About the Wine

"It's another great, great wine from this estate." ~James Suckling

Vérité is a cult winery located in Sonoma County. This estate has more than 50 micro-crus in 4 different appellations in Sonoma: Bennett Valley, Alexander Valley, Chalk Hill, and Knights Valley. The result is impressive. Decanter says that these wines are “rich and velvety, and have finesse, focus, and freshness, thus encapsulating the Sonoma style at its best.”

Co-owner Pierre Seillan is a legendary winemaker whose expertise began in his own family estate in southwest France. He also worked in several Châteaux in France like Château de Targé in Loire Valley and in Bordeaux with Raoul and Jean Quancard. Pierre is a man of the land and he’s completely passionate about terroir. He says, “every hillside, every elevation, and every aspect offer us a different micro-cru. The pure expression of these unique sites has from the beginning defined our winemaking philosophy.”

Le Desir means “The desire” which is exactly what this perfect 100-point wine is, a desirable red blend. A Cabernet Franc-dominated blend, which can only be described as “elegant, precise, and graceful.” Coming from a great, balanced vintage in Sonoma County, Le Desir is what James Suckling calls “another great, great wine from the estate” This wine was featured on James Suckling's "TOP 100 wines of the world 2022."

Tasting Notes: 83% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, 5% Malbec, 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. A rich violet hue, ringed by a slender rim of incandescent purple-ruby color. Beautifully characteristic of Cabernet Franc, the aromatics of this wine are expressive and exotic, showing fresh rose petal perfume, fresh cherry blossom, California bay laurel, crushed pomegranate, blackberry coulis, and well-integrated French oak aromas of ground cinnamon, and brown buttered toast. On the palate, a robust structure defined by powdery tannins and lively acidity delivers a very fine balance, with an exceptionally long finish.

Reviews

The 2019 Le Desir is a blend of 83% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. Deep garnet-purple in color, it skyrockets from the glass with notes of Morello cherries, black raspberries, and wild blueberries, plus hints of lavender, wild sage, crushed rocks, and pencil shavings, with a touch of red roses. Medium-bodied, the palate is ethereal, so amazingly elegant yet remarkably intense, delivering super fine-grained tannins and beautiful freshness, leading to a long and fragrant finish for this gorgeous wine. ~100 The Wine Independent.

The Cabernet Franc blend of the trio, the 2018 Le Desir is 82% Cabernet Franc, 12% Merlot, and 6% Malbec, and as with all these wines, it was brought up in new barrels. Ruby/purple and not completely opaque, it offers up a classic Cabernet Franc nose of mostly red fruits, spring flowers, damp earth, cedary spices, and truffle. Medium to full-bodied on the palate, it shines for its incredible elegance and purity more than outright power, yet it still brings plenty of richness. With ultra-fine tannins, perfect balance, and one heck of a great finish, it's another great, great wine from this estate. ~100 James Suckling. #54 of the “Top 100 Wines of The World 2022” by James Suckling.

The 2019 Le Désir is an exceptional blend of 83% Cabernet Franc, 8% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon, offering complex, layered flavors, soaring aromatics, and very detailed expression. Deep ruby-purple in color, its aromas unfold slowly and offer new nuances with each return to the glass: Morello cherries, warm chocolate, dried thyme, desiccated roses, and dried herbs. The full-bodied palate offers concentrated, floral fruits, pixelated tannins, bursts of fresh acidity, and a very long finish with layer after layer of detailed flavor. 2,500 cases were made. ~100 Robert Parker.

The 2019 Le Desir is based on Cabernet Franc, with the remainder 8% Merlot, 5% Malbec, and 4% Cabernet Sauvignon. It is complex and layered, with hints of saddle leather, pencil shavings, tangy red cherry, and blackcurrant. The palate is full and elegantly structured, with mocha, red plum, and turned soil. This is an incredible wine with lots of underlying tension that will be a pleasure to revisit if afforded the opportunity. Drink over the next 20 or more years. ~98 Jeb Dunnuck.

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