I'd been sitting on this bottle since about 2016 or 17. Since I worked for the section of Jackson Family that represents the boutique, high end wines, I am well acquainted with this wine, so can give some context.
The Vérité winemakers Pierre Seillan and daughter Hélène, produced two single Cabernet wines from individual vineyards in Knights Valley, Sonoma, Helena Dakota at 750 feet and Helena Montana at 950 feet.
The nose is still a bit reserved, with aromas of dusty hillside rocks, fig, a tomato leaf savoriness and red and black berry compote. There are hints of blueberry pie filling. The telltale roasted coffee and toasted oak on the nose that I always associate with these wines in their youth has not fully dissipated, but taken a backseat to the other aromas; dare I say they're in the trunk.
It enters with a rich, dense texture on the palate. The fruit flavors are dark, leaning into black and purple fruits with fig jam and a compote-leading into-stewed style. The shaved cocoa and roasted coffee flavors emerge on the palate and are powerful enough to nearly overpower the fruit which is kept lively by a nice flash of acitity to balance the density of the mouthfeel and rounded yet still-grippy tannin. There is a slight herbal or leafy suggestion that I cannot quite put my finger on. It finishes long on flavors of blue and blackberry compote along with broan baking spice.
** Slight update- After using the Coravin and letting it sit a couple days, once opened and letting it really breathe for some time, more ripe fruit showed itself and it became a bit prettier vs earth and more stewed fruit as before. Decant!
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