La Muse
2021
Vintage
The 2021 Sonoma County growing season was preceded by a very chilly winter with below average rainfall, marking a second straight year of drought in Northern California. To ensure balance between the vines and available soil nutrients in the coming vintage, our vineyard teams carefully pruned each vine throughout the cold winter months, reducing the number of clusters each would be asked to ripen. Cool temperatures persisted into early spring, pushing Budbreak a bit later than average, but by early May the weather warmed up beautifully, delivering a fine start to the growing season. The summer months brought sunny, warm weather with characteristically cool nighttime temperatures, and only a few minor heat spikes.
Notes
2021 La Muse radiates a luminous ruby-violet core, ringed by a thin violet meniscus. Possessing both vibrance and suppleness, the nose reveals bright aromatics of crunchy blackberry and cranberry, contrasted by rich caffè macchiato, English toffee, toasted vanilla, and warm baking spices from elevage in French oak. The dichotomy evolves further on the palate, where the fruit takes on a palpable richness, countered by brisk tannins and focused acidity. The finish is satisfyingly long, marked by ample fruit, mouth-watering acidity, and crushed stone minerality. Reminiscent of other highly structured vintages in their infancy, 2021 La Muse will age for many decades.
- Tasting Date: March 2024
Composition
90% Merlot
6% Malbec
4% Cabernet Franc
… Deep garnet-purple colored, it pops from the glass with notes of kirsch, fresh black and red plums, and wild blueberries, leading to suggestions of crushed rocks, star anise, and lilacs. The medium to full-bodied palate shimmers with vibrant, intense red, black, and blue fruit flavors, supported by firm, rounded tannins and bold tension, finishing long with a red berry lift. Alluring to drink now, allow it another 4-5 years in bottle for that next-level experience and then drink it over the next 20 years+.
2021 La Muse was matured for 16 months in barrel…it's youthfully shy and fruity at this early stage, showing a touch of matchstick-like reduction. After time in the glass, it reveals a core of Morello cherry, shiitake mushroom and aniseed. The full-bodied palate is concentrated yet weightless, with restrained, just-ripe, mineral-driven fruit, abundant, grainy tannins, noticeably refreshing acidity and a spicy finish.
…loaded with attractive ripe fruit, graphite, and lots of flowers. Offering ripeness as well as incredible structure, it has nothing heavy or heated about it. With alcohol levels at 14.1%, it’s unquestionably going to improve with significant age, so it will probably be best to stash this away for quite a few years before it reaches its peak drinking window. It’s showing the potential to be a truly stunning wine.