The 2014 La Muse (2,800 cases ) is a legendary effort. The wine offers an opaque purple color and a gorgeous nose of lead pencil shavings, blackberry, incense, Asian spice, cocoa, plum, and a touch of chocolate and barrique. On the palate, more cassis and blackberry come to the forefront. The wine is unctuous, with adequate acidity and a stunning energy underneath the massive fruit and body. This is a spectacularly fragrant and, at the same time, dense wine, with enough structure (somewhat surprising in this vintage) to last 35-45+ years. The final blend was 88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. - Robert Parker

97+ A gorgeous effort as well, the 2014 La Muse is a Merlot-dominated cuvee blended with 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec. This deep ruby/purple-colored beauty boasts a terrific perfume of black raspberries, cassis, graphite, chocolate, and a beautiful earthy minerality. This isn’t your over the top, opulent Merlot and shows incredible class and purity, as well as full-bodied richness, high, yet integrated tannin, impeccable balance and a great finish. It’s not anywhere close to primetime (which is rare for a 2014) and needs 4-5 years at a minimum. It’s going to be incredibly long-lived.

Of all the Vérité wines, La Muse, a Pomerol-inspired blend, is the most in need of time in the cellar. A bouquet of spicy black fruit, plum, clove and rich barrel toast is still quite marked by its elevage at this early stage. On the palate the wine is ample and full-bodied, with fine-grained, polished tannins, good acidity and a deep, savoury core. Give this a few years to harmonise, as it reliably does. Read more at https://www.decanter.com/wine-reviews/usa/california/verite-la-muse-sonoma-county-california-usa-2014-13368#fWFzXCEGlGJbaMjK.99