The 2014 La Joie exudes freshness, energy and intensity. Black cherry, plum, licorice, lavender espresso and expressive spiced notes are all beautifully delineated in the glass. Raspberry jam, wild flowers, mint and gently spiced notes are laced into the super-expressive, silky finish. A final kick of Cabernet Sauvignon intensity adds lift in the 2014 La Joie, Vérité's Cabernet Sauvignon-based blend.

Deep ruby-garnet, the 2014 La Joie is alluringly tertiary on the nose with tones of iodine and truffle, old cigars, dried tobacco and blackcurrant. The medium-bodied palate is velvety and seamless, and the wine is showing a structural harmony and ideal balance of fruit and umami character. It's drinking beautifully!

The 2014 La Joie (78% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 2% Petit Verdot) ratchets up the level of intensity, but still seems primary and grapy, with an inky purple color, notes of graphite, blackberry and blueberry fruit.

77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Black cherry, smoke, toast. More tannic feel than their Muse cuvée, but the same smoked finish. Should age well, hopefully with emergent complexity to counter the oak dominance. (RH)

77% Cabernet Sauvignon, 13% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 3% Petit Verdot. Vegy and fresh. Not at all heavy or sweet. A bit tarry in fact. Dry finish. Very different from most. Racy. Sinewy. Possibly too much so. (JR)