The 2019 Verite La Muse is a proprietary red blend from Sonoma, California. This wine, produced by Verite, boasts a composition dominated by Merlot (90%), with small additions of Cabernet Franc (5%) and Malbec (5%). It is a red wine sealed with a cork and has an alcohol content of 14.1%.
James Suckling awarded this wine an impressive score of 99, highlighting its "pure fruit" with dominant notes of "blueberries, blackberries, and crushed stones." He described it as full-bodied with "round tannins that have a powdery character" and praised its "creamy and round mouth-feel" and "great finish." Suckling predicts it will be at its best starting from 2026.
Jeb Dunnuck rated the wine 98 points, emphasizing its "luxurious and layered perfume of red apple, sweet tobacco, and fresh leather." He noted that the palate is "generous, with a velveteen texture," and identified flavors of "cassis, violets, and fresh earth." Dunnuck recognized the wine's open nature and suggested it would be fantastic to observe its evolution over the next two decades or more.
Robert Parker's Wine Advocate, represented by Erin Brooks, gave the wine a score of 97+ points. Brooks described the 2019 La Muse as offering "purity and layering" with aromas of "mushroom, underbrush, licorice, and garrigue" alongside a core of "Morello cherry." The palate was noted for being "silky and plush with pixelated tannins," and Brooks suggested that the wine's fruit is "still somewhat coiled" but complemented by "refreshing acidity" that lends a "weightless, ethereal feel" to the finish. She recommended allowing the wine several more years in the bottle to fully develop.
Decanter rated this wine at 95 points, noting its "ample structure, silken texture, and elegance." The review highlighted the wine's aromatic profile, which includes "espresso beans, irises, violets, and crushed stone" with hints of "cedar plank and cinnamon spice." On the palate, Decanter found "fine tannins, mocha powder, blue fruits" like "huckleberry and fig," and a "sinuous streak of graphite" across the finish.
Overall, the 2019 Verite La Muse has received high praise for its complexity, elegance, and potential for aging, making it a standout choice for wine enthusiasts and collectors alike.