La Joie, Vérité Winery 2018

Composed of 76% Cabernet Sauvignon, 9% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot and 3% Malbec, the 2018 La Joie displays an opaque purple-black color, slowly unfurling to offer profound notes of crème de cassis, preserved plums and boysenberries, with hints of rare beef, pencil lead, black olives and lilacs, plus touches of fertile loam and crushed rocks. The medium-bodied palate has jaw-dropping elegance and poise, featuring a solid backbone of firm, very fine-grained tannins and bold freshness to support the intense mineral-laced black fruit layers, finishing long with loads of savory and floral sparks. Simply breathtaking!

Plump damson flavours, touches of oak grilling, vanilla bean, chocolate shavings and tobacco, feels confident and powerful with an uptick through the finish. Cabernet Sauvignon dominant, but these are fully ripe Cab flavours, richly textured berry fruits without a hint of green. The precision, and the carefully placed tannins become clearer as it opens, so make sure you leave it in a carafe for a good few hours if drinking any time soon. Highly enjoyable.