Winemaker Notes
Blend: 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc, 5% Petit Verdot
Professional Ratings
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Jeb Dunnuck
Cabernet Sauvignon-dominated, the saturated blackish red-hued 2021 La Joie is classic on the nose with brilliant aromas of graphite, pine needles, delicate menthol, blackcurrants, and violets, becoming even more floral with time in the glass. It’s resonant and explosive on the palate, with a laser-like focus throughout, full body, refreshing acidity, and ripe, youthful tannins that will need time to soften. This is a great, profound wine that is going to last for ages. It has all the components I look for in great wine and is as good as it gets, in my opinion.
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James Suckling
So well structured and layered in texture, yet it offers a fine sense of drinkability and freshness despite its muscular character. Amazing layers, finesse, detail and interest in this full-bodied, masterful Bordeaux-style blend based on cabernet sauvignon. Blended in are 14% merlot, 10% cabernet franc and 5% petit verdot.
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Robert Parker's Wine Advocate
The 2021 La Joie is composed of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 14% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot, and the wine was matured for 16 months in 95% new French oak. It’s exceptionally pure and layered on the nose, its scents of blackcurrant and blueberry accented by tones of lavender and cardamom. The full-bodied palate is effortlessly seamless. It features Goldilocks ripeness, loads of powdery, suede-textured tannins and bursts of mouthwatering acidity. Though its flavors are youthfully coiled, it opens dramatically over several days, and it will be epically long lived in the cellar.
Rating: 97+
One of the world’s most classic and popular styles of red wine, Bordeaux-inspired blends have spread from their homeland in France to nearly every corner of the New World. Typically based on either Cabernet Sauvignon or Merlot and supported by Cabernet Franc, Malbec and Petit Verdot, the best of these are densely hued, fragrant, full of fruit and boast a structure that begs for cellar time. Somm Secret—Blends from Bordeaux are generally earthier compared to those from the New World, which tend to be fruit-dominant.
Home to a diverse array of smaller AVAs with varied microclimates and soil types, Sonoma County has something for every wine lover. Physically twice as large as Napa Valley, the region only produces about half the amount of wine but boasts both tremendous quality and variety. With its laid-back atmosphere and down-to-earth attitude, the wineries of Sonoma are appreciated by wine tourists for their friendliness and approachability. The entire county intends to become a 100% sustainable winegrowing region by 2019.
Sonoma County wines are produced with carefully selected grape varieties to reflect the best attributes of their sites—Dry Creek Valley’s consistent sunshine is ideal for Zinfandel, while the warm Alexander Valley is responsible for rich, voluptuous red wines like Cabernet Sauvignon. Chardonnay and Pinot Noir are important throughout the county, most notably in the cooler AVAs of Russian River, Sonoma Coast and Carneros. Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot and Syrah have also found a firm footing here.