On Friday, May 15, James did a Zoom tasting session with the father and daughter team behind California’s Verite, Pierre and Helene Seillan. James has been tasting their wines for years. They jet-freighted their top 2017 red wines to Hong Kong for James to taste in his wine bar, James Suckling Wine Central. The top wines show purity and balance and energy, and it’s the first time La Muse is 100 percent merlot.

Watch some highlights of the Zoom tasting session in which Pierre speaks about La Muse, gives his view on the 2017 vintage in Sonoma and Northern California, and explains why he thinks merlot has been less successful in Northern California than it could be.

DESCRIBE THE 2017 VINTAGE IN SONOMA AND NORTHERN CALIFORNIA

WHY IS MERLOT NOT MORE SUCCESSFUL IN NORTHERN CALIFORNIA?