La Joie
2004
Vintage
A moderately rainy winter gave way to a warm, dry spring at the beginning of March and an early start to budbreak. The warm temperatures pushed an early bloom with good berry set. A warm, dry summer allowed even ripening and a few hot days at the beginning of August led to an early harvest. Harvest took place August 31st through September 17th.
– Pierre Seillan, Vigneron
Notes
The 2004 La Joie abounds with savory complexity. The purple center fades to a translucent garnet. Plush and silky tannin is buttressed by fresh and vibrant acidity. The palate shows baked black cherry, blueberry and blackcurrant; iron, sunbaked gravel, rhubarb, dried herbs, black olive and a hint of mint. Best after thirty minutes in the decanter, and continues to evolve for another hour. The softer tannin character makes this wine approachable now, but can continue to age another fifteen years.
– November 2017
Composition
65.65% Cabernet Sauvignon
19.65% Merlot
9.8% Cabernet Franc
4.9% Petit Verdot
The majority of the fruit came from the Alexander Mountain Estate, followed by Knights Valley, Bennett Valley and Chalk Hill. Full-bodied, powerful and concentrated, it is richer than either the 2003 and 2001, and comes closer to the 2002’s personality. Sweet notes of caramels, espresso roast, forest floor, camphor, plums, chocolate and blackberries emerge from this full-bodied, unctuously textured, chewy, fleshy 2004. It requires another 3-5 years of bottle age and should keep for two decades or more.