2011 Verite La Muse

Verite, in Sonoma County, was started by Jess Jackson in 1998. Jackson, who died in 2010, was a legend in California winemaking, having started the Kendall-Jackson label in the 1980s. Kendall-Jackson’s Chardonnay became extremely successful during the 1980s, and Jackson went on to acquire or found numerous more wineries in California and France. With Verite, he wanted to make Bordeaux style reds and he brought in French winemaker Pierre Seillan to make his Verite wines. Today Verite produces three blends that each earn high praise from reviewers. Robert M. Parker Jr. has often awarded the wines 96 to 100 pts.

Sonoma County is not an AVA, but it is a commonly used informal designation for wines made outside of more specific AVAs within Sonoma, which is a large wine producing region just west of Napa Valley. Though Sonoma is often overshadowed by its glamorous neighbor Napa Valley, it has a long history of wine production. The area specialized in jug wine until the mid-20th century, when Sonoma producers took a cue from Napa and started improving quality. Unlike Napa, where Cabernet Sauvignon is king, Sonoma specialized in Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Zinfandel, though excellent Cabs are produced too. There are at present 16 AVAs within Sonoma County, and, like much of the West Coast of the United States, new AVAs are created in Sonoma County with regularity. Some Sonoma appellations, such as the Russian River Valley, are renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay.