2013 Vérité, La Muse, Sonoma County, California, USA

The most widely planted grape in Bordeaux and a grape that has been on a relentless expansion drive throughout the world in the last decade. Merlot is adaptable to most soils and is relatively simple to cultivate. It is a vigorous naturally high yielding grape that requires savage pruning - over-cropped Merlot-based wines are dilute and bland. It is also vital to pick at optimum ripeness as Merlot can quickly lose its varietal characteristics if harvested overripe.

Sonoma County in Northern California is a renowned and diverse wine region with a rich history dating back to the 1800s. Its unique microclimates, soils, and sustainable practices allow for the cultivation of various grape varieties, including Chardonnay, Pinot Noir, Cabernet Sauvignon, and Zinfandel. The region's dynamic wine culture and picturesque vineyards make it a top destination for wine enthusiasts worldwide.

The Vérité estate is a vision created by the late Jess Jackson, a man who in Robert Parker’s eyes “was one of the most extraordinary men in the wine world I have ever met.”  These wines always rate very highly (indeed, since 1998 seven  have been awarded 100 Parker points) and the 2010 vintage is gaining great praise from the press and critics alike as a potential emergence of a new iconic wine from the United States. The wines of Vérité, French for “truth,” are the result of a combination of old world experience and new world fruit. The wine is a distinct blend of varietals harvested from small vineyard blocks, each cuvée culminating in a bespoke union of grape varieties, climate, soil expression and winemaking technique.  Vigneron Pierre Seillan refers to this methodology as droit du sol: “right of the soil.”   “The wines are elegant and complex, possessing superb concentration of flavor and color. These are wines meant to age over the next thirty years and will develop greater depth and character in your cellar.” Pierre Seillan, winemaker