Composed of 84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, and the remainder of Petit Verdot, the 2019 La Joie is compact and unfolds more slowly in the glass. The nose is rich with graphite, sage oil, and black plum. The palate is full of kirsch, fresh leather, currant, and tobacco, with fine tannins that go for ages, along with the fruit and well-balanced acidity. This will warrant 3-5 years cellar to express its full potential over the following 20 years.

The purity of fruit with currants, spices and flowers is very impressive, as is the long, creamy texture. Full-bodied with medium, round tannins and a fresh finish. Oyster and iodine notes come through. Excellent. Drink after 2026.

This wine is exciting. Its inception came when Jess Jackson asked Pierre Seillan to experiment with Cabernet Sauvignon after finding success with Verité's Merlot-based La Muse wine. The cuvée, sourced for numerous plots throughout four appellations, yielded what Seillan called ‘La Joie’ - joy on his nose and palate. Every whiff and every sip reveals something new: violets, tobacco, white pepper, dried herbs, raspberry, and so much more. No matter how many layers you peel back, another one is underneath. Wildly fresh with grippy tannins that grab your attention in a good way, this wine is multi-dimensional. Simply excellent.

The 2019 La Joie is striking on the nose with its pure, alluring scents of violet and iron. As it spends time in the glass, it gains intensity, blossoming to aromas of crème de cassis, mint chocolate, licorice, truffle and softening new French oak spices. The palate is bursting with concentrated flavors characterized by energetic acidity rather than weight or extraction. It features tremendously velvety tannins and a very long finish with ringing graphite and violet tones.

Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, this has power and balance, with suave black cherry, damson, cocoa bean character and toasted five spice character. Always a wine that knows how far to push, and no further, giving impact and tension, and a confident architectural frame. Pierre Seillan winemaker.

84% Cabernet Sauvignon, 7% Merlot, 5% Cabernet Franc, 4% Petit Verdot .  Pure blackcurrant fruit on the nose with subtle hints of wood spice – this is very fine, with a refinement and delicacy of fruit. This follows on the palate, which has a precise structure. Still chalky and deep in tannins, but beautifully framed by deep, yet fresh, black fruit. There is a sunny edge to this wine – it is ripe – but the balance is perfect. Very long and pure. (TP)