2022 La Muse

90% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc, 4% Malbec. Third year of drought, despite some rain in December and January. Fruit from Alexander Valley, Bennett Valley, Chalk Hill, Knights Valley. Harvest 5–14 September. Aged for 16 months in French oak, 95% new. Vibrant, shaded crimson. Appetising dialled-back fruit with some restraint. Sappy with a savoury finish promising evolution. (JR)

The 2022 La Muse is a blend of 90% Merlot, 6% Cabernet Franc and 4% Malbec that matured for 16 months in 95% new French oak. It's shy on the nose to begin, but with time in the glass, it reveals pure, alluring scents of red cherry, pipe tobacco, graphite and coffee beans. The full-bodied palate is mineral-driven at this early stage, though it has a seamless structure of velvety tannins and refreshing acidity and a long finish with latent spicy accents. “The Merlot is very shy in comparison to the Cabernet Sauvignon,” vigneron Pierre Seillan explains. “It doesn’t explode immediately. That is the secret of Merlot. It’s very shy on the entry and with lots of spice on the back.” I retasted the La Muse over several days, and it only improved with air—give it plenty of time in the cellar or several hours in a decanter. 1,800 cases were made.

Full intensity plum colour, reserved power on the aromatics, excellent quality, understated, slow-build construction, slate textured-tannins, campfire, turmeric, grilled plum, damson, lift on the finish. Pierre Seillan director and winemaker, Jackson Family Wines owners.