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98POINTS
19¼/20
Vérité Le Désir 2019
Sonoma County, California, United StatesAlmost two decades ago, I walked the newly planted Verite vineyard blocks with winegrower Pierre Seillan, whose take on complexity was simple. “Every hillside, every elevation and every aspect offers us a different micro cru. From the beginning, the pure expression of these unique sites has defined our winemaking philosophy.” It makes it easier to understand the birth of the Verite trilogy: La Joie, La Muse, and La Désir, each exploring a different grape while reflecting its Sonoma origins. In 2019 the vintage began with a healthy water supply in the soil from a warm winter of storms. Budbreak was early in what would be a warm year, complete with some heat spikes. The ’19 mix is 83/8/5/4 cabernet franc, merlot, malbec, and cabernet sauvignon. Of the trio of Verite reds, the 2019 cabernet franc dominant Le Desir impressed me the most. The aromatics are fantastic, and while the wines of Saint-Émilion inspire this label, it carries a deliberate New World style with more power and concentration led by some delicious savoury bay leaf and black fruit compote with subtle but well-integrated French oak and super fine-grained tannins. This is a wonderful expression of what a fragrant, ripe cabernet franc can be when made with extreme care and attention.Tasted: 23 January 2023Tasted by: Anthony GismondiPrices:| BC | $520.00 | 750ml | BCLS |
| AB | $400.00 | 750ml | private wine shops |
Blend: Cabernet Franc - Merlot - Cabernet Sauvignon - MalbecCSPC: 408892UPC: 626990248163
