Jackson Family Wines launches 2013 Vérité and Cardinale in HK

Jackson Family Wines launched its latest 2013 vintage from two of its premium California wineries – Vérité and Cardinale – in Hong Kong this week.

Jackson Family Wines presented the 2013 vintage of Verite and Cardinale.

“The 2013 vintages from Vérité and Cardinale are nothing short of outstanding and I am thrilled to be in Hong Kong to share them with you,” said Dimitri Mesnard MS, international brand ambassador of Jackson Family Wines while presenting three wines from Vérité, two wines from Cardinale and a new South African white.

The three Vérité blends – ‘La Muse’ (Merlot-based), ‘La Joie’ (Cabernet Sauvignon-based) and ‘La Désir’ (Cabernet Franc-based) – are made from what Mesnard described as ‘grand cru’ sites from Sonoma County dotted in Alexander Valley, Bennett Valley, Chalk Hill and Knights Hill.

The La Muse 2013 blends 89% of Merlot, 8% Carmenere and 3% Malbec. The wine was rated 100 points by Robert Parker, a nod to its winemaker Pierre Seillan’s aspiration to “make best Merlot from California”.

La Joie 2013, a blend of Cabernet, Merlot, Cabernet Franc and Petit Verdot, harks back to big and powerful Paulliac in Bordeaux, commented Mesnard. “A grandiose wine in an excellent vintage,” as the winery sums it, which landed the estate another 100 points from Parker.

Le Désir champions Cabernet Franc with a generous 62% blend in the mix.

Cardinale, is another premium winery under the Jackson Family Wines’ umbrella that encompasses more than 50 wine brands. The Cabernet-dominant red is a powerhouse with impressive density. Intrada, a white blend of Sauvignon Blanc and Semillion is a Bordeaux-esque white, with notes of white peach and light floral aromas.

Located in Napa Valley’s Oakville district, Cardinale is known for its Cabernet Sauvignon-dominant blend selected from grapes grown in vineyards in Diamond Mountain, Howell Mountain, Mount Veeder and Spring Mountain.

Another wine that Mansard highlighted at the tasting was the ultra-premium Capensis Chardonnay, a joint venture between Jackson Family Wines and Graham Beck Wines in South Africa. 2013, the first vintage of this white, showed plenty of fruits and minerality.

All the 2013 wines are available in Hong Kong through One Red Dot, Wine World Hong Kong, Kerry Wines, My Cellar and Watson’s Wine.