2008 La Muse

(15% alcohol): Bright, saturated ruby-red. Alluring scents of black raspberry, bitter cherry, mocha, cocoa powder and smoky minerality. At once fine-grained and vibrant in the mouth, with an element of dried herbs complicating the very bright dark raspberry, bitter chocolate and licorice flavors. Offers bulletproof density but no undue weight, thanks to enlivening minerality and sound acidity. This wine is just beginning to unfold today and still needs to be held. Tannins are firm and dusty but not dry.

(90% merlot, 7% cabernet franc and 3% malbec): Bright red-ruby. Inviting nose offers cherry, raspberry and chocolate truffle. Explosive on the front half, with sexy spices lifting and intensifying the redcurrant fruit. Today the wine's tannins give the finish a slightly dry quality but the intensity and subtle persistence of this wine suggest that it simply needs time. Pierre Seillan typically does a pre-fermentation cold soak lasting four or five days, then about eight days of fermentation and no post-fermentation maceration. The malolactic fermentation takes place in barrels of various toast levels and from numerous French forests.

A blend of 90% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec (52% Chalk Hill, 45% Alexander Mountain Estate and 3% Bennett Valley fruit), the 2008 may have even greater intensity and richness than the 2007. Still young and unformed, it exhibits phenomenal richness and equilibrium as well as a finish that lasts nearly a minute. Its dense plum/purple color is accompanied by notions of black fruits, forest floor, truffles and spring flowers. It should age for 25-30+ years.