2020 La Joie

This is racy and refined with very defined tannins that give length, depth and focus to the wine. Medium to full body. Great energy here. Tight and bright with tannins that have tension and class and are melted into the wine. Bright. Very serious for the vintage. Drink after 2026. (12/2023)

Inky black and completely opaque, the 2020 La Joie (80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Malbec) reveals a more spicy and layered profile and reaches the next level of purity for this vintage, with notes of graphite as well as loads of kirsch, lavender oils, sweet tobacco, licorice, and toasted spice. Full-bodied, with an elegant mouthfeel, it’s pure and inviting, with ripe tannins and fresh acidity. Delivering great energy, it has a long, weightless feel, with outstanding length and freshness, and shows no evidence of smoke effect. Drink it over the next three decades. This is one of the great successes for this vintage in Sonoma. (11/2023)

The 2020 La Joie, tasted as a barrel sample, is composed of 80% Cabernet Sauvignon, 10% Merlot, 7% Cabernet Franc, and 3% Malbec. Deep purple-black colored, it rushes out of the gate to reveal gregarious notes of warm cassis, blackberry preserves, and kirsch, plus suggestions of cedar chest, charcoal, and bay leaves with a touch of fallen leaves. Medium to full-bodied, the palate is wonderfully energetic and bright, with crunchy plums and blackcurrant layers and tons of savory sparks, supported by firm, fine-grained tannins, finishing long and lifted. (06/2022)