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VERITE Vérité (Truth), a new venture for Jackson Family Farms, is located near Healdsburg, California in the Sonoma Valley (707-433-9000). Pierre Seillan, a winemaker from France, is charged with the duty of making Vérité, the flagship red wine, and its cousin, La Joie. Vérité is a Merlot based wine, whereas La Joie is Cabernet Sauvignon based. The 1998 Vérité is a blend of 90% Merlot and 10% Cabernet Sauvignon, with 62% coming from Sonoma and 32% from Napa. The 1998 La Joie is a blend of 70% Cabernet Sauvignon and 30% Merlot with 90% coming from Sonoma and 10% from Napa. These wines are crafted from grapes selected from the "choicest micro-crus of California's finest mountain vineyards." Both 1998 efforts are very good considering the mediocre vintage. As most 1998 California reds, they lack concentration of fruit, and the tannins dominate resulting in thin, astringent wines. The Vérité and La Joie are in a league with the very best 1998s I've tasted, but they don't hold a candle to the 1999s. Approximately 2000 cases of Vérité, and 1900 cases of La Joie were produced. The fruit for these wines comes from Ahmann Vineyard, Carneros, Alexander Mountain Estate, Sonoma, Bennett Mountain, Sonoma and Kellogg, Sonoma. 1999 Vérité , Napa & Sonoma appellation, approx. $150, 93+pts, C5-N?F4A3T4-E4+TFR3: Saturated purple/red color, excellent concentration, rich, lingering finish that will only get better with time. Excellent potential for developing complexity. Composition: 90% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot. Release date: approximately August 2002. Tasted 8/5/01. 1999 La Joie, Napa & Sonoma Appellation, approx. $120, 94+ pts: Wow! This beauty needs time for its immense tannic structure to soften, but substantial fruit is there to eventually balance. Outstanding potential. Watch this one. Release: August 2002. Tasted 8/5/01.
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The Alchemist's Wine Perspective™ |