Wine Advocate 100 pts

The 2014 La Muse (2,800 cases ) is a legendary effort. The wine offers an opaque purple color and a gorgeous nose of lead pencil shavings, blackberry, incense, Asian spice, cocoa, plum, and a touch of chocolate and barrique. On the palate, more cassis and blackberry come to the forefront. The wine is unctuous, with adequate acidity and a stunning energy underneath the massive fruit and body. This is a spectacularly fragrant and, at the same time, dense wine, with enough structure (somewhat surprising in this vintage) to last 35-45+ years. The final blend was 88% Merlot, 10% Cabernet Franc and 2% Malbec.

Vinous 96 pts

A huge, opulent wine, the 2014 La Muse wraps around the palate with tonsof super-ripe dark red fruit, chocolate, spice and menthol. La Muse oftenshuts down after bottling, but the 2014 is still remarkably intense andvoluptuous, with soft contours, silky tannins and exceptional balance. Thepurity of the flavors here is remarkable.