herbal aromas, black pepper and farmyard notes. Not that complex. 94++
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4/25/2017 - KPB wrote: 92 Points
A wine of striking minerality with a real sense of place, this merlot-dominated blend shows chocolate and black cherry on the nose, hints of menthol, and has a tart but softly tannic structure with a very long finish. Clearly will evolve positively for several years, might merit a substantially higher score if the wine gains in complexity as it ages.
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2/16/2017 - fcxj wrote: 88 Points
Preferred Desir then Joie to this, more one-dimensional palate presence.
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1/12/2017 - Luvtwowine Likes this wine: 95 Points
incredibly sophisticated, subtle definitely french style and lighter. excellent with food.
The wine looks ruby colored. The legs are slow. There is light sediment in the bottle. It smells like fig, cherry and honeysuckle. It tastes like sandalwood. The body is medium/full. The wine has silky texture. The wine finishes medium. The wine has low acidity.
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11/19/2016 - Matt Scott Likes this wine: 98 Points
The utmost in elelgance, in a velvet dress. So demeure and almost flawless. There's a slightly oaky and jammy aspect during the exceptionally long finish that is quite embracing. Crushed lava rock, dark-roasted coffee grounds, dried plum, kakimochi arare and toasted oak. So layered and the velvety tannins are evident, yet the glorious fruit stands for so much. Drink 2022 - 2042.
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9/11/2016 - bravo.solares Likes this wine: 95 Points
Way too young. Would never open myself. Please cellar for at least 10 yrs. Seriously good bones and structure. Superb fruit, and clearly a winemaker who knows hist stuff (and Sonoma terroir). Drank next to an '06 that was closer to its drinking window.
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4/24/2014 - wabi47 wrote:
barrel sample: not open for business on days 1/2.
day 4: good very primary dark cherry/mixed currant, black tea; cedar; minor heat; seems less ripe/approachable than last year's samples.
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