Immerse yourself in the sumptuous luxury of Twomey Merlot Napa Valley 2013, an exceptional vintage from the eminent Twomey Cellars. This merlot is a product of profound craftsmanship, utilising fruit picked from the Caldwell Vineyard in the notable region of Napa Valley. A masterful blend accentuates Twomey Merlot's exquisite character. The vinification process is conducted with extraordinary diligence, employing French oak barrels to augment the fruit's inherent complexity.

The wine exhibits a deep, lush ruby colour, accompanied by an alluringly intricate bouquet of red fruit aromas, sophisticatedly layered with hints of cocoa and roasted espresso. On the palate, Twomey Merlot Napa Valley 2013 uncovers layers of beautiful dark fruit and significant but soft tannins leading to an elegant, lingering finish. The harmonious balance between acidity and richness in this wine is a testament to Twomey's consistent commitment to creating premium wines that truly embodies the exceptional terroir of the Napa Valley.

A collaboration between winemakers Jess Jackson and Pierre Seillan, Vérité was launched with the aim of creating wines from Sonoma that could rival that of Pétrus. Since its inaugural vintage in 1998, Vérité has achieved colossal success, including being awarded seven 100 point scores from Robert M. Parker Jr. Guided by Pierre Seillan’s micro-cru philosophy and over 50 years of experience, Vérité produces 3 blends – La Joie, La Muse and La Désir, from a myriad of over 50 distinct plots spread across 4 appellations across Sonoma - namely Knights Valley, Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill and Bennet Valley AVAs.

It contains one bottle of each:

1x75cl La Joie 2013 - 100 Points | Robert M. Parker, Jr. (Wine Advocate)

1x75cl La Muse 2013 - 100 Points | Robert M. Parker, Jr. (Wine Advocate)

1x75cl La Désir 2013 - 99 Points | Robert M. Parker, Jr. (Wine Advocate)

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2013 La Joie, which is 46% from Knights Valley, 32% from Chalk Hill and 22% from Alexander Valley, is a blend of 71% Cabernet Sauvignon, 16% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 5% Petit Verdot. Showing loads of graphite, cedar wood, charcoal, crème de cassis and forest floor, this may well turn out to be a 50+-year wine. It tastes like a great first-growth Pauillac and has an amazing amount of complexity and richness.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2013 La Muse, like all of the 2013s, comes about one-third from Alexander Valley vineyards, 40-plus percent from Chalk Hill, and the rest Knights Valley and Bennett Valley – all high-elevation hillside vineyards. A blend of 89% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec at 14.3% alcohol, the wine is amazingly like a great vintage of Petrus, with mulberry, black cherry, licorice, truffle and unctuous, thick, juicy fruit all present in this full-bodied masterpiece. The tannins are still present. The wine has purity and savory presence and is remarkable. The finish goes on for well past a minute. This wine would probably benefit from 5-8 years of bottle age and last 40-50 years.

Wine Advocate (100)

The 2013 La Muse, like all of the 2013s, comes about one-third from Alexander Valley vineyards, 40-plus percent from Chalk Hill, and the rest Knights Valley and Bennett Valley – all high-elevation hillside vineyards. A blend of 89% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc and 3% Malbec at 14.3% alcohol, the wine is amazingly like a great vintage of Petrus, with mulberry, black cherry, licorice, truffle and unctuous, thick, juicy fruit all present in this full-bodied masterpiece. The tannins are still present. The wine has purity and savory presence and is remarkable. The finish goes on for well past a minute. This wine would probably benefit from 5-8 years of bottle age and last 40-50 years.

Wine Advocate (99)

The 2013 Le Desir represents 2,500 cases. This is the softest of the three wines in 2013, and this blend of 61% Cabernet Franc, 23% Merlot, 11% Cabernet Sauvignon and 5% Malbec emerges with more than half of the cuvée coming from Hillsides in Alexander Valley, 37% from Chalk Hill and the rest tiny dollops from Bennett Valley and Knights Valley. Opaque purple, like its siblings, the wine is showing incredible floral, blueberry and espresso notes, exotic Asian spices, velvety texture, a supple, multilayered mouthfeel and incredible finish, with incense and licorice. This is magnificent young wine, with a good 40-50 years of upside potential. Pierre Seillan is justifiably proud of what he has achieved, and his first vintage of Vérité was only 1998, but they go from strength to strength.

Vinous (92)

(14.5% alcohol): Bright full ruby. Sexy, higher-pitched aromas of black raspberry, mocha and leather convey a distinctly wild element. Complex, soil-inflected flavors of dark berries, leather, coffee and mocha. Sweet, suave, highly concentrated wine with a silky texture and firm but ripe, harmonious tannins. Another couple years of bottle aging should be rewarded.

Vinous (90)

(14.6% alcohol): Saturated ruby. Deeply pitched aroma of chocolate truffle conveys a port-like, almost raisiny ripeness. Then large-scaled, thick and sweet in the mouth, with the strong chocolate quality dominating. This downright confectionery Malbec will be a crowd-pleaser among fans of the style but I find it a bit heavy, in need of more energy and lift. I see no reason to hold off on drinking this as it's unlikely to become more interesting with bottle age.

James Suckling (94)

Aromas of dried meat, dark fruit and currant. Decadent character. Full body, chocolate, tea and berry. Velvety tannins and a savory finish. 95% cabernet sauvignon with the balance malbec. Drink or hold.

Vinous (94)

The 2013 Viñedo Chadwick came from a generally typical year in terms of climate, although March and April were cool, stretching out the Cabernet Sauvignon’s ripening period. The wine spent 22 months in 90% new French barrels. It’s garnet red in the glass. It has a nose of pyrazine, mint and red fruit over secondary aromas from the aging process which provide a well-judged frame. In the mouth, the tannins are firm with throat-tickling freshness and plenty of energy. The grippy flow is well-balanced and relaxed with a flavorful backdrop and ends with a lively, and lengthy, finish.