2010 Vérité La Joie--Can Someone 'Splain What Up?

I am putting together a silent auction lineup for an upcoming Laura’s House event and the 2010 Vérité La Joie has made it to the list, a magnum of it actually. When I did the lookup on this to determine some starting bid pricing, I 'bout fell from my chair? What’s the deal with this stuff being so expensive? I mean, is this the stupid RP effect making this stuff so crazy? Is the wine of this kind of caliber to drive this kind of price?

I’m truly not trolling here…what’s the story?

Yep, Parker effect. It was always somewhat higher in price, but several years ago took a big leap when ratings went through the ceiling. That’s the interesting thing, they aren’t quite the typical “Parker style” Cali cab, they have more of an old-world leaning. I happened to visit there back in late 2010, and was relatively impressed with the wines. Only way I would know about them.

Anyway, be happy, it’s a nice donation!

I bought the 99s on auction for about $50 per.

Current pricing is ridiculous!!!

The wines are very good but after they tripled the price to capitalize on the great ratings, I stopped buying.

That’s a very good wine, btw. I did a vertical tasting at Gary’s Wine annual tasting back in the early 2000’s and it was the best wine in the group.

Sometimes the charity lists the critic’s score on the bid sheet to help people warm up to the wine being auctioned, not sure what they will do this time but I will help them figure it out. This Verite wine is tricky because, and the old phrase comes to mind, “live by the sword and die by the sword”. Not sure how we list points on a bid sheet, show it as 92 points and then ask for $300, $400, even more for the wine? Once again, the lunacy of scores and allowing a handful of powerful wine critics to drive an entire industry.

La Muse
2012 La Muse — 96-100 points, Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, December 2013
2011 La Muse — 91-93 points, Antonio Galloni, VinousMedia.com, February 2014
2010 La Muse — 94 points, Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, December 2013
2009 La Muse — 96+ points, Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, December 2013
2008 La Muse — 100 points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, June 2011
2007 La Muse — 100 points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, June 2011

La Joie
2012 La Joie — 95-99 points, Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, December 2013
2011 La Joie — 92-94 points, Antonio Galloni, VinousMedia.com, February 2014
2010 La Joie — 92+ points, Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, December 2013
2009 La Joie — 96 points, Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, December 2013
2008 La Joie — 99 points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, June 2011
2007 La Joie — 100 points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, June 2011

Le Désir
2012 Le Désir — 96-100 points, Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, December 2013
2011 Le Désir — 92-94 points, Antonio Galloni, VinousMedia.com, February 2014
2010 Le Désir — 93 points, Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, December 2013
2010 Le Désir — 93 points, Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, December 2013
2009 Le Désir — 93 points, Robert Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, December 2013
2008 Le Désir — 100 points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, June 2011
2007 Le Désir — 100 points, Robert M. Parker, Jr., The Wine Advocate, June 2011

How about, instead of listing specific scores, just say something like “a Robert Parker favorite, this wine has received scores in the upper 90s in numerous vintages. 2010 was a sleeper vintage, producing wonderfully balanced, long aging wines”.

Dude, I will just steal your language. With you around, I don’t need to think for myself. Hmmmm, sounds a lot like another topic I gnash my teeth on…awww, forget it!

Thanks Mr Rath.

The 99’s were stellar, especially La Muse. It was quite a Brett bomb though.

How about saying “Brought to you by the same people that own Kendall Jackson and Murphy Goode”?

Your bidders will surely recognise those names.